Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

Peter Joseph

Peter Joseph is an American independent filmmaker, author, and social activist. He is best known for writing, directing, scoring, and producing the Zeitgeist film series. He is also the founder of the related Zeitgeist Movement. Other work by Joseph includes the 2017 book The New Human Rights Movement: Reinventing the Economy to End Oppression.

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Peter Joseph
Peter Joseph wearing a dark shirt with a yellow lanyard, looking left of camera
Joseph in 2010
Born (1979-02-04) February 4, 19791
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States2
Alma mater
Occupations
Years active2007–present
Known for
Websitepeterjoseph.info

Peter Joseph (born February 4, 1979) is an American independent filmmaker, author, and social activist. He is best known for writing, directing, scoring, and producing the Zeitgeist film series. He is also the founder of the related Zeitgeist Movement.34 Other work by Joseph includes the 2017 book The New Human Rights Movement: Reinventing the Economy to End Oppression.5

Early life and education

Joseph was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1979 and attended the University of North Carolina and The New School.6

Career and activism

In 2008, Joseph founded the Zeitgeist Movement, a self-described "sustainability advocacy organization". It was originally started as the "activist arm" of an organization called the Venus Project, launched by Jacque Fresco in 1994. In 2011, the two organizations separated.78 The movement is critical of market capitalism and advocates sustainability, ecological concerns, and the application of science and technology to social organization.910

In 2012, Joseph created the satirical miniseries Culture in Decline, which challenges various contemporary cultural phenomena.1112 In June 2013, he directed the official music video for Black Sabbath's single "God Is Dead?", from the album 13.13 The video incorporates extensive footage and symbolism drawn from the Zeitgeist film series.14

In March 2017, BenBella Books published Joseph's book The New Human Rights Movement. Abby Martin subsequently discussed the book and Joseph's views in an interview on Telesur.15

Revolution Now!, media coverage

In 2020, Joseph launched the weekly solo podcast Revolution Now!, which deals with systems science, structural economics, structural violence, and contemporary geopolitical affairs.16 Joseph's work with the movement and the Zeitgeist film trilogy has been the subject of national media attention, including articles in The New York Times, The Palm Beach Post, VC Reporter, and TheMarker.171819

Filmography

Film

  • Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)
  • Zeitgeist: Addendum (2008)
  • Zeitgeist: Moving Forward (2011)
  • InterReflections (2020)
  • Zeitgeist: Requiem (2024)

Television

  • Culture in Decline (2012)

Music videos

Publications

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Biography | Peter Joseph". August 13, 2017. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. "Peter Joseph, Official Media Archive". peterjoseph.info. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  3. Donovan, Travis (May 16, 2015). "The Zeitgeist Movement: Envisioning A Sustainable Future". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  4. Mcelroy, Damien (June 17, 2012). "Forest boy 'inspired by Zeitgeist movement'". The Telegraph. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  5. Tanguay, Brian (September 26, 2017). "Peter Joseph's 'The New Human Rights Movement'". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  6. "Biography – Peter Joseph". peterjoseph.info. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  7. Bill Stamets (February 15, 2011). "Art-house films: 'Marwencol,' 'Zeitgeist'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  8. "The view from Venus". Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  9. Cohn, Shane (May 12, 2011). "New world re-order". VC Reporter. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  10. Resnick, Jan (February 25, 2009). "The Zeitgeist Movement". Psychotherapy in Australia. 15 (2). ISSN 1323-0921.
  11. "Culture in decline" in IMDB
  12. "Culture in decline" Website
  13. Dukes, Billy (June 10, 2013). "Black Sabbath Explore Themes of Greed, War and Religon[sic] in New 'God Is Dead?' Video". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  14. "Black Sabbath Taps Controversial Filmmaker Peter Joseph for 'God Is Dead?' Video". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. June 8, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  15. "Abby Martin Discusses the Absurdity of Capitalism with Peter Joseph". YouTube. August 18, 2017. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  16. "Podcast". Peter Joseph | Official Website. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  17. Feuer, Alan (March 17, 2009). "They've Seen the Future and Dislike the Present". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  18. Rhonda Swan, A dream worth having, The Palm Beach Post, May 1, 2009
  19. New world re-order: The Zeitgeist Movement spreads to Ventura County Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Shane Cohn, VC Reporter, May 12, 2011
External links