Discuss Wild Wild Country
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An interesting look at freedom of/from religion, freedom of expression and human tendencies to be happily deceived...
posted by Daddie0STAFFMOD on March 22, 2018 at 2:16 PM
This series raises so many thought-provoking questions. It's far too easy to write this off as "lingering 60's" or "crazy 70's". The film, in the end, is tragically human. One of the things that I was left pondering is how we interpret current cultural pining for "being who you were made to be." This mantra seemed to be the underpinning for so much self-deception and brokenness in the end, even if it offered a few fleeting moments of hope. Does anyone else see that connection?
Reply by Renovatio
on June 16, 2018 at 9:20 PM
Absolutely... The message of the cult would resonate very much with a lot of my friends, successful professionals, but with some need in their lives for either social, familial or emotional connection...
I agree fully with how easy it is for us to delude ourselves in our "I am special" cultural outlook...
This documentary has a lot of material and themes for anyone who wants to think critically about cults of personality, about power, about self delusion on so many levels (from Sheela and Bogwan Rajneesh down to the lowliest worshiper)... But also, it allows for a nuanced look at personal and communal freedom, at our need to relate to one another in a non-commercial way, etc... This is also portrayed inside and outside of the cult...
Ultimately, I think the people who will get the most out of this documentary are those who can examine what is presented and not just watch through it without thought and reflection...
Reply by bam258
on April 29, 2020 at 1:35 PM
Agree with you both. I find the psychology of cult followers (and mainstream religions, which are a softer form of a cult) fascinating. I think it boils down to whether or not one wants to be in charge of their own destiny. It's so much easier to define that journey if there are people validating your choices (others in the cult). It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy with no room for actual self determination. All, I might add, in the name of "Freedom" when you've actually given up being able to make your own choices.