The ethical implications of subliminal psychological manipulation are huge. It is said that the arts can be masters of communication, but what if the message is being communicated subliminally? And what if that message is not a concrete fact but an emotional feeling, something that drives you to act?
Techniques are used to manipulate how you think and feel in the environment you are in. What are these techniques that make us feel those fight or flight or must-buy-it-now urges?
The Observatories is an experimental art work developed by Pink & Freeman, a scientist artist team that explores psychological manipulation of consumers… will you buy into it? Take part and find out…
The work was has been shown in the following places:
- Middleton Hall, Milton Keynes Shopping Centre, in the UK, as part of ‘Translations’ 21-27 September 2009. Read the Arts Council case study report.
- The Science Museum’s Dana Centre, 18 February 2010
- The Science Communication Conference, 24 May 2010
Commissioned by Fringe MK.
