Practical Philosophy and Investigation
of Influence in Performance
by Kenton Knepper

A student of mine wrote to me asking why language is so deceptive, why do psychological forces work, and that he was studying all of this along with the impact of visuals and sound on an audience.

These are huge topics, but I know many will benefit from even beginning to consider some of my suggestions here. While my student is engaged at University with a subfield called “Philosophy of Language”, my remarks to him will help any who want to know more about influence in performance, or what to study in-depth beyond Wonder Words and some of my other writing.

Here are my comments to my student. I am privileged that he has allowed me to share my response to him with you.

You bring up many important questions that you alone must ponder for yourself. I can but guide you.

A single word answer to why language, psychological forces, and these other things work, I guess the one word answer would be “association.”

Words are usable in that they are associated to something greater. We’ll put aside an actual vibratory possibility for now and just look at the more mundane aspects.

Think of a lamp. Do you have a lamp in mind? Okay, I do too. But the thought of a lamp is not the thing itself. Your association to the word “lamp” may be very different than mine, based on experience, memory or, in short, our associations to the word “lamp.”

Now if we add enough details will it be perfectly clear to a listener what we mean? I meant by “lamp” a freestanding lamp made up of a Tiffany-like pattern in oranges, reds and blues, with dragonflies, on a dark copper antique base. The top is domed with the opening downward and the lamp’s stand runs right up the middle of the lamp. There is a switch on the cord of the lamp to turn it on and off. That is very precise, isn’t it?

Now do we both see the same lamp in our minds?

I forgot to mention that I have two such lamps; one sits on my desk and one stands five feet up from the ground.

Do we both know exactly what I mean now?

Not even close.

Why? Because words mainly point to other things, and they can only provide so much information about those other things. A picture or even a drawing would better communicate the lamp I meant to someone else. Truly “A picture is worth ten thousand words.”

“I want you to have a healthy and happy new year now!” is about as direct as a statement gets, don’t you think?

But is it so clear, or does it depend on the context?

Let’s imagine you had a very happy and healthy year last year. A note from me saying to you “I want you to have a healthy and happy new year now!” will likely be interpreted as having more of the same as you did in the year previous.

Of course, if you received this note on or around the start of a New Year, you would take this statement to mean that I was wishing you well in the New Year. In fact, you’d probably take my comment and translate it in your mind as “Kenton wishes my a Happy New Year.”

But if you had been ill or had unhappy events or both in the past year that would lead to three different interpretations of “I want you to have a healthy and happy new year now!” Think about these differences.

So no matter how specific we get, what words mean must be interpreted based upon experience and common associations. In this sense, perhaps some Gestalt study might be in order too, I don’t know. It might make some of those pieces fit for you.

Association and assumption. Context. Those are principles to keep in mind always.

I hardly think you can examine much of this without looking into what is below or beyond the conscious mind as well.

Psychological forces have to do with association, shared experiences, cultural roles and habits, and some would say symbolic/Collective Unconscious motivations/associations/understandings.

These are large topics. Studying Jung would probably tell you much concerning all of this.

Often “scientific work” on such topics has to do with recording results, and rebuking psychics. But such science seems not to be great at doing anything more than guessing why these results occur than anyone else.

“Patterns” are simply a way of saying “these things occur more often than other things” but that’s not much of an explanation.

It is important observation, especially as far as illusion making is concerned. Yet the term “patterns” does not actually explain anything anymore than saying “coincidence” explains two incidents, seemingly related, as occurring. I have long said “Coincidence is a description, not an explanation or excuse” but science uses such terms as if they are giving explanations rather than mere labels and descriptions. So be very observant and scrupulous as you do your research in these areas. Don’t let more word illusions fool you into thinking you have an answer when what you really have are new words.

If you consider most of this as illusions being created by associations, it should take you far in your thinking.

Associations, assumptions and context are all broad categories for you to consider when it comes to illusion, word trickery and psychological forces. You have my book “Mystery By Association” so that will give you plenty to work with easily as you go on from that and intensify your study.

When it comes to imagery and sound, you are at a whole different level. Imagery and sound is the realm of the emotions and subconscious, and even Collective Unconscious. Both relate to vibration, and it is interesting that we say something “moves us” or “shakes us up” when it comes to music and visual art.

Any Mystery School worth the name understands the value of both sound and visuals. I speak often about “visual education” as you know. You are aware I also work with tools such as Tibetan Bells (bowls) as part of my lineage. You can strike a few sounds on Tibetan Bells and - poof - instance mental shift. You will hear these bells of course in my Subliminal Effects CD set and in most of the hypnosis or guided meditation CDs that I do. I have also used them on stage for ages (See Secrets of Indirection).

Tarot is one way used to consider associations of symbolism and how these change people who contemplate such imagery. Often specific sounds are added while looking at certain imagery to increase its impact.

On the most mundane level, what we call “color” is simply different vibrations of pure light. Some suggest then that using color can change how people feel. Others may scoff, but anyone involved in the theatre will attest to the importance of the use of color to enhance emotional reaction.

When you study imagery, you must also study Pythagoras, “Sacred Geometry” and such.

Or just have a visit with Pink Floyd.

An easy way to see how music, imagery, color, symbol and geometry influence masses greatly is by obtaining a copy of Pink Floyd’s live performance titled “Pulse” on DVD. Watching this for three hours will put you in another realm whether you like their music or not. The more you watch it, and the more you study, the more you will appreciate what is going on in this performance.

If you want to get that DVD, or find links to Tarot and Jungian relationships, Pythagorean work in Tarot form, Tibetan Bells, visual association DVDs and more, just go here.

Look under each category to the left of the homepage at that link to find numerous options to consider. The Pink Floyd DVD you’ll find in the DVD section there. These are things I study, contemplate and use myself when creating material for magic and mentalism.

I also have mentioned in my book “Mystery By Association” that there are certain films using visuals and music only as their way of communicating without words at all.
You will find those at the link above too.

These films give ways to additionally look into the filmmaker’s research on these issues.

All of this is to give you but a start.

But it’s a start.

And the end of the journey always begins with your first step.

Kenton