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brekin wrote:SPOILER WARNING
.
Thought of another key tactic used by totalitarian systems that
was evident in the Dogtooth family I'm adding to the list.
An over seriousness in all things
preventing any humor. I think it was
Koestler who said "Dictators fear laughter more then bombs." Many
proclamations by the parents in the film would be greeted by
howls of laughter by less isolated children.
(I've also noticed a similar thing in most profession shows
on network television. The Cop, Lawyer, Doctor shows. Everything is so
serious, and any of the jokes are of the unfunny trench humor
or snarky I'm smarter then you type. In comparison I think of good Cop shows like
The Wire where people tell jokes, have nicknames, make fun of themselves
and each other.)
1. Constant competitions, tests and evaluations on trivialities for basic needs and wants.
2. Isolation from all outside influences, media, people, books, radio, t.v.
3. Fostering constant rivalry for attention and status.
4. Fostering constant spying and tattling.
5. Control of language including the power to (re)define words.
6. Control of sexual relations and partners through ignorance.
7. Creating impassible borders based on fear and exaggerating minor threats.
8. Demonizing harmless people, places and things.
9. Creating a routine of boredom and reward.
10. Idolizing those who are complicit in your confinement and ignorance. The captor as helper.
11. Limiting options and exaggerating the importance of the few allowed.
12. Fostering great concern and anticipation over trivial matters: dinner, entertainment
13. Orchestrating sporadic events of excitement and novelty, (falling airplanes, fish in the swimming pool, etc)
14. Authority figures appear to have complete mastery of the immediate realm and outside realm.
15. A over preoccupation with games and fitness that are joyless.
16. A over preoccupation and constant reporting of trivial matters; hours slept, hygeine, etc
17. Subject to continuous casual interrogation on all matters
18. Orchestrating sporadic events of horror and fear in which authority figures rescue and protect from etc)
19. Continuous training and preparation for events of horror
19. Continuous drill and inspection on mundane tasks
20. Authority figures only source and authors of history
21. Known history stresses dependence on, generosity of, and the need of authority figures
22. All media & entertainment reinforces known history
23. Examples of nonconformists are negative
24. No roles other than those provided by authority figures
25. Limited means and modes of expression
26. Authority figures determine what forms of expression and content are appropriate.
27. Total dependence on authority figures for all basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, medical, transportation, etc
28. All outside visitors are vetted by and in collusion with authority figures
29. Authority figures punish severely, often and with no recourse available.
30. Fictional hardships and disasters are continuously alluded to and continuously barely avoided.
31. No spiritual or religious expression not associated with authority figures
32. Authority figures sole providers and authors of education
33. Everything must be earned, and then dispensed by authority figures
34. An over seriousness in all things preventing any humor.
beg to differ on humor. It can perfectly coexist with the worst totalitarian systems, and most abusives ones as well. humor can serve as ventilation or survival tools, but they dont alleviate or off set abuse/control, IMO, from personal experience.
hava1 wrote:So, perhaps humor is being now weaponized.
Brekin, you know, now that this is coming up, I think it merits a bit of MK-MC digging, re programming involving humor. For this perhaps we should do some defining, and look up some recent "psycho social" and neuro-psychiatric research.
I agree the people in that movie were "flat", and had no humor, or for that matter any other emotions. Also they didnt get drunk or hi on substance etc. The were Zombified, but I submit that to create for instance "programmed sex slave" you'd want to develop a certain joviality and even develop high sense of humor, social one, but also other types. Its the first time I treat this as a separate issue, so my thoughts a sketchy, but definitely, for political analysis, humor does not rule out the worst tyrrany, sadism and what not.
Coincidently, or not (LOL), I happened to run into american project on humor research from the bio-psychological aspect, in partnership with some Israeli questionable researchers. So, perhaps humor is being now weaponized ))
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hum ... fect-smile
brekin wrote:.
Thought of another key tactic used by totalitarian systems that
was evident in the Dogtooth family I'm adding to the list.
An over seriousness in all things
preventing any humor. I think it was
Koestler who said "Dictators fear laughter more then bombs." Many
proclamations by the parents in the film would be greeted by
howls of laughter by less isolated children.
brekin wrote:(I've also noticed a similar thing in most profession shows
on network television. The Cop, Lawyer, Doctor shows. Everything is so
serious, and any of the jokes are of the unfunny trench humor
or snarky I'm smarter then you type. In comparison I think of good Cop shows like
The Wire where people tell jokes, have nicknames, make fun of themselves
and each other.)
hava1 wrote:The were Zombified, but I submit that to create for instance "programmed sex slave" you'd want to develop a certain joviality and even develop high sense of humor, social one, but also other types. Its the first time I treat this as a separate issue, so my thoughts a sketchy, but definitely, for political analysis, humor does not rule out the worst tyrrany, sadism and what not.
brekin wrote:
.
Thought of another key tactic used by totalitarian systems that
was evident in the Dogtooth family I'm adding to the list.
An over seriousness in all things
preventing any humor. I think it was
Koestler who said "Dictators fear laughter more then bombs." Many
proclamations by the parents in the film would be greeted by
howls of laughter by less isolated children.
We've had enough discussions of Jon Stewart around here to suggest otherwise. I think it would depend upon the strength of the system in place, its rulers' confidence, and their personal neuroses.
brekin wrote:
(I've also noticed a similar thing in most profession shows
on network television. The Cop, Lawyer, Doctor shows. Everything is so
serious, and any of the jokes are of the unfunny trench humor
or snarky I'm smarter then you type. In comparison I think of good Cop shows like
The Wire where people tell jokes, have nicknames, make fun of themselves
and each other.)
Yes, what I can't tolerate about most of those shows is the uber-confident inflection, the exaggerated swagger of the authority figures. It's as if they are robotically free and clean from any form of genuine vulnerability or self reflection. I mean, who acts that, ever?
Project Willow wrote:OK, could someone explain to me what part of this thread represents a cliquish process, or a call to play a game, because it's all quite over my head. You know, sometimes I'm just not that savvy.
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