I think the Seed was relatively low tech in comparison. During the time period that I was there, '78 - '85, the program was in a down sized phase, having shrunk from thousands of kids, many of them court-ordered, to a mere handful - ranging from 1 - 4 newcomers on the 'front row,' with about 25 'oldtimers' hanging around to support the program. We met in an old factory space on SR 84 in Florida, which was a big concrete bunker with row upon row of empty chairs, big garage doors that opened to the rough Florida swamp borders. There was a crude baseball diamond in the back we made ourselves. The only music ever used was what we made ourselves, I don't remember any recorded music of any kind. Raps went from 8 - 8 pm when I first came in the program, with a 20 minute break for hotdogs and koolaid. Soon after, we went to 8 - 6 I think. We had big 'Open Meetings' that had a revival flavor, with singing, yelling, and tearful testimonials from later phase and graduate kids (that read like they were straight out of The Source magazine, from today's programs!)Of course, 'what's heard at the Seed stays at the Seed,' and EVERYTHING was top secret.
Raps were often funny, sometimes brutal, but heartfelt (although limited to recitation of what was 'appropriate' - ie, Seed good, me bad, me good with Seed (maybe), me VERY bad without. Outside world - forget about it, 'they' just don't get it).
There were no Propheets (what a name!) but whatever we did, we did with intensity, especially if Art was around. If he decided we'd play baseball, we might play from 3 - 10 pm. If we were addressing envelopes for a mailing, we might work from 8 am to 10 pm, with a typical 20 minute lunch and maybe a break to sing some Christmas or other Seed songs. It was considered 'ungrateful' to do any less. There was a certain amount of euphoria in any of these experiences, but the manipulation was relatively crude by the standards you cite. Long hours, hard physical and psychological work, love-flooding.
When we went 'home' in the first phase of our program, we were sent to live with a group of (same sex) oldcomers who would stay up late, cajoling the newcomers with jokes, plying them with emotional, teary testimonials, teasing, yelling at them - whatever it took. The emotions never abated, you were never alone.
We had these intense 'talent shows' that were pretty crazy - kids singing and dancing and in outrageious, often sexy costumes they'd made themselves. Seems normal enough, but the intensity came from the fact that we were so stiffled in any other form of expression and sexuality that these talent shows had considerable impact, both on the Seed performers and Seed audience.
Guys and 'chicks' were strictly separated, except for the annual 'talent shows' and weekend ball games. Dating occured only among very senior oldcomers, and only with staff approval from the very top (Art Barker). Sanctioned dating typically led very soon to marriage for those priveleged few.
Failure to follow any of the rules, stated or unstated, or to be 'ungrateful,' led to immediate disapproveal from the group, perhaps yelling, verbal abuse, ostracisism, and banashment. Those who left were never spoken about again, perhaps years later and in hushed tones. Even senior staff members got 'started over' on the front row for some unnamed infraction, or just would disappear one day. You just knew not to ask; maybe you'd be forced to suffer a similar fate.
Of course, it wasn't always so serious, and a lot of our time there was full of serious bonding, and summer-camp like 'fun,' although of a very particular kind.
I'm sure others might have different experiences, depending upon when they came in, who they lived with, etc.
[ This Message was edited by: cleveland on 2004-12-30 07:08 ]