plural noun: mind games
- a series of deliberate actions or responses planned for psychological effect on another, typically for amusement or competitive advantage.
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| April 4, 2020 |
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Faith in the Future bookends at Away From Home Festival, 8.30.21 |
"So keep on playing those mind games together
Faith in the future, out of the now"
Lyrics from Mind Games by John Lennon
What a perfect summation of Louis Tomlinson's dilemma in 2021. "Mind Games" are a form of psychological manipulation in which faith in the future is sometimes the only constructive, practical response. Especially, when a power imbalance is present and there is no level playing field possible.
And...what Is Manipulation?
Manipulation is the exercise of harmful influence over others. People who manipulate others attack their mental and emotional sides to get what they want. The person manipulating — called the manipulator — seeks to create an imbalance of power, and take advantage of a victim to get power, control, benefits, and/or privileges at the expense of the victim.
The most vicious and sophisticated kind of manipulation is an action that is set up, based on an imbalance of power (Sony), to convince others (e.g., Louis/One Direction Fans, Larries, 2022 ticket holders for Louis' long delayed upcoming tour, etc.) that the targeted victim (Louis Tomlinson) -- "Why are we always stuck/fucking [and] running from the bullets?" -- is actually a willing behind the scenes collaborator and therefore should be the one punished/blamed for an obviously orchestrated stunt. [Lyric from Harry Styles' song, Sign of the Times.]
Let that reality sink in for a moment.
The most vicious and sophisticated kind of manipulation is an action that is set up, based on an imbalance of power, to convince others that the targeted victim is actually a willing collaborator who should be the one punished/blamed for an obviously orchestrated stunt.
The bull's-eye hit was to construct/arrange for a high profile event/occurrence, let's say on Christmas Eve and a certain someone's 30th birthday. Use social media to continue to control a narrative that the real perpetrators (Sony) know will land a gut punch on the mental and emotional well-being of a vulnerable fandom population. Then through a series of deliberate and planned actions (images/audio/video of Freddie Reign at the Tomlinson family Christmas gathering this past weekend) pull the trigger.
And, BOOM! The weapon is fired and the bullets hit their intended human target. When all is said and done, that's what we witnessed on Christmas Eve. Along with being reminded that Louis "won't be the first or be the last to bleed" as he tells us in his song, "Copy of a Copy of a Copy". After all, this six-year long public torture has been designed to not only punish Louis personally, but to deter other LGBTQ+ artists from ever stepping out of line and daring to want to live and work openly.
And one of those familiar artists just might be more indentured than Sony's carefully crafted public image would suggest. That's right. Ask why would Harry Styles' explicit version of "Sign of the Times," use a collective pronoun in his 2017 lyric - "Why are we always fucking running from the bullets?" and it becomes clearer where some of Sony's leverage over Louis comes from.
Don't forget the image of a bull's eye target that Louis has been warning educating everyone about for years?
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| Target on Louis' chest with red bullet holes, 2019 |
You know, the Vetements t-shirt with the bullet holes in the front and the back?
Then there's the concentric circles with Louis helplessly laying prone on top of the bull's-eye from his 2020 music video for "Walls."
And here's Louis standing on a bull's-eye during his Livestream show in December 2020.
By the way, see those lights surrounding him? They are actually two lights parallel to one another. Forming what looks like an equal sign. Now why would Louis make that particular aesthetic choice?
Looks similar to the Human Rights Campaign logo, doesn't it? Mr. Perfectionist doesn't miss an opportunity to communicate subversively; no matter how dire the situation is. Never forget that Louis Tomlinson has always been an expert at Meta Messaging. We just need to pay attention.
The Human Rights Campaign logo is one of the most recognizable symbols of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. It has become synonymous with the fight for equal rights for LGBTQ+ Americans.
HRC Logo Two parallel lines signifying equality.
Within this context, here's a disturbing thought to remember before we continue. When Babygate ends, there must be someone to blame. If past experience is prologue one can be assured that there is no way Simon Cowell will take the fall. Like any good mob boss, he's made sure to distance himself publicly from this stunt. A reality Louis was made to acknowledge in July 2020, when he tweeted about a "mutual" parting of the ways with Cowell. Sony retaining all of Syco's music assets, including One Direction. For public consumption, there is nothing but an amicable separation allowed. Don't be mistaken though. Babygate began in 2015, so Simon Cowell is still very much around. No matter how many electric bicycles he tries to convince the public he has fallen off of, Cowell is a master at Barnum and Bailey manipulation.
