At the end of the nineteenth century, a fanatical craze for

Yes — that quote is correctly attributed to Adam Curtis, the British documentary filmmaker and journalist, best known for his works on social and political issues, including The Century of the Self and HyperNormalisation.

“At the end of the nineteenth century, a fanatical craze for physical fitness swept through Britain. Millions of men and women took up gymnastics, body building, and other physical exercises. Such a thing had never happened before, and it was given a name - Physical Culture.”
— Adam Curtis

Context and Background

This quote comes from **Adam Curtis’s exploration of the rise of “Physical Culture” in late 19th-century Britain, which is part of his broader analysis of social trends and cultural movements. Curtis often uses history to explore the interplay between political, social, and psychological forces that shape modern life. In this case, he examines the emerging obsession with physical fitness as a cultural phenomenon that paralleled the rise of individualism and personal responsibility in modern society.

The "Physical Culture" movement, which became prominent in the late 1800s, was part of a larger shift in Western society towards self-improvement and control over one's body, influencing trends in fitness and wellness that continue today.

Interpretation

• “A fanatical craze for physical fitness” — refers to the intense and widespread interest in physical fitness during this time, a significant cultural shift compared to previous generations.

• “Millions of men and women took up gymnastics, body building, and other physical exercises” — highlights how fitness became a mass movement, with people from all walks of life engaging in activities once seen as niche or unusual.

• “Such a thing had never happened before, and it was given a name - Physical Culture” — points to the novelty of this phenomenon, which gave rise to a new societal focus on the body and physical health as part of one’s identity and self-worth.

Summary

Adam Curtis’s quote reflects his examination of the cultural shift at the end of the 19th century, when physical fitness became a mainstream obsession. The rise of Physical Culture was part of a larger trend in which people sought to shape and perfect their bodies, mirroring the increasing focus on individual self-discipline and personal agency in modern society. Curtis often explores such trends to reveal how they influence contemporary social and psychological dynamics.