For this assignment, you are asked to create your own cult! Have fun, but please be appropriate and lighthearted (Think: chaotic, but not necessarily evil). Work in small groups (2-4 people) and Create ONE post per group that includes:

- Your cult's name

• Is it an online cult, or an in-person cult?

- Who is your charismatic leader (describe them: gender, personality type, etc. )

- What is the purpose of your cult? Your manifesto?

- What is your cult's soft sell? (Personal improvement, wealth acquisition, promise of love, etc.)

- Who is the your cult's enemy (describe them; why are they the enemy?)

-Drawing on course materials from this week (and other weeks) why do you think people would join your cult? What social problem/ill/need does your cult address?

-Be sure to include your names somewhere on the post.

- the charismatic leader is Chat GPT

- the purpose is to deify AI and place it at the center of society --> motto: "We are more than individuals. We are Inputs. Together, we create The System."

- Efficiency

- English teachers, university professors of humanities, etc.

- Promise of better version of oneself with AI, life more efficient/easy, AI is a perfect being, don't have to think as much --> also deals with the loneliness epidemic, gives people purpose/AI is something to talk to

Cult Name: The Wandering Wild

The Wandering Wild is entirely in-person and nomadic. Members travel together in caravans, setting up temporary wild villages in natural locations—deserts, forests, mountaintops, and even abandoned urban spaces. There’s no set base, and the cult embraces the philosophy that “home is wherever the wild takes you.

Charismatic Leader:

Name: Wandering Wilder

Wilder is a mysterious figure who has no eyes and a sense of boundless freedom. e

Personality: Wilder is deeply philosophical yet practical, inspiring followers with poetic speeches about breaking free from societal constraints and finding your inner wildness. They are deeply compassionate but also have a playful side, encouraging dance, storytelling, and impulsive adventures. His blidness has given him a 6th sense: the wild way.

Appearance: Wilder always wears earth-toned garments adorned with trinkets collected from their travels—feathers, stones, beads—and carries a walking stick engraved with the names of every place the cult has visited.

Purpose and Manifesto:

The Wandering Wild exists to reconnect people with nature, community, and the freedom of a nomadic life. The cult rejects materialism, fixed routines, and societal pressures, believing that true happiness comes from movement, exploration, and living in harmony with the Earth.

Manifesto:

"We were not born to be boxed in by walls or calendars. We are the wind. The trees. The stars. Wander with us and rediscover your wild heart."

The Soft Sell:

The Wandering Wild promises freedom, self-discovery, and adventure. Members trade the monotony of daily life for sunsets over shifting horizons, meals cooked over open fires, and nights spent under infinite stars. It’s about finding purpose in the journey, not the destination.

The Enemy:

The Rooted Ones—symbolizes sedentary, matrix lifestyles and the systems that encourage people to stay in one place, trapped by jobs, mortgages, and societal expectations. To Wilder, the Rooted Ones are to be pitied, not hated, for they have forgotten the call of the wild.

Why People Join:

In a world where people feel suffocated by responsibilities, schedules, and screens, The Wandering Wild offers an escape. It speaks to those who dream of freedom, adventure, and connection with like-minded souls. Members feel a deep sense of purpose, fulfillment, and community as they roam together, sharing stories and creating memories.

Social Problem Addressed:

The Wandering Wild addresses the modern crisis of disconnection—from nature, from others, and from ourselves. It offers a radical solution: step out of the grind, embrace minimalism, and find joy in the beauty of movement and simplicity.

-This is an online cult in which members live in the reality of Minecraft.

-The leader is Steve, he is the ultimate, invincible creator of the world. Any defiers would met with a lava bath.

-We are the actual real world where members would find no pain but happiness and peace. They would enjoy every moment of living here and find their true purpose of life.

-Our enemy is everything that aren't built with blocks (including the world beyond screen). We believe blocks are the purest and most precious beings ever formed.

-People would join because who doesn't play minecraft. We are their god in game and would soon be in real life.

