MANIPULATION
Human Conditions Series
From economic leverage and extortion, to manipulating the senses, to changing the structure of society, people of power have taken advantage of the vulnerable and ignorant. Exploiting the weaknesses of the public... companies, governments, religious leaderships, communities and political and economic systems are incessantly influencing us. It is a pattern as old as time, as masses of people dedicated their existence to the benefit of the rich and powerful.
Human Conditions Series: Exploitation, 2024. Printed and multimedia collage, 16"x 11".
They use biochemistry, psychology... the innate instincts from our ancient ancestors and all those desires and fears to deliver us to their own conclusions. Sultans and Dictators, CEO's and Gurus, they may be honest or humble, but may be in the positions they are because they have the skills to leverage, suggest and manipulate people into serving their cause. It is not all bad, we have many great wonders like the Pyramids of Central America and Egypt, the Great Wall of China, industries like Alexander G. Bell's AT&T, Carnegie and J.P. Morgan's U.S. Steel Co., and Jeff Bezos' Amazon, works of art like from Andy Warhol's The Factory, the Medici funded Florence Renaissance, and the many artists funded by the wealthy, among great architectures, technologies and commodities... all made from the abuse and misuse of the sources from nature, their targeted customers, employees and taxpayers, not to forget... the lifetimes of dedication and work for no pay through slavery and forced labor.
It is part of the Human Condition, one in which some rise to the top, and are able to influence their environment and community. Some extort, exhaust, and exploit... others uplift, provide and improve. The inevitable change of time means these people will ultimately lose control of that power, and so they hold tight and can become consumed by the power, not wanting to surrender and succumb. But the effects they made often ripple through history as a common theme of mankind.
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