American Horror Story: Cult: The eye teaser analysis

One of the things that we’re looking forward to doing leading up to American Horror Story season 7 is providing an array of teaser analysis pieces. Today, we’re doing that in the form of a super-creepy one that is all about an eye. It’s a little bit creepy and garish, much in that way that many of them are, and it is meant to symbolize in some way fear or indoctrination.

Remember that with us being in the midst of American Horror Story: Cultthis season, we’re going to be seeing a number of different previews about influence and punishment. One of the main goals with any cult is getting you to pay attention to a cause and sticking with it. They find a way to crawl into your brain and simmer there — they play off of your greatest insecurities. That’s why we see so many groups with a cult mentality now. They plan into what is now a segmented, divided culture. We spend so much time on the internet, and not nearly enough time finding a way to actually engage with other humans. As a result of that, we often don’t get opportunities to see where other people stand or how they feel who are outside that peer group. That feeling of being “part of something” overtakes and you eventually end up similar to the eye in the teaser below — bloodshot, haunted, and desperate to do anything to stick around. Maybe you’re also afraid of what happens if you do something the cult disagrees with.

Remember, if you leave the cult, you’re often thought of as a traitor to the cause. You’re instantly hated, and those opposite the cult only love you because of that action. They still wouldn’t support you via any other means other than “good for you for disagreeing.”

This entire theme does force us in some ways to look at the show through a very political lens. With that, you can make obvious comparisons between cults and either political party currently in power. Regardless of where you lie on the political spectrum, there’s an obvious relationship between parties and cults. They’re zealous to support their own, and they often hate anyone who disagrees with that.

It’s even more interesting in the event that someone from a party disagrees with other people in that same group. For example, if a Republican disagrees with President Trump on something, the Democrats will celebrate them; yet, it’s not like they are suddenly going to vote for them in the next election, and these Republicans will lose support from party loyalists over them shifting from the ranks. That’s one of the biggest problems with society today; the two-party system breeds a cult-like atmosphere where everyone has to have the same collective views or face the consequences.

What’s your take on the eye teaser?

One way or another, we want to hear some more insight from you in the comments!

If you enjoyed reading our analysis here, we hope that you take a look at all of our other recent American Horror Story coverage. (Photo: FX.)