The documentary is focused on examining the history of psychoanalysis and its influence on consumer culture, sometimes editorializing or steering its narrative to fit a certain critical perspective. However, it does maintain a reasonably clear and direct narrative structure throughout, avoiding heavy-handed identity politics or forced representation.

The film is critical of Western consumerism and touches on how traditional institutions like family and religion have been affected by mass psychology, but it isn’t primarily anti-religion or overtly dismissive of traditional values. Still, its framing is less than reverent toward core cultural pillars, warranting a moderately high score here.

‘The Century of the Self’ leans into a somewhat critical, left-leaning worldview, primarily critiquing capitalism, marketing, and Western individualism. Dissenting voices are presented, but are typically cast in a negative or skeptical light. There’s an overall lack of real ideological diversity or any serious defense of traditional market or family values.