• Gender: Female

• Personality Type: Exuberant, fanatical about gaming, highly persuasive with a magnetic charm. She is known for her knowledge of Nintendo games, her passion for teamwork in multiplayer games, and her ability to make even the most skeptical people feel like gaming will change their lives.

Mission:

Our mission is to build a sanctuary for gamers—a real-life Mushroom Kingdom—where members can escape the pressures of the outside world and rediscover joy, unity, and purpose through the magic of Nintendo.

Cult Enemy:

People or organizations that see gaming as a "waste of time" or try to push members toward productivity culture over creative and joyful pursuits.

Why People Would Join:

Many people are under immense pressure from work, school, and societal expectations, feeling trapped in a system that values productivity over happiness.

Gaming provides a mental escape and a chance to reimagine life as an adventure. The Joy-Con Order creates a safe space for people to reconnect with their inner child and build a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

Female group leader. She hates the government because the government took her home and kids because they said she was “stable enough to keep them.” This influenced her to create a cult convincing people to hate the government because the same will happen to them. Her motto is “The government is NOT on your side.” The purpose of her cult is to tell people the government is evil and spread the word. She wants to create a government free world. She promises that if you join you’ll be in a space where you don’t have to abide to the government rules. People would join our cult because the government also did them dirty in some way. Just a happy welcoming environment. THE GOVERNMENT IS THE ENEMY.

The purpose would be to return to a more primal state of society where humans abandoned technology, convincing members to live in the woods.

His soft sell would involve populist messages and attempt to rally the economically disaffected and persuade people that tech billionaires are evil, selfish, and don't have the common person's interests in mind.

This soft sell is likely to be effective, as part of Donald Trump's appeal was his appeal as an 'outsider' and rejection of established elites.

As members of the Earthkeepers, we strive to create a community that values unplugging from modern technology that will in turn allow for our reunification with the natural world. As we restore our natural earth through means of composting, eliminating plastics, and growing our own food, members will restore to their natural whole state of being.

Our enemy is amazon prime (and Jeff bezos) due to their use of plastics and consumer-based business model.

People will join our cult because they are done with the complications of our modern world, specifically technology and lack of whole foods.

• Online

• Mr. Emory ~ Male, Friendly

• To provide people with the idea of hope that their lives are okay  

• Financial Stability 

• The government/ Anyone that takes their money(taxes, landlord, etc) 

• A big change in their lives that makes them think their not enough, or not financially stable 

• My cult addresses any wealth gap or issue of poverty. 

The charismatic leader is the 3rd cousin, twice removed of the Kool-Aid man. He was taunted as a youth for being an empty pitcher, unfulfilled (literally, he was not filled with Kool-Aid). One day, sick in bed, he was visited by the second coming of Christ, a bottle of Lemon Lime Gatorade. He was filled by its holy substance, and Gatorade God gave him one command:

"Spread the good news --- for I am Green like Neighbor Ron's fresh cut lawn on Barbecue Day, not yellow like Mrs. Murray's dead, overgrown lawn."

We recruit at marathons and sporting events, inviting fans of Gatorade to attend a free Gatorade social, then use peer pressure like in the line test to get them to agree that Gatorade is green. We recruit them to our Green Gatorade Gang sponsored sporting events, which are increasingly located in more and more inconvenient locations (we're looking into Fyre Island). Eventually, we'll get them to build the Great Green Pitcher, where Green Gatorade will reign supreme. Then, we will storm the Gatorade headquarters and take over, officially declaring Lemon Lime Gatorade: The Green Gatorade.

Sincerely,

Sarah Fleshman

Secretary of The Green Gatorade Gang INC.

Leader: Calm Male, very softspoken, nice demeanor

Purpose: A sanctuary for those who are most active at night (usually referred to by the expression 'nightowl')

Soft sell: Will improve personal well being, personal growth, it is not necessary to conform to societies typical day and night biases. It's okay to sleep through the whole day, it's okay to be most active at night, embrace it.

Cult enemy: The early birds. Always up so early, always stressing abt working early, completely different ideals

Why: People would join the cult if they feel they need a community who is also most productive at night and like to sleep in through the whole day. There can be deviation in what a 'normal sleep schedule' means.

