I am currently watching television programmes

[BrandonD]

After hearing about its similarity to X Files, my girlfriend and I started watching Fringe. It's alright, nothing spectacular - themes and archetypes that essentially support the establishment, but with hints of subversive themes here and there.

One segment of an episode stood out for me however, because for me it was a crystal-clear example of subconscious programming, or NLP, or whatever one chooses to call it. The episode was about a building that disappears into an alternate universe.

In the episode, the building's disappearance is mentioned in the news as an "unscheduled controlled demolition". Immediately afterwards, one of the characters says "The conspiracy nuts will have a field day with this", followed by, "some people will believe anything."

When a building is demolished it is simply called a demolition, the term "controlled demolition" is used today almost exclusively in association with 9/11 - the word "controlled" is added to emphasize the opinion that the buildings did not accidentally come down. In a regular demolition it is obvious that the buildings did not accidentally come down.

I think this scene is an excellent example of slick subconscious programming at work. First a phrase is brought up which arouses a subconscious association of a controversial subject. Immediately afterwards, emotionally charged phrases are used which are meant to guide the viewer's thinking with regards to that subject. Result: associations are strengthened between 9/11 controlled demolition and conspiracy nuts and gullible people.

For the record, I think these sort of tactics are not always intentional. People can also do these sorts of things without realizing it. An example that comes to mind would be a person putting his hand on his heart when he speaks, and people become more inclined to believe him, and so he starts doing this gesture all the time - because he has made a subconscious association between the gesture and increased persuasiveness. He is manipulating people without full conscious awareness of what he is doing.

[elfismiles]

I remember that episode of FRINGE. I really liked that series.

Gotta remember that there is in fact a demolition company called CONTROLLED DEMOLITION:

Controlled Demolition, Inc.
www.controlled-demolition.com

Re: Mind Kontrol Themes on TeleVision
Post by elfismiles » 05 Feb 2010 14:42

<snip>

Fringe's first ep of season 2 has a congressional hearing member refer to fringe divisions X division predecessor.

- SMiles

... and ...

Re: Mind Kontrol Themes on TeleVision
Post by elfismiles » 29 Jan 2010 22:13
<snip>
Was thinking of starting a new thread exclusively on MK / parapolitical / paranormal themes in FRINGE.

Last night's episode featured a Nazi committing gene-based bio-warfare. His name was Hoffman.

I didn't realize the season had restarted. I had been caught up but last night's episode was #14 in Season 2 so now it seems I have eps 11-12-13 to watch asap before the Winter Season Finale.
<snip>

[elfismiles]

... meanwhile ... my wife and I have been watching THE KILLING. We're in the midst of Season Two.

The last episode we watched included an aide to one of the political characters trying to blackmail her bosses opponent by reminding him of what he'd done to her when she was 14 years old and the guy replies something to the effect of "are you so naïve that you think your dad (a powerful senator) didn't know?"

That's possibly only the second overt reference in the series so far to the sexual trafficking of children - definitely the first to suggest "familial" networking of same.

[Laodicean]

RIPS to Sons of Anarchy and The Newsroom.

Really looking forward to the season (series?) finale of The Fall. Gillian Anderson's performance is exemplary.

[BrandonD]

I remember that episode of FRINGE. I really liked that series.

Gotta remember that there is in fact a demolition company called CONTROLLED DEMOLITION:

Oh wow I had no idea, thank you for that info

Yea I've actually grown a bit attached to the characters at this point in the series, when my gf and I are walking around town pretty much all our jokes are related to Fringe Division. People listening in would think we were pretty ridiculous.

EDIT: one addition though, is the existence of that company considered common knowledge? Because I consider the relation of the term "controlled demolition" and 9/11 to be common knowledge to the type of person who would watch a show like Fringe.

[justdrew]

well, I think the generic term for that type of building removal was/is Implosion, but some people said controlled demolition too, probably that one company was trying to q-tip the cotton swab.

[BrandonD]

I recommend Penny Dreadful, good dialogue, interesting story, dark creepy atmosphere.

[MinM]

After hearing about its similarity to X Files, my girlfriend and I started watching Fringe. It's alright, nothing spectacular - themes and archetypes that essentially support the establishment, but with hints of subversive themes here and there.

One segment of an episode stood out for me however, because for me it was a crystal-clear example of subconscious programming, or NLP, or whatever one chooses to call it. The episode was about a building that disappears into an alternate universe.

