tools of force in the language of power - New Institute for Dramatic Writing

Apr 05, 2017 / 09:29

1.

a language of confusion
is a language of infiltration

we recognize the words, sometimes even how they are arranged
but neither sense nor communication is the goal

a language of confusion
is a ›non-lethal‹ language

imperial power brands its own vocabularies in which to speak its
non-hate hate
more open discrimination
extreme vetting
all lives matter
alternative facts
alternative right

these words come to
confuse
disrupt
incite/sudden/rage/
distract
terrorize
scatter

create more words shot, cross-fired into public spaces –
(of the people, by the people, from/for/and against the people)

and in the chaos of these words imperial power
trespasses
seizes
destroys

2.

Some market researchers project the ›non-lethal‹ or ›less-lethal‹ weapons industry will have a global worth of over 8 billion USD by 2020.

Growth is driven by demand for these weapons in the hands of law enforcement. Manufacturers cite ›crowd dispersing‹ as a key feature of these weapons and would like to know if your government has problems with:

civic unrest
large public assemblies
demonstrations
RIOTS
Police brutality problems? Arm your police with ›safe‹ weapons.

3.

A weapon is a tool of force. It is a tool designed – or used – to inflict bodily harm/exert force in order to gain an advantage offensively or defensively in conflict.

›Designed or used‹ is an important rhetorical distinction to consider.

Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Pro-weapon lobbies argue if one’s intention is to harm, any object can be used as a weapon. This argument puts 100% of the onus on the user of the tool, intentionally obfuscating the fact that certain tools have been designed with the singular application of causing harm to living bodies. While user intention is important to consider, manufacturers of ›less lethal‹ weapons are creating a rhetoric of safety around these weapons; proposing the user can still act upon their intention to exert force, but the weapon will mitigate that force into a »safe« amount*.

(*if used properly)

4.

Tear gas is considered a form of chemical warfare. It was banned in war during the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993. The majority of nations in the world signed off on this. However, tear gas is only illegal in ›war‹. It’s perfectly legal to use tear gas domestically, in crowd** control.

(**against protestors)

5.

Police brutality is still a very lethal problem. #BlackLivesMatter

6.

The Active Denial System is a »less-lethal« mounted ray gun currently on the market. It works like a microwave targeting the water molecules beneath your skin causing sudden, extreme heat. It burns you from the inside until you run away.

7.

Cultivating active denial is an important psychological aspect of the web power abusers construct around their victims and bystanders. Denial is a normal, knee-jerk mechanism the psyche often implements in response to the trauma of abuse, making it an advantageous tool abusers use to obscure the reality of their crimes. Families, societies, and those being abused often participate in active denial systems (unconsciously/consciously) because certain truths are too painful. Certain truths burn you from the inside.

8.

language is a tool

›words don’t kill people, people kill people‹

with what intention do you use it?

linguistic tear gas

what about those words specifically designed to harm?

to choke you, blind you

those words specifically designed to

burn you, shock you, condemn you,

specifically designed to

gaslight you,

to harm.