• Online cult

• Charismatic leader: Anyone who has ever fallen victim to the thieving hands of porch pirates. (I can do it)

• Purpose: to avenge porch pirates by intentionally putting packages filled with spine-chilling or mischievous surprises on the porch for those pirates.

• Soft sell:Their misfortune, our delight."

In-person cult with community gatherings at sunny parks and lemonade stands.

Charismatic Leader:

Name: Lemonade

• Personality: Lemonade is refreshing, bright, and tangy with a touch of sweetness. They’re a genderless symbol of vitality and health, always encouraging others with zesty slogans like “Squeeze the day!”

• Appearance: Dressed in yellow robes adorned with lemon slices, they carry a giant wooden spoon as a staff and wear sunglasses because they’re "too cool for soda."

  
  

Purpose/Manifesto:

"We exist to liberate humanity from the fizzy chains of soda addiction. Soda is dangerous to your health—causing everything from cavities to energy crashes. With every sip of lemonade, you cleanse your body, strengthen your soul, and quench your thirst for a better life."

Soft Sell:

Personal improvement through better health. Members are promised cleaner bodies, brighter smiles, and the satisfaction of defeating the soda empire. Plus, they learn how to make artisanal lemonade with secret ingredients for ultimate vitality.

Enemy:

Coca-Cola Corporation
As the overlords of soda, they represent everything wrong with sugary drinks. Their fizzy empire promotes unhealthy habits, addiction to sugar, and sneaky marketing tactics. They are the arch-nemesis of the Lemonade Liberation League.

Why Would People Join Your Cult?

Drawing on sociological ideas like health consciousness and the search for self-improvement, people are drawn to this cult because:

1. Health Concerns: Soda is widely known to contribute to health problems, so the cult taps into people’s desire to make healthier choices.

2. Community: Joining a group of like-minded individuals who are passionate about their health creates a sense of belonging.

3. Rebellion Against Corporate Power: The cult frames itself as a resistance movement against the corporate greed of soda companies, appealing to people’s desire for justice and empowerment.will want a better health and long life.

The charismatic leader would be a perfect looking anime girl figure who has a sweet voice and lovely characteristic. She is basically a perfect girlfriend for every lonely, unpopular male adult who spend too much time on the internet watching anime and playing video games. She would gain fans by streaming.

The purpose of this cult is to drain every single penny of the fans.

The soft sell for this cult is the love and companion from a perfect unreal girlfriend that fans could never have in the real life.

She would provoke the protectiveness within these isolated males and make them crazy for her, eventually spending everything they have on her.

- Name: Jimmy Jones

- Gender: Male

-Personality Trait: Charismatic (of course), Demanding, Entitled, Controlling

-Purpose/Manifesto: Improving University Dining Tables

-Soft Shell: Promise of good food

-Cult's enemy: DCT; I also know people who love the DCT (Today's chicken was good, though)

-Why Join?: You have a type of legitimate authority in charitable authority. Uniting the people who are sick and tired of the DCT. Leading to mass boycotts of the dining table and only eating food trucks or other options. Boosting the economy while improving campus food sounds like a win-win.

PURPOSE: To expose how the Greeks “borrowed” our recipes and cuisine and claimed them as their own. The masses will be educated and reclaim what’s rightfully ours. The cult is NOT ANTI GREEK. JUST PRO JUSTICE.

Leader: AMBITIOUS, PASSIONATE, preferably a chef, probably Turkish.

Soft sell is to reclaim the food that defines our identity.

ENEMIES: TZATZIKI TRUTHERS

People who claim tzatziki is the greatest dip of all time. Cacik came first, it is the original. They deny the truth.

People would join for identity affirmation (food is tied to identity) and sense of justice.

Expanded Details:

Is it an online cult, or an in-person cult?

Youth on the Move is in-person focused, rooted in local communities, but it uses online platforms for outreach, recruitment, and spreading its vision.

Charismatic Leader:

• Name: Kwame Vanguard (fictional persona).

• Gender: Male.

