Reproducing Coersion
– the artistic work
Reproducing coercion is the title of my master’s thesis, submitted for consideration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. The work consists of two parts: a written thesis and artistic work. You can find the thesis on the research catalogue, here.
As my artistic work, I created a series of shorts that explore authoritarian group (commonly referred to as cults) coercive techniques, particularly from the perspectives of members/followers.
The films journey into tools of control (often gone unnoticed by the recipient), manipulation and precaritization used by high-pressure groups. The emphasis is on the internalization of doctrine and how individuals view the world and themselves through the prism they’ve been coerced into. Each film explores a unique technique utilized by totalistic groups – have a gander below.
The story of love-bombing
This piece explores how the initial display of positivity and affection during the indoctrination process, creates a feeling of euphoria. Individuals are overcome with a sense of being understood and wanted or unique. Of course, as the recruit delves deeper into the social group, love-bombing is often replaced with guilt and control mechanisms.
Another technique explored in this short is how isolation is created in such groups: by renaming the main character and creating a disconnect with previous experiences, the group creates social isolation, often complemented with financial and ideological isolation and the dispensing of existing (viewing people outside the group as not being worthy of..) when in contact with “others”
The story of Coffee
The story of coffee explores behaviour control mechanisms utilized by coercive groups, often linked to thought control techiques. The main character feel excessive guilt as he extends the boundaries of doctrine.
The story of Joshua's Generation
This story explores a little known manipulative tactic: the way high-pressure groups assign grand, almost messianic roles to younger generations as a means of control and ideological reproduction.
This is accomplished by framing its young members as part of a “golden generation” or “Joshua’s Generation”, burdening them with the responsibility of ushering in a new world order, spreading “the truth,” or fulfilling a divine mission. The impact of such a coercion method is of course, internalization of doctrine, and guilt upon not meeting the grand goals assigned.
The story of Liz
Statements about being chosen or special are generally part of the leader’s ‘origin story,’ which includes a discovery of meaning following traumatic experiences, culminating in a mission to save mankind through some sort of divine guidance…
In The Story of Liz, we listen to her as she reveals that she’s chosen for the role through some divine/spiritual ordainment, and that she’s been appropriated with the ingenuity to heal traumas, which psychologists and experts can’t.
The story of Julia
In The Story of Julia, we look at how ideas can be planted in vulnerable individuals in need of professional help by such therapists and gurus.
By positioning herself as having possession to the sole truth, Liz plants ideas into Julia’s perception and makes Julia dependent on her for access to truth and healing.
The story of John Tobin
John Tobin is a fictionalized portrayal of an MLM-style guru who insists that the system itself is perfect and any failure to succeed within it is solely the fault of the individual.
His logic reflects some core tactic of coercive systems, mainly that the leader (or company) is infallible, that lack of success is due to lack of “trying hard enough” and doubt in the infallibility of the system is a personal flaw.
The film also highlights how loaded language and repetitive mantras (e.g., “The system works if you work the system”) short-circuit critical thinking.
The story of the tithing
This story explores how financial coercion operates as both a spiritual and systemic tool of control in cults. The protagonist is pressured to pledge a portion of their income “for the good,” with a promise that God will somehow provide abundance when sacrifice is made. . The task is framed as a divine obligation or a “necessary sacrifice” for salvation, community, or success, laying bare the psychological manipulation at play.