English Lecturer Interview Script: Candidate Redirecting Focus on Literary Theory

This interview script demonstrates the strategic use of subliminal nudges, techniques from NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), and psychological redirections. By employing these methods, the candidate subtly steers the conversation towards topics of their expertise and interest, particularly literary theory and Marxism.

Script

• Interviewer: Introduce yourself.
• Candidate: I am ____. I completed my Master’s in English Literature from ___ University with a first division. I have six years of teaching experience at ____. I am particularly fascinated by literary theories, especially Marxism, and its application to literary works.
  (Hint: The candidate subtly redirects the discussion to Marxism right from the first answer.)
• Interviewer: What is it that you like about Marxism?
• Candidate: Every theory has its drawbacks and strengths. I find Marxist concepts, such as alienation, quite compelling. For instance, the alienation of workers from society, as they neither own what they produce nor benefit directly from its profit, results in class conflict. Moreover, I find the application of class conflict in feminism particularly intriguing.
  (Subliminal nudge: The answer invites questions on alienation, class conflict, or feminism, with the latter subtly emphasized for focus.)
• Interviewer: How do you see class conflict in feminism? What do you mean?
• Candidate: Reproductive labor is a prime example. Women often perform domestic chores without pay. If such tasks were outsourced—like hiring a cleaner or laundry services—they would be expensive. A housewife does them for free, yet is exploited in the process. This dynamic perpetuates two conflicting classes: women and patriarchal hierarchies. Interestingly, Derrida’s perspective on such hierarchies is also enlightening and worth exploring.
  (Subliminal nudge: The candidate transitions the discussion to Derrida’s deconstruction of violent hierarchies.)
• Interviewer: How does Derrida explain these hierarchies?
• Candidate: Derrida argues that all binaries inherently form hierarchies. For instance, “day” is privileged over “night,” “bourgeoisie” over “worker,” and “men” over “women.” These hierarchies are violent as they create domination. However, I find Bookchin’s take on hierarchies in Social Ecology even more elaborate and insightful.
  (Subliminal nudge: The candidate transitions the discussion to Bookchin by connecting the dots.)
• Interviewer: How does Bookchin view hierarchies?
• Candidate: Bookchin identifies hierarchies as the root of societal issues but extends this idea to explain humanity’s domination of nature. He argues that the domination of humans by other humans—what he terms “primary hierarchy”—paved the way for humanity’s exploitation of the natural world. For instance, during the Enlightenment, the idea of nature as a machine to be controlled inflated humanity’s ego. It’s fascinating to trace the later evils of society back to this pivotal era.
  (Subliminal nudge: The candidate transitions the discussion to the Enlightenment and its broader implications.)
• Interviewer: How did the Enlightenment contribute to human ego and societal evils? Can you elaborate?
• Candidate: The Enlightenment prioritized reason over emotion, which, while revolutionary, also gave rise to ideologies such as Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism provided justifications for evils like colonization by framing colonized peoples as “barbaric” or “savage,” in need of the “civilizing” guidance of the white race. This ideology enabled exploitation under the guise of moral responsibility.

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Techniques Used

• Subliminal Nudges: The candidate subtly plants ideas to guide the direction of the interview.
• NLP Techniques: Strategic phrasing redirects the interviewer’s focus toward desired topics.
• Psychological Redirection: By connecting related topics, the candidate transitions seamlessly between concepts like Marxism, feminism, Derrida, and Bookchin.
• Topic Framing: Complex ideas are framed in a way that invites deeper exploration by the interviewer.
• Hinting at Expertise: The candidate demonstrates their knowledge without overtly stating it, allowing the interviewer to draw conclusions.