In the episode, the building's disappearance is mentioned in the news as an "unscheduled controlled demolition". Immediately afterwards, one of the characters says "The conspiracy nuts will have a field day with this", followed by, "some people will believe anything."

When a building is demolished it is simply called a demolition, the term "controlled demolition" is used today almost exclusively in association with 9/11 - the word "controlled" is added to emphasize the opinion that the buildings did not accidentally come down. In a regular demolition it is obvious that the buildings did not accidentally come down.

I think this scene is an excellent example of slick subconscious programming at work. First a phrase is brought up which arouses a subconscious association of a controversial subject. Immediately afterwards, emotionally charged phrases are used which are meant to guide the viewer's thinking with regards to that subject. Result: associations are strengthened between 9/11 controlled demolition and conspiracy nuts and gullible people.

For the record, I think these sort of tactics are not always intentional. People can also do these sorts of things without realizing it. An example that comes to mind would be a person putting his hand on his heart when he speaks, and people become more inclined to believe him, and so he starts doing this gesture all the time - because he has made a subconscious association between the gesture and increased persuasiveness. He is manipulating people without full conscious awareness of what he is doing.

Having done the fringe binge myself about a year ago your take is spot on. Some other series that seem to veer towards the subversive side in someways .. Person of Interest, Leverage, Nikita, Sherlock Holmes and Elementary .. to name a few.

[justdrew]

FYI they are apparently going to "reboot" x files

[justdrew]

FYI... Venture Bros season 6 special, out now...

[jingofever]

FYI they are apparently going to "reboot" x files :roll:

For whatever reason the 90s were the right time for that kind of thing, with shows like X-Files, Sightings, Unsolved Mysteries, Twin Peaks; movies like Independence Day, Fire in the Sky, Men in Black, and the X-Files; and radio shows like Coast to Coast AM. That kind of spooky stuff has tapered off. Art Bell came back with the expected results, and he is supposed to come back again this year, but he is probably going to keep inviting the same guests he had in the 90s and they will say the same things they have said since the 90s. People do not seem to care about the paranormal anymore. We need a good flap to reverse that. Art might be able to latch onto the fears of AI but what is the X-Files going to do?

[IanEye]

The Fall

[stefano]

....very much enjoyed this low-key comedy by Mackenzie Crook...with Toby Jones co-starring

Thanks lots for this! Finished watching it last week and absolutely loved it. It's not exactly a comedy - like The Office there is plenty of pathos and sadness in it. I loved the theme of treasure, literal and metaphorical... how it doesn't really matter that they miss the treasure hoard at the end. Awesome stuff, beautifully filmed with love for the countryside - the insects and oaks and birds. I love the music too. It made me think of Nick Drake, and I was thrilled when he got a mention in the bit before they play the pub.





Great TV, thanks again.

[MinM]

This sounds like it could be interesting ...

“Odyssey” (Sunday, April 5, 10 p.m.)

In this “Traffic”-like action drama, an international conspiracy explodes when three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide — a female soldier, a corporate lawyer and a political activist. After a team of American soldiers battles Jihadists in North Africa, they’re shocked to find that one of the men they killed is Al Qaeda’s top man. Sgt. Odelle Ballard (Anna Friel, “Pushing Daisies”) — a soldier, mother, wife and the unit’s only female member — discovers computer files that suggest a major U.S. corporation is funding the Jihadists. But before she can tell anyone, her team is attacked and left for dead. News is reported that the unit was wiped out, but the truth is that Odelle survived and is the only witness to her unit’s assassination by U.S. Special Forces.

In New York, former U.S. Attorney Peter Decker (Peter Facinelli, “Nurse Jackie”) is working on a merger deal for the same company that was funneling money to the Jihadists. Meanwhile, Harrison Walters (Jake Robinson, “The Carrie Diaries”), a political activist and trust fund kid, meets a hacker who claims to have unearthed a massive military-industrial conspiracy. And he’s right: He’s stumbled onto the cover-up that began with Odelle and will soon be out in the open and everyone’s lives will be in danger. The only way they’ll ever save their country, their families and themselves is by joining forces and exposing the people behind it...

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/1 ... py/338884/

[semper occultus]

Great TV, thanks again.

...happy to share...!

...there is talk of a second series I believe......hopefully becuase he genuinely wants to do it & not just because it got good ratings so the suits demand another one...