Cult: A Landscape of Language and Power
Yahan Qiu
Created by a discourse of fear, of unknown, and of change, cults build a hierarchy system of identity and values. In the power structure within cults, language is used as a tool to maintain authority and set the boundaries in comparison with other societal groups.
This research aims to analyze the formation and presentation of cults as a cultural element, and the language-power system cults use as a social control through case studies. Furthermore, this research applies the idea of “cult” as a methodology to several cultural phenomena and analyzes the essence of cult representation in contemporary society.
Project 1: Metamorphosis
With the collected generic units of narrative structure that helps to understand the premise and essence of the discourse in cults, Metamorphosis presents cult as a narrative that depends on the form of expression.
By mixing propaganda films and cult videos, this video explores the possibility of establishing new narratives by rearranging the existing footages.
Project 2: Creepy Better Chicken
Creepy Better Chicken is an online fake news/conspiracy theory archive that presents narratives from the randomly chosen words in an existing news report. It includes the on/off mode to view the original contents. This website aims to explore the creative potential of language as well as its role in altering information and defining reality.
Since there is an ambiguity of meaning inherent in the communication of both language and the internet, the website is a piece both creating and revealing the cultic communication. After the words and images are disconnected from their original context, people are able to view the generated narratives in alternative social, political, or simply humorous ways.
Project 3: Mechanism of Language
This is a poetic video essay focusing on daily communication, consigning, and reception of messages. It expresses a personal understanding of language and meaning.
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