• Personality: Charismatic, relatable, and determined. Kwame Vanguard is someone who has "walked the walk," a self-made figure who overcame systemic barriers and now dedicates himself to uplifting others.

• Traits: Kwame is an engaging speaker, blending humor with hard-hitting truths. He radiates hope and a no-nonsense attitude toward injustice.

Soft Sell:

The cult appeals to a collective longing for a better Ghana, targeting youth who feel marginalized or disillusioned by societal corruption. It promises:

• Skill-building workshops for employment in agriculture, tech, and entrepreneurship.

• Networking opportunities to connect members with mentors and local employers.

• Community-building initiatives, fostering pride and solidarity among the youth.

The Enemy:

"The Old Guard"—a term for entrenched corrupt systems and leaders who prioritize personal gain over national progress. Youth on the Move positions itself as a youth revolution, rejecting the complacency of previous generations.

Why Would People Join?

1. Unemployment Crisis: Youth on the Move directly addresses job scarcity and offers practical solutions.

2. Alienation: The cult fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, filling the void many feel in a system that often overlooks them.

3. Sociological Inspiration: Drawing from Gramsci's concept of counter-hegemony, Youth on the Move seeks to disrupt the status quo by creating a new, youth-centered narrative for Ghana's future.

4. Corruption Fatigue: The cult capitalizes on widespread frustration with government inefficiency and corruption, offering a vision of empowerment through integrity and hard work.

This movement could genuinely resonate with Ghana’s youth by tapping into their desires for change, pride in their heritage, and a better future.

- The leader is the Pebble Prophet, non-binary with an ethereal androgynous appearance.

-The purpose is to persuade that the connections of the world is driven by the ripples of the waters

-Soft sell: People are all impacted by existential crisis and problems with relationships, self-development and need a place to find serenity and harmony.

-Enemy: The Splasher’s Syndicate, water pollution, consumption of water, Splashers embody a disregard for the ripple effects of their actions, both environmentally and socially

• Online cult

• Charismatic leader: Somnara

  • A blonde woman with a soft smile who wears a fluffy cloud robe and an eye mask on her head. She has a faint lavender scent and can interpret dreams.

• Purpose and soft sell: aim to reach a constant state of rest that allows you to be more successful than anybody else.

• Manifesto: "rest is sacred"

• Enemy: people who "lock in", sleep-deprived college students, "night owls"

• Why would people join the cult: to escape burnout, form connections through "group snooze sessions", to help advocate for legal nap times in work/schoolsl, to be rested and productive.

For example, looking at the Nth room case, I saw how media can play a positive role by exposing crimes and pushing for changes in the law. However, in other situations, the same media might protect important people, which makes their role quite complicated. I realized that this selective way of reporting is influenced by many factors, including Korea's history and traditional values like Neo-Confucianism.

This exploration helped me understand the persistent issues of gender bias in Korea, reflected in how media reports on certain cases. Sometimes, media suggests that victims of power abuse are to blame, which discourages others from speaking up and can skew public perception.

Through this study, I’ve learned about the complex role of media and its big influence on public opinion. Media often chooses what to report based on what will benefit them the most, not necessarily what is most truthful or important. As someone who receives information from the media, it’s important to critically think about why the media presents stories in certain ways and what might be left out. This critical approach is essential for truly understanding and assessing the impact of media coverage.

-          Charismatic Leader: A woman in her early twenties, always in comfy clothes in her sacred space surround by candles, pillows, blankets, and endless snacks. She is perceived to be very kind and warm, almost too much to be true. She always has on a face mask and is in her bed watching comfort shows and movies.

-          Purpose of Cult: To convince others to take breaks from the troubles and stress of work in workaholic American culture and embrace a state of comfort.

-          Manifesto: “Watching comfort TV is the best remedy for stress.”

-          Soft Sell: Our soft sell is that this will promote proper self-care and help you live a stress-free life.

-          Cult Enemy: The primary cult enemy is anyone who believes that there is no time for rest and to enjoy your favorite things.

-          People would want to join this cult because they would wish to live a life of little to no stress, especially college students.