• 14
    watchers
  • 84
    plays
  • 33
    collected
  • 2006-12-05T13:00:00Z on SBS
  • 25m
  • 2h 30m (6 episodes)
  • Australia
  • English
  • Documentary
Decadence: The Meaninglessness of Modern Life is a six part television documentary series commissioned by SBS Independent and produced by Fork Films. The series is hosted by Pria Viswalingam, who is best known for his work on the travel show A fork in the road. Decadence was originally broadcast on the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) of Australia in 2006 in the form of six, thirty minute long episodes (including advertisements). It was rescreened again in 2007 as part of the SBS season on globalisation. The series examines the decadence and meaninglessness of modern, western life. It is also poses the question: If we live in such a great and prosperous world, and we are living longer, better, and healthier than before, why are we so unhappy?. There are interviews with many prominent experts and leaders in their fields throughout the series.

6 episodes

Series Premiere

2006-12-05T13:00:00Z

1x01 Money

Series Premiere

1x01 Money

  • 2006-12-05T13:00:00Z25m

Part one examines the growing greed of society and the 80's ideal that greed is good. It also looks at the growing disparity between rich and poor.

2006-12-12T13:00:00Z

1x02 Sex

1x02 Sex

  • 2006-12-12T13:00:00Z25m

Pria interviews New South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney about the extent to which many cases of rape have become particularly violent and gruesome, and asks why sex crimes are growing in number in society. The link between violent pornography and sex crimes is also examined in this episode. A Medical ethicist Dr. Amin Abboud notes that sex has been trivialized and needs to be placed back into the context of emotional connections and intimacy and that sex should be rediscovered as part of love. In an interview, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach says that modern relationships collapse when people lose interest in the sex and that sex has become the sole measure and importance in a relationship.

2006-12-19T13:00:00Z

1x03 Democracy

1x03 Democracy

  • 2006-12-19T13:00:00Z25m

The nature of modern democracy is examined in this episode and the question "Do we really live in a democratic world any more?" is asked. The erosion of democracy, media control and the use of public money for advertising is looked at.

2006-12-26T13:00:00Z

1x04 Education

1x04 Education

  • 2006-12-26T13:00:00Z25m

The continuing undervaluing of an education in the West is considered. The lack of funding for primary and secondary education is also looked at. There is discussion about the transformation of universities from great learning places into businesses competing for students' money, who only want a fast-tracked easy course into a high -paying job.

2007-01-02T13:00:00Z

1x05 Family

1x05 Family

  • 2007-01-02T13:00:00Z25m

The modern western family is looked at , as is what really is a family in the west. The gradual decline in the importance placed on families and the disintegration of the idea of a family and people preferring isolation is looked at.

2007-01-09T13:00:00Z

1x06 God

1x06 God

  • 2007-01-09T13:00:00Z25m

The nature of religion and religion in the West is looked at. The growing number of irreligious people in Western countries is considered and it is asked whether this has any effect on our happiness or morals.

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