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| '''Landmark Education''' Limited Liability Company (LELLC), formerly known from about 1991 to 2002 as Landmark Education Corporation (LEC), lineal descendant of Werner Erhard and Associates (]) and of "est" or ], might characterise itself as a ] selling ] or a business selling ] distinctions. | '''Landmark Education''' Limited Liability Company (LELLC), formerly known from about 1991 to 2002 as Landmark Education Corporation (LEC), lineal descendant of Werner Erhard and Associates (]) and of "est" or ], might characterise itself as a ] selling ] or a business selling ] distinctions. | ||
| Others have categorised it as an ] and attributed it with ] or ]-like characteristics, mentioning words like ], ], ] or "biz-cult". (See ) | Others have categorised it as an ] and attributed it with ] or ]-like characteristics, mentioning words like ], ], ] or "biz-cult". (''See'' ) | ||
| '''Methodology''' | '''Methodology''' | ||
| Landmark is an international employee-owned ] having more than half of its offices in North America and the remaining in Europe, Asian, African and Australian countries. Landmark promotes the "work" and "technology" of ], though without stressing his name, his ideological forebears (people have cited ], ], ] and ]) or his sometimes ] reputation. | |||
| Landmark works by enrolling guests of seminar participants to attend the ], encouraging them to transform their lives and enrolling their family members, friends and acquaintances in the meantime. Others see this as a process of recruitment of guests by word-of-mouth which initiates them into attending more and more seminars. The Landmark Forum has been conducted in 26 countries - | |||
| Landmark, an international employee-owned ] having offices throughout North America and in several other Western-oriented countries (Kenya, for example) on other continents, promotes the "work" and "technology" of ], though without stressing his name, his ideological forebears (people have cited ], ], ] and ]) or his sometimes ] reputation. It recruits ("enrols") seminar participants ("guests") by word of mouth to attend a Landmark Forum, encourages them to "transform" their attitudes ("]") and "enrol" themselves into the "possibility" of more (and more) seminars in the future, "enrolling" their family members, friends and acquaintances in the meantime. Instances of the Landmark "Forum" have taken place in Japan, Israel, India, Mexico, Romania, Jamaica, South Africa and the Philippines, among other countries. | |||
| * ] - ], ], ], the ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| * ] - ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * N. America - ], ], ] | |||
| * S. America - ] | |||
| * ] and ] | |||
| Many participants become |
Many participants become assistants for the corporation, Their status is of volunteer unpaid workers, a status the ] has deemed equivalent to that of employees, with rights to remuneration and benefits. If successful in enrollment, assistants may join the "elite" staff. | ||
| '''Stated Attitudes''' | '''Stated Attitudes''' | ||
| Landmark presents itself as "not therapy" and opposes ] (an attitude shared with or inherited from ]). However some participants suggest that some of its practices ( |
Landmark presents itself as "not therapy" and opposes ] (an attitude shared with or inherited from ]). However some participants suggest that some of its practices (or exercises) resemble ]. | ||
| Landmark forestalls some potential criticism by setting up ( |
Landmark forestalls some potential criticism by setting up (or creating) an atmosphere of trust and by disparaging ]ed questioning as ]. | ||
| At one time Landmark touted its new methods of ] as ] ]. More recent changes in ] have seen it associate its work with the concept of ]. | At one time Landmark touted its new methods of ] as ] ]. More recent changes in ] have seen it associate its work with the concept of ]. | ||
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| '''Reactions''' | '''Reactions''' | ||
| Landmark ] may seem pervasive and confusing. Some participants' confusion/enthusiasm has allegedly led to ] issues and legal action (Refer the book by Martin Lell, ''Das Forum: Protokoll einer Gehirnwäsche: Der Psycho-Konzern Landmark Education'', Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich, 1997, ISBN 3423360216). Most graduates of Landmark programs express quasi-religious commitment to "the work", at least initially. | |||
| '''Evaluations''' | '''Evaluations''' | ||
Revision as of 18:23, 24 August 2003
Landmark Education Limited Liability Company (LELLC), formerly known from about 1991 to 2002 as Landmark Education Corporation (LEC), lineal descendant of Werner Erhard and Associates (WEA) and of "est" or Erhard Seminars Training, might characterise itself as a business selling transformation or a business selling ontological distinctions.
Others have categorised it as an large group awareness training and attributed it with multi-level marketing or cult-like characteristics, mentioning words like brainwashing, hypnotism, parasitism or "biz-cult". (See http://home.swbell.net/danchase/forum.htm )
Methodology Landmark is an international employee-owned corporation having more than half of its offices in North America and the remaining in Europe, Asian, African and Australian countries. Landmark promotes the "work" and "technology" of Werner Erhard, though without stressing his name, his ideological forebears (people have cited Heidegger, Scientology, Fernando Flores and Zen) or his sometimes controversial reputation.
Landmark works by enrolling guests of seminar participants to attend the Landmark Forum, encouraging them to transform their lives and enrolling their family members, friends and acquaintances in the meantime. Others see this as a process of recruitment of guests by word-of-mouth which initiates them into attending more and more seminars. The Landmark Forum has been conducted in 26 countries -
- Asia - Japan, Israel, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong
- Europe - Romania, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom
- Africa - South Africa, Kenya
- N. America - Jamaica, US, Canada
- S. America - Mexico
- Australia and New Zealand
Many participants become assistants for the corporation, Their status is of volunteer unpaid workers, a status the United States Department of Labor has deemed equivalent to that of employees, with rights to remuneration and benefits. If successful in enrollment, assistants may join the "elite" staff.
Stated Attitudes
Landmark presents itself as "not therapy" and opposes psychoanalysis (an attitude shared with or inherited from Scientology). However some participants suggest that some of its practices (or exercises) resemble psychotherapy.
Landmark forestalls some potential criticism by setting up (or creating) an atmosphere of trust and by disparaging reasoned questioning as cynical.
At one time Landmark touted its new methods of training as non-linear learning. More recent changes in fashion have seen it associate its work with the concept of emotional intelligence.
Reactions
Landmark jargon may seem pervasive and confusing. Some participants' confusion/enthusiasm has allegedly led to mental illness issues and legal action (Refer the book by Martin Lell, Das Forum: Protokoll einer Gehirnwäsche: Der Psycho-Konzern Landmark Education, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich, 1997, ISBN 3423360216). Most graduates of Landmark programs express quasi-religious commitment to "the work", at least initially.
Evaluations
A study commissioned by WEA suggests that attending a Landmark Forum has minimal lasting effect on one's self-perception. (Refer J.D. Fisher, R. C. Silver, J. M. Chinsky, B. Goff and Y. Klar Evaluating a Large Group Awareness Training: A Longitudinal Study of Psychosocial Effects Springer-Verlag, 1990, ISBN 0387973206)
Academic, peer-reviewed long-term studies of effects of attendance do not appear to exist.
Prominent Corporate Landmarkians:
- Harry Rosenberg, brother to Werner Erhard, heads Landmark Education.
- Art Schreiber functions in the important role of legal representative: Landmark has issued legal threats against media purveying negative publicity.
- Charlene Afremow has conducted courses from the earliest appearances of Werner Erhard in "trainings" activity.