Zeitgeist

The Zeitgeist (spirit of the age or spirit of the time) is the intellectual fashion or dominant school of thought that typifies and influences the culture of a particular period in time. For example, the Zeitgeist of modernism typified and influenced architecture, art, and fashion during much of the 20th century.

The German word Zeitgeist is often attributed to the philosopher Georg Hegel, but he never actually used the word. In his works such as Lectures on the Philosophy of History, he uses the phrase der Geist seiner Zeit (the spirit of his time)—for example, "no man can surpass his own time, for the spirit of his time is also his own spirit."

Other philosophers who were associated with such ideas include Herder and Spencer and Voltaire. The concept contrasts with the Great Man theory popularized by Thomas Carlyle, which sees history as the result of the actions of heroes and geniuses.

Hegel believed that art reflected, by its very nature, the culture of the time in which it is created. Culture and art are inextricable because an individual artist is a product of his or her time and therefore brings that culture to any given work of art. Furthermore, he believed that in the modern world it was impossible to produce classical art, which he believed represented a "free and ethical culture", which depended more on the philosophy of art and theory of art, rather than a reflection of the social construct, or Zeitgeist in which a given artist lives.

Zeitgeist (film series)

Zeitgeist: The Movie is a documentary film with two sequels: Zeitgeist: Addendum and Zeitgeist: Moving Forward, presenting a number of conspiracy theories and proposals for broad social and economic changes. Peter Joseph created all three films.

Zeitgeist: The Movie

Zeitgeist: The Movie is a 2007 documentary-style film by Peter Joseph presenting a number of conspiracy theories. The film disputes the historicity of Jesus (the Christ myth theory) and claims that the September 11 attacks in 2001 were pre-arranged by New World Order forces, and claims that bankers manipulate world events. In Zeitgeist, it is claimed that the Federal Reserve was behind several wars and manipulates the American public for a One World Government or "New World Order".

The Zeitgeist film, according to writer Paul Constant, is "based solely on anecdotal evidence, it's probably drawing more people into the Truth movement than anything else".Jay Kinney questioned the accuracy of its claims and the quality of its arguments, describing it as agitprop and propaganda.

Zeitgeist (Levellers album)

Zeitgeist is the fourth album by The Levellers. It was released in 1995 and reached #1 in the UK album charts, making it the band's most successful album. Two singles were released from the album – "Hope St.", which reached #12 in the UK single charts, and "Fantasy", which reached 16. Additionally, a re-recorded version of "Just the One" featuring Joe Strummer was released, reaching #12, as well as a live version of "Exodus" from the later Headlights, White Lines, Black Tar Rivers (Best Live) album the next year, which reached #24.

Track listing

The 2007 re-issue included the bonus tracks:

References