Liz, co-host of the TrueAnon podcast and a Shen Yun attendee, dives deep into the mysterious dance group's cult-like features. They discuss the troubling connections to the Falun Gong movement and allegations of exploitation and emotional abuse of performers. Liz critiques the marketing tactics that mask controversial beliefs under the guise of cultural revival. With a humorous lens, the conversation navigates the bizarre intersection of performance art and extremist politics while offering unexpected insights into the audience experience.
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First Encounter
Liz first encountered Falun Gong protests as a child, seeing signs about organ harvesting.
Years later, she connected those protests to Shen Yun billboards and attended a show.
insights INSIGHT
Shen Yun's True Mission
Shen Yun's performances spread Falun Gong's message and Li Hongzhi's teachings.
Li uses Shen Yun to portray himself as divine, contrasting with an evil Chinese Communist Party.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Attending Shen Yun
Liz and Brace attended Shen Yun at Lincoln Center, witnessing floating performers.
They found Li Hongzhi's beliefs confusing, including his views on race mixing and heaven.
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Cultish
The Language of Fanaticism
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In 'Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism,' Amanda Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community, and us/them attitudes in cults and cult-like groups lies in the use of language. The book delves into the verbal elements that make these communities 'cultish,' including the redefinition of words, euphemisms, and other linguistic tricks. Montell analyzes various groups such as Jonestown, Scientology, NXIVM, and even modern entities like SoulCycle and social media influencers, highlighting how these groups use language to create a sense of belonging and loyalty. The book is praised for its engaging narrative, original research, and incisive analysis of the power of language in shaping human behavior.
You’re walking through the mall or driving down the street, and there it is again: a pastel-colored poster featuring a leaping dancer. It reads: Shen Yun, China Before Communism. What even IS this lavish dance show whose advertisements haunt all our towns? Is it a religion? A political party? A theatre troupe? What is their mission? Is the dancing even good? And where does Shen Yun find the budget for all this marketing?? This week, Amanda is joined by special guests Liz and Brace of the TrueAnon podcast (@trueanonpod) to break down the culty undercurrents of Shen Yun, the ultra-mysterious, Falun Gong-backed dance company that’s less about “reviving ancient Chinese culture” and more about, oh, say, labor exploitation, emotional abuse, and apocalyptic doomsday beliefs. ALLEGEDLY. Tune in as we pirouette through the cultiest corners of this not-so-harmless night at the theater. 🎭💸✨
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Sounds Like A Cult 