Ep 4. Envy

Morgan Spurlock's Seven Deadly Sins is a documentary series that explores the seven deadly sins - lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride - and their impact on society. Each episode focuses on one sin and explores its manifestations in various aspects of modern culture.

The fourth episode of the first season is titled "Envy." In this episode, Morgan Spurlock delves into how envy has become a driving force in our modern society. From social media to advertising, envy has become a pervasive cultural norm, inspiring people to covet the lives, possessions, and achievements of others.

The episode kicks off with Spurlock talking to a number of people who openly admit to feelings of envy and jealousy. He listens to their stories and explores the root causes of their emotions, uncovering a sense of inadequacy, feeling left behind, or lacking in some way.

Next, Spurlock takes a deep dive into the advertising industry, which has honed its ability to tap into consumers' insecurities and sell them solutions to their perceived shortcomings. He speaks with psychologists, marketers, and branding experts to understand how envy can be used as a marketing tool. He visits a luxury car dealership to see how the lure of status symbols can drive people to covet expensive possessions they don't necessarily need.

Spurlock then turns his attention to social media and how it has created an environment where envy can thrive. He interviews Instagram influencers who make a living curating their picture-perfect lives, which can create unrealistic expectations for their followers. He speaks with experts who explain how social media can reinforce a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) and amplify feelings of envy.

To get an even deeper understanding of envy, Spurlock interviews the CEO of a cutting-edge tech company that uses artificial intelligence to create hyper-realistic digital avatars - complete with customized personalities and life stories - that users can interact with. The avatars are designed to be ideal versions of their real-life owners, giving them the opportunity to live vicariously through their digital doppelgangers.

Throughout the episode, Spurlock also includes personal stories from individuals who have struggled with envy and its consequences. He talks to a man who nearly ruined his marriage because of his jealousy, a woman who found herself constantly comparing her life to others and feeling unfulfilled, and a recovering addict who admits that his addiction was fueled in part by a sense of envy towards others who seemed to have it all.

In the end, Spurlock comes to the conclusion that while envy may be a natural human emotion, it's important to recognize when it's taking control and strive to find more healthy ways to deal with it. Whether it's by practicing gratitude, finding fulfillment in individual passions and achievements, or simply disconnecting from social media and other sources of envy-inducing stimuli, there are ways to move past the negative effects of envy and find more positive ways to live.

Overall, "Envy" offers a thought-provoking look at how envy has become a pervasive force in modern culture, impacting everything from consumer behavior to social media habits. Through personal stories and expert interviews, Morgan Spurlock provides a nuanced exploration of this complex emotion and its consequences, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own experiences with envy and consider ways to move beyond it.