quote:

Originally posted by DoubleZer0:
Please... help me decipher some of this...

for information and the full source list for this work.

quote:

Originally posted by ImonKPagain2:

quote:

Originally posted by ImonKPagain2:
The Zeitgeist movement, as some call it, is nothing more than a rehash of the failed phylosophy of rationalism.

Rationlaism's origins with "I think, therefore I am" developed into word gymnastics to really promote an idealised self-image. However this proved inadequate for the human condition. One can tell themselves over and over that they can become some realised human being, a Kwisatz Haderach say, but never achieve it.

The practicioners must come to realise that they are either limited by their own shortcomings to achieve the ideal or blame other people, institutions or society for stifling their potential. It is from the latter instance that other philospohers have latched upon.

Nietzsche blamed lesser human beings.
Marx promoted social equality with an enforcement mechanizm.
Humanism hoped that through rational, logical argument people would accept it.
Zeitgeist promotes the idealised society of Jacque Fresco with citizens programed to accept a form of rationalism.

I watched the movie Zeitgeist, sort of. I noticed something odd about it.

It starts out with images and noise. I found it irritating that a film claiming to be a doccumentry would endulge in what I first thought was someone's Koyaanisqatsi esque art project. So, rather than just sit there wasting time, I left the video running and booted up the solitaire game.

Finally the dialogue began. I just listened to the whole film and played cards. When you do this, you can make curious observations.

The first thing I noticed was I got a headache. I so seldom get headaches, and when the film was over, it went away. Throughout the film, there is a constant musical score. Often, the music is one note or chord going on for minutes. There is often a constant rythm of drumbeats. I began to have suspicions about this film, something wasn't right.

I watched the opening sequence again without sound. Then listened to the sound without video. Then watched it with sound and video. At times would stop the film and examine the stills.

This film is insideous! It starts out with shocking images, pulses of light and thumping rythms to induce a hypnotic state. After this sequence, a calm voice challenges the viewer to open up their minds to "consider" the "facts" presented with an open mind. What has happened is the viewer's mind is now open to hypnotic suggestion.

The images in the opening sequences are classic visual techniques for hypnosis. Flashing pulses of light in sequence to sounds. An infinity tunnel and a roiling cloud effect. The roiling cloud effect is presented again and again throughout the film. The constant musical score conceals hypnotic audio tones. Such tones are used in hypnotic tapes to help people stop smoking or overeating and so on. The Monroe institute has extensive information on these audio pulses and their affects.

After this opening visual, there are shocking scenes of war and suffering to induce shock and horror, again in sequence to thumping rythm. The roiling clouds and inclusions of faint second imaging occur throughout. For about 10 minutes, the viewer is conditioned with induction and then shock for the next sequence.

That of the calming voice that seems to appeal to the viewer to open their minds. In fact, the viewer is being asked for their permission to be hypnotised. Flickering and fading lines accompany the voice along with the roiling cloud effect. These three sequences now have the viewer's mind conditioned to accept the "facts" with little in the way of defensive, critical thinking.

With the viewer thus conditioned, the film goes on to make the claim that modern religious concepts, mostly Christian concept are all taken from ancient religions. The case is compelling, if one has no knowlege of ancient religions. The viewer is conditioned to accept these "facts" which in most cases are outright lies, as truth. Again with a constant musical score and roiling imagery.

Having shaken the viewer with this first part of the film, it goes on to spell out all manner of conspiracy theories and notions. But why? It's classic Hegelian dialectic. Create the problem, offer a solution. The problem: society, the solution: it's in the sequel.

I watched peoples' video responses to the film. Many expressed rage and hopelessness. Why would the filmmaker's wish to do that? The Zeitgeist website used to have a facts section to back up the evidence presented in the film. But after many critics blew holes in their arguments in the message board, it was altered and the boards were purged of critical thinkers.

The Zeitgeist films use audio/visual hypnosis techniques. From what I surmised at my first viewing, my interest in subliminal advertising and from the video responses other viewers have posted- it's clear that this is what's going on. So many wiewers have accepted the film's points without question.

One girl's video response in particular only added to my suspicions. She was visably upset, claiming that everything she once believed in she now believed was a lie. I didn't think she was dumb, but possably very naive. Upon further reflection, I couldn't believe she was that naive, but again, the motives of women can be so inscrutable. Either she bought into everything without question-a lack of critical thought-or she was coerced to accept everything without question.

