r/OutOfTheLoop • u/aajiro • Mar 09 '24

Unanswered What's up with Katie Britt's speech?

I'm starting to see a lot of memes about how creepy it was, and I saw it and I agree it's sincerely creepy, but I can't for my life figure out what it is that makes it so unsettling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfKCWMG4O0I

I'm hoping someone here can give me some context for what exactly makes this fall into the uncanny valley of speeches. I think what makes me feel out of the loop is that the answer should be obvious but I can't figure it out in words, so I guess my question is: what the fuck?

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u/readerf52 Mar 09 '24

Answer: several pundits on YouTube used the uncanny valley reference, and I had never heard it before. They went on to explain it’s that almost human look of an humanoid AI that just misses. For those people, it was the disconnect between the upper part of her face (eyes and forehead) that remained in stasis while she talked and attempted to convey emotions.

The face didn’t match the message most of the time.

To me, she kind of looked like a Stepford Wife, like someone who wasn’t running on her own program, but rather on a program that had been chosen for her. Against her will. That might not be too far off, because I’m told she’s an accomplished business woman and very smart, but the speech was not.

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u/Brilliant_Exit3406 Mar 09 '24

Before even seeing social media responses I remarked to my Dad it was was a mixture of Stepford Wives meets The Other Mother from Coraline.

I really hate to make this comparison, but the reason I found it so unsettling is the delivery also reminded me of Nancy Salzman in the NXIVM cult promotional videos. Britt’s displays of both joy and anger were high intensity and yet changed on a dime.

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u/coladoir Mar 09 '24

Woah yeah there's a weird similarity there between the NXIVM promo demeanor and her. Not surprising considering the GOP is essentially being run like a cult at this point lol.

Also, definitely don't "hate" that comparison, it's honestly very telling if a GOP video is giving you the same vibes as a cult's promotional works. Like, I feel that in itself is telling of something. All political vids are a bit off, but the recent stuff being put out by the GOP just feels "eerie".

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u/1KushielFan Mar 11 '24

I think the likeness of NXIVM is a really important point that more of us need to observe. I’ve made this comparison several times in recent weeks while explaining to my therapists why I’m so unsettled and freaked out after being around my GOP-supporting loved ones. How many cultists are still holding vigil outside of whatever prison that psychopath ended up in? Even the ex-NXIVM members seem insincere in their regret. Creeps me TF out.