For both (or either) Adam Curtis and Sigmund Freud, is it possible to be happy?  Why?


    Happiness is something that comes and goes. It's an emotion that is quite powerful for the sheer fact that everyone can be happy, but what brings happiness is different for every individual. 


    What was shown in Adam Curtis' Happiness Machine was society being happy, however the happiness didn't seem genuine. The individuals "bought" their happiness and as being consumers when the next product came into light so did their bliss. In the film, the one thing that stood out to me was when a woman said "you all look the same." They all bought what they thought they needed, but in reality it was a want. What does this have to do with being happy? Whenever we receive something we want, a feeling of joy overcomes us. It's unfortunate nonetheless that the fine line between a "want" and "need" has faded, and distinguishing between the two seems to be difficult for some. With the regards to Adam Curtis' film, happiness was possible; it's all dependent on what brings you joy.


    In "Civilization and its Discontents" by Sigmund Freud there's a great possibility of happiness but it has various factors that all intertwine. Freud discusses what men demand and wish to achieve from life, that is, "they strive after happiness; they want to become happy and remain so." (Freud 42) Freud throughout the book mentions the "pleasure principle" which is a concept that describes how individuals are looking for pleasure and trying so avoid suffering/pain. Pleasure is something that can bring people happiness, so when they don't have it they search for it, and when it's gone they want more of it. No body wants to feel pain, to suffer when we can be happy. Love also comes into the picture when we talk about happiness, he speaks about how everyone looks for love and to be loved, but the weak side to this is "we are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love." (Freud 52)  


     We all want to be happy, but happiness is something that's temporary and so when we are happy we hope that it remains. Have you ever felt happy, genuinely happy, but in the back of your mind you're waiting for something to go wrong? You know that happiness comes and goes, but the time frame varies every time.  So you're hoping maybe this time will be longer than the last, you're wishing that the happiness will remain. It's possible, happiness for everyone is possible and I think it's something we all deserve.