Another video responder, a young man, was so enraged that he dropped F-bombs while rambling on about how he was enlightened to things he always suspected. He too accepted everything without question.

There are many others like these two.

There are many other such conspiracy movies out there, most dealing with the same topics. What was it about this one that causes such emotive reactions in people? If you compare Zeitgeist to Endgame, you see clearly the difference. In Endgame, Jones presents exhaustive supporting doccuments and events, he tries to back up the points with other items. In Zeitgeist, it's anecdotal, misleading and unsubstatiated with a leading naration. With Endgame, there is room left to make up your own mind about it and you're free to doubt. Jones even encourages you to do your own research-not so with Zeitgeist.

Here's some info about hypnosis
_____________________________
Hypnosis

While there is some argument over what exactly constitutes a "hypnotic state", hypnosis can be defined as the process of putting an individual into a state of heightened suggestibility.

There are a variety of applications for hypnosis - but for the purpose of self-help we use what is called hypnotherapy. As the name implies, hypnotherapy is simply the use of hypnosis in a therapeutic context.

While hypnotherapy is most frequently used to rid people of bad habits like smoking and over-eating; it has been proven useful in a variety of therapeutic areas; from overcoming sexual issues to pain relief.

How Hypnosis Works:
Hypnosis generally begins by putting the recipient into a hypnotic state. The process of inducing this state is known as an induction procedure. In old movies this was frequently shown being done with a pocket watch and some soft words - but these days most hypnotists use a combination of calming techniques and more sophisticated audio (and sometimes visual) triggers.

Self-hypnosis also first puts the user into a receptive state, using audio techniques in combination with the same calming methodology, albeit pre-recorded. Commonly used are Binaural Beats - designed to guide the users brain wave patterns towards a certain state (Usually Alpha or Theta), as well as calming audio backgrounds such as ocean waves, a waterfall, etc.


Once the user is in a receptive state, hypnotic suggestions are spoken to them. The particular suggestions will vary depending on the users goals; but will generally work best when:

The suggestions are believable to the user:
Being in a receptive state doesn't mean the listener is receptive to anything - i.e. you can't suggest someone stop smoking for fear they'll burst into flames or get bitten by a snake each time they light a cigarette.

The suggestions are desirable to the user:
This is usually the case with hypnotherapy, as the user has already decided to get help with what they consider problematic. Most people, even in the deepest hypnotic state simply won't do things they really don't want to do.

Because the user is in a receptive state the suggestions given to them and more readily accepted, as the more cynical thought processes present in a "normal" state are simply bypassed by the process of hypnosis.
________________________

This description of hypnosis is from a self-help group. The pricipals of hypnosis are covered, but from a beneficial, self-help standpoint. However, the processes are similar.
In Zeitgeist you have:

1 A calming voice which convinces the viewer to open their mind; this is a traditional hypnosis technique. The voice appeals to the conscious mind to open the subconscious. In a voluntary subject, say someone who wishes to quit smoking, that person will readily accept being hypnotised. The smoking habit is identified as a problem, something that troubles the voluntary subject; it is the target of the hypnosis. The subject has an emotional and intellectual motice to proceed with the hypnosis. This type of hypnosis works for someone who generally accepts what they are told without a lot of questions. This means young people. Although they seem rebelious to their elders, to their peers, they are very conformist. For the voluntary smoker trying to quit, his motive to conform stems from his desire to quit. For young people, convinced of their moral and intellectual supiriority which comes with the wisdom of youth, their motive to conform stems from their nature.

2 Scenes of war, violence and suffering to induce shock. This shock sets up the viewer for the ebbedded command phase. With a voluntary subject,(our smoker again) the hypnotist tells an interesting story that engages and distracts the conscious mind. The story contains hidden indirect suggestions that are usually accepted by the unconscious. For the smoker, it's the habit. For the viewer, it's that the world is falling apart.

3 Flashing square, infinity tunnel and noisey "music" for 10 minutes. This combination of sensory input completes the process. The viewer is conditioned to accept what they are told with little in the way of critical thinking.

Theraputic hypnosis and self-hypnosis uses a calming state to induce the hypnotic state. This is not necessary to induce hypnosis; shock, pain and anxiety can also be used. A calming state is preferred because it feels good to the subject and makes him or her associate good feelings with the programming.

The adendum film continues with the same old same old and then offers the "solution". The Venus project.
Where Nietzsche failed with supermen, Marx failed with enforcement, humanism falied with persuasion, Zeitgeist attempts to succeed with brainwashing.