Then there's Modest Management (Richard Griffiths and Harry Magee), but the passing of time has rehabilitated their reputations. Out of sight, out of mind. And don't forget, whatever deal was made in 2014/1015 Sony/Syco made sure that they would represent Niall Horan. Because, surely Niall wouldn't "sleep" with the enemy. That's right. Sony/Syco made sure to protect themselves with the Teflon force shield of Niall Horan. And, finally, no way will Sony/Columbia (Rob Stringer) be blamed for any of this. After all, they are all Harry's best "buds" (sarcasm intended). Don't forget, there was a reason why Columbia Records signed Harry and no one else from One Direction, back on June 23, 2016; six months into the hiatus that the mega music corporation were instrumental in arranging. The scripted delayed designed to make it seem like Harry actually had options. Five months after Freddie Reign was allegedly born.
Rob Stringer's appearance at Harry's, Love on Tour show in New York this past October was also purposeful. A media-trained Harry publicly waxing poetic about what a wonderful man he is. The action just a few months before Sony used the spotlight of Louis' 30th birthday to strike a powerful blow against the Larrie/Louis fandoms. Remember?
I want to embarrass someone. Over there is Rob, Rob runs my record label, and because of that man, and because of you, I get to make whatever music I want. And I’m very lucky that I have the support of you incredible people. I’m very lucky for you, thank you. I’m lucky that for you and that man, this is my favorite thing to do. Shall we carry on? This is Canyon Moon!
Harry thanking Rob and the crowd in NYC, Madison Square Garden - 16/10/21
Just like a visual image, words can also be used to make a powerful impression. And the timing of Harry's statement was meant to convey the singer's contentment with his professional life and Sony's "support."
So with the usual suspects eliminated, and image rights, NDAs, media control, and other contractual clauses suppressing the actual truth of the origins and continuation of Babygate six years later, the only one left to take the fall is Louis Tomlinson himself. That's right. The victim of this horrendous stunt will be placed front and center, with the target on his back, in front of the firing squad of his own fandom. That is what the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day antics with Freddie were all about. Let's bring down the Tomlinson family as well, while we're at it. And we here at Narnia have no doubt that if Jay were alive today, she would be brought down with the rest of them. And least we forget, if Harry doesn't go along with this hiatus scheme, well his career will either be destroyed or some other cruel and manipulative fate will befall him as well. Maybe his own baby scandal to prove his Lothario image once and for all. That is, if Sony determines that Fine Line has created a strong enough straight fan base to get rid of those pesky Larries once and for all. Remember Sony has tons of leverage and positional advantage over both Louis and Harry. Louis leaving Syco doesn't change that. There's a reason Modest Management is still listed as One Direction's managers.
That's why Louis was rolled out on full display over the weekend. Unprotected. Vulnerable. A target on his back. Hopefully, in the coming days, the outrage and anger will subside. It's only natural that fans would think that there is something a clever guy like Louis can do with all his millions to get out of this situation without a child having to continue to be exploited and fans attacked for their support. That's how a rational person would think. To keep our sanity, we always want to believe that we can control what's happening to us. But, this is not a normal situation. It never has been. There is a power imbalance of gargantuan dimensions between Sony and Louis Tomlinson. This stunt resides on another plane of maliciousness. Remember, there are reasons why Harry Styles, and no doubt Louis Tomlinson as well, are in therapy.
With time to reassess, perhaps some perspective will be gained. If not, Sony's manipulations and mind games will have succeeded for their own amusement and competitive advantage. But, Louis and Harry deserve better than that. We deserve better. Or, as Niall reminded everyone on October 16, 2021, the same day Harry was made to kiss Rob Stringer's ass, this corporate behemoth has destroyed other gay icons who would not play their closeted games.
Don't let Sony do the same to one of the most talented, hard-working and courageous guys in the music industry. After eleven years, Louis Tomlinson has more than proven his depth of his character and his desire to be free. Let's hope that in the end, everyone remembers those provable truths. Because, as John Lennon reminds us, "Love is the answer. You got to let it grow."
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| Love the triangle, Nialler! |
pic sources: Tumble, Twitter, Away From Home Livestream, HRC, 1883 Magazine
our playlist: Mind Games - John Lennon
I'm Just A Jealous Guy - John Lennon
A Copy of A Copy of A Copy - Louis Tomlinson
I Knew You Were Waiting - George Michael and Aretha Franklin
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