Decadence (TV series)
| Company type | Production company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film and television production |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Documentary series |
Decadence: The Meaninglessness of Modern Life is a six-part documentary series from Australia, commissioned by SBS Independent and produced by Fork Films. Presented by Pria Viswalingam, known for A Fork in the Road, it was first broadcast on the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) in 2006, consisting of six episodes, each lasting 30 minutes. The series was later re-aired in 2007 as part of SBS's programming focused on globalisation.
The documentary investigates the concept of decadence and the apparent lack of meaning in contemporary Western lifestyles. It probes why widespread dissatisfaction exists despite increased wealth and longer, healthier lifespans. The program includes conversations with prominent figures such as John Tirman, Cardinal George Pell, Avner Offer, Susan Greenfield, Phillip Knightley, Kishore Mahbubani, Noam Chomsky, and John Spong.
Episode One: Money
The opening episode delves into society’s growing greed, reflecting on the 1980s slogan that proclaimed greed is good and addressing the expanding divide between rich and poor.
Featured interviews
- Petrea King, founder of the Quest for Life Centre
- Richard Eckersley, social analyst at the Australian National University
- The Honourable Jeff Kennett, founding Chairman of beyondblue
- Dr Clive Hamilton, public intellectual and founder of the Australia Institute
- Ian Kiernan, initiator of the Clean Up the World campaign
Episode Two: Sex
Viswalingam spoke with NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney regarding the increase and intensification of sexual crimes. This episode examined connections between violent pornography and sex offenses. Medical ethicist Dr Amin Abboud stressed the importance of re-establishing sex’s association with emotional closeness and love. Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, author of Kosher Sex, observed that many modern relationships falter once sexual desire declines, with sex often becoming the sole indicator of a relationship’s worth.
Episode Three: Democracy
This installment questioned whether authentic democracy remains intact in contemporary societies, focusing on its decline, media dominance, and the use of taxpayer money for promotional campaigns.
Featured interviews
- Robert Manne, Australian public intellectual and former editor of Quadrant
- Major-General Michael Jeffery, former Governor General of Australia
- Professor Marian Sawer
Episode Four: Education
The episode explored how education is undervalued within Western culture, highlighting inadequate government investment in primary and secondary schooling. It also discussed universities’ transformation into competitive enterprises catering to students pursuing rapid entry into lucrative careers.
Featured interviews
- John Marsden, author and educator
- Professor Paul Davies, physicist, writer, and broadcaster
Episode Five: Family
This episode investigated changes within the modern Western family structure, emphasizing its shifting definitions and the reduced focus on familial connections amid growing social isolation.
Notable Interviews
- Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC, former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
- Richard Eckersley
- Dan Phillips, executive at Macquarie Group
- Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, author of Kosher Sex
Episode Six: God
This installment examined the influence of religion within Western culture, addressing the growth of secularism and its possible effects on well-being and ethical principles.
Notable Interviews
- The Most Reverend Peter Jensen, former Anglican Archbishop of Sydney
- His Eminence George Cardinal Pell AC, former Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
- Dr Simon Longstaff, founder of the St James Ethics Centre
- Pastor Brian Houston, head of Hillsong Church
- Dr Muriel Porter OAM, journalist and author