Half a Century of Exhaustion and Madness: The Fiftieth Anniversary of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon

This article explores the cultural critique expressed in this album: according to Pink Floyd, the pressures of modern life threaten our mental health. It is argued that this critique remains as urgent as fifty years ago, and probably even more so. The album warns us about the insanity of a highly competitive, achievement-oriented society obsessed by economic growth, which leads to ever-increasing numbers of those suffering from mental health conditions such as burnout and depression.