Ursula Poznanski’s literary masterpiece “Erebos,” portrays one clear message throughout the course of the story, the use of indoctrination through the setting of a roleplaying platform, recruiting teenage players into the late game developers very own cult, with one simple goal to achieve, revenge. The process of indoctrination includes a variety of manipulative techniques known as thought reform, a more technical term for brainwashing. Said techniques can be grouped into three major categories, deception, isolation, and finally, induced dependency on the cult. (HowStuffWorks) These three techniques can easily be seen throughout the plot of “Erebos,” and eventually come to shape the course of the novel. In relation to a cult, the technique …show more content…
The goal of isolation is for the cult to cut off members from the outside world. (HowStuffWorks) Cults often try to keep contact between new recruits and other cult members to a minimum. (HowStuffWorks) This is clearly displayed in “Erebos” that, when in-game players are only aloud to converse in cities, or when given permission to light a fire, ensuring that multiplayer contact is kept to a minimum. This also trelates back to reality, where members of the cult are strictly forbidden from conversing about their in-game life, the third rule stating: “The content of the game is secret. Do not speak to anyone about it, especially not to people who are not registered. Don’t pass information on to your friends or your family. Don’t post information on the Internet.” (Poznanski, p. 40) The reasoning for this isolation is to avoid suspicion, especially from outsiders who may not approve of the games illegal intentions. Often times, cults tend to believe that outsiders are dangerous. (HowStuffWorks) This can relate back to Erebos, considering that when suspicions arise in the outside world of the games content, the messenger gives the players the order to: “attend school every day and behave inconspicuously.” (Poznanski, p. 239) Overall, the clear objective of isolating players in Erebos is to indoctrinate them into accepting the rules for the well being of the cult as a …show more content…
Cults often demand absolute devotion, loyalty, and submission from members. (HowStuffWorks) Cults tend to control every minute of a victims life, allowing them no time to think or make their own decisions. (HowStuffWorks) In Erebos the messenger directs the majority of gameplay. At one point Nick notices: “The game had chucked him out or made him take a break; he’d never left it voluntarily.” (Poznanski, p.165) This showcases the messengers control over Nick as a player, showing that he decides when Nick shall take his leave. Induced dependency can also involve the victim being showered in gifts. (The Film Theorists) In Erebos this can be seen that after every real world task is completed, the user is rewarded in some way, whether it be a power up, some levels, or in Nick’s case, even a T-shirt of his favourite band. These gifts are often used to encourage a member’s submission to the cult. (HowStuffWorks) Overall the decision-making and distribution of gifts allows the victim to become more and more dependent on the cult, allowing for a victims indoctrination to occur at much quicker
These people were using a script that had been embedded into them by their religion and their community, and were behaving the way they were 'supposed' to as deemed by the people around
Furthermore, because the monster was placed under extreme isolation—only having contact from a far with the De Lacey and being shunned by them when he chose to reveal himself—he was not able to connect with anyone much like how feral children were unable to connect with other people. With this in mind, it is evident that these factors during the monster’s development plays an important role in his acquisition of certain ideologies. Examining the cases of feral children will provide insights into the essence of human nature, identity, and the impact of experience on human learning (Illes and Murphy 1); these insights can then be implemented into the evaluation of the monster’s overall character. The factors that affected the development of the monster is the key to unlocking why the monster’s nature.
Stereotypes in artwork can either be perpetuated or challenged depending upon how the artist presents the material. Sometimes this is clear, as in The Liberation of Aunt Jemima where the artist deliberately uses different representations through time to illustrate the deconstruction of a racist stereotype. However, art can sometimes be quite extraordinary in that the waters are never clear; is a particular piece perpetuating a stereotype or challenging it?
Some of the people who joined the temple were told not to even think of it and if they tried to leave they would be
Food Temptation in “The Odyssey” There are millions of people living around the world. Although they live in different places, one of the things all of these people can relate to is the feeling of temptation. Whether it is the temptation to tell a secret or to cheat on an exam, everyone in the world has felt that feeling. This definitely applies to literature as well.
Societies each differ in the types of religious practices they have, there is a variation in how people relate with the supernatural. Many of the interactions people relate to with each other are highly ritualized. Rituals are recurring sets of behaviors that happen in the same patterns every time they take place. Almost all rituals do not have empirical connection between the means of them and the desired end; therefore, rituals are known as irrational acts. Rituals have experienced a retreat from the leading positions of anthropological thoughts.
They attend their for sexual pleasure from the Jezebels who work under the Gilead regime. Hence, proving that there is corruption within the society that is tied with biblical beliefs. It is the religious influences in Gilead that led them to be in that
This is seen when the students cover for John when he snuck back into the library and also in the way Vernon threatens the addition of more Saturday detentions to control the students’ actions. Similar to this is peer pressure. In the film peer pressure is used to encourage both positive (when behavior over conforms to expectations) and negative (when behavior under conforms to expectations) deviance. An example of negative deviance encouraged through peer pressure is when John convinces everyone else to smoke pot with him. An example of positive deviance would be in the way Brian tries so hard to please people, especially his parents.
The Christians believed that the pagans and Satanists sacrificed and took part in blood rituals and this is how the term cults came to be recognized as being associated with satanic
They often express how they are afraid or in fear, during meetings the followers are
Through partaking in interaction rituals, individuals become members of something greater than themselves. This feeling of being apart of something greater than oneself provides a moral community for the individuals, which then guides individuals in their beliefs and behaviors. It is similar to a never-ending circle; as individuals see the emotionally charged environment that this religion provides, they want to be a part of it, so they partake in unusual rituals, which furthers their engagement and emotional connectedness to their community. It almost reminds me a bit of an addiction. This community turns objects, such as poison and snakes as sacred, which in turn creates a sacred and profane world.
Theme Analysis Essay Is the world manipulating you? In Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card presents his audience with the theme of manipulation which is still relevant today. Ender was faced with manipulation throughout the entire book, just as soldiers are brainwashed throughout their service. In Ender’s Game, there are multiple manipulators who influence Ender and others.
I longed for the days of my childhood, where curiosity held a higher status quo in my life than what happened to be on the lunch menu that day. But those days lurked in the past, it seemed. The days of the countless childhood inquisitions remained a muddy dream I once dreamt long ago, when my mind was still fresh with sleep and yet awoken with the cruel ambience of life complimented the drudgery of school. But then, I stumbled upon a book,
There is no individualism allowed and inner thoughts are even considered a