As the emphasis of Cults is on “destructive” cults, the use of music and sound effects within the podcast seems to be employed in a manner that creates a sense of mystery and danger to help emphasize the distinction of the cults being examined. This is in combination with certain dialog that enhances this effect. For example, in episode 1, “The Manson Family: Charles Manson,” the narrator states, “Manson didn’t have to lift a finger. He aimed his followers like a gun, and they slaughtered mercilessly.” This anecdote is intensified by strategically using dramatization and other specifically placed enhancers, such as reading quotes by cult leaders. In part, some of the perceived dramatization might arise from the lack of conversation among the narrators and the feeling that most of the dialog has been scripted. While this setup is clearly for entertainment purposes, it does make the information given seem one-sided. Cults is limited by the very specific nature of its topic. Therefore, its appeal and usefulness in courses might be narrow. The study of cults and cultic behavior, although interesting, might not be applicable to a wide range of sociology classes. For those instructors who are teaching sociology courses that are not specifically addressing cults, consideration should be taken as to the relevance of this podcast in addressing broader sociological understandings. Cults as a sociological topic is unique. While narrow in scope, it can prove to be useful to analyze several concepts, as presented earlier. Cults as a resource for learning can provide an opportunity for students to engage in critical thinking and apply sociological understandings to a unique topic.

中文翻译：

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播客评论：修正主义历史

由于 Cults 的重点是“破坏性”邪教，因此播客中音乐和音效的使用似乎是以一种创造神秘感和危险感的方式来帮助强调所检查邪教的区别。这与增强此效果的某些对话相结合。例如，在第一集“曼森家族：查尔斯曼森”中，叙述者说，“曼森不需要动一根手指。他像枪一样瞄准他的追随者，他们无情地屠杀。” 通过战略性地使用戏剧化和其他特别放置的增强器，例如阅读邪教领袖的引语，这一轶事得到了加强。在某种程度上，一些感知到的戏剧化可能是由于叙述者之间缺乏对话以及大部分对话已被编写的感觉。虽然此设置显然是出于娱乐目的，但它确实使所提供的信息显得片面。Cults 受到其主题非常具体的性质的限制。因此，它在课程中的吸引力和用处可能很窄。对邪教和邪教行为的研究虽然有趣，但可能不适用于广泛的社会学课程。对于那些教授社会学课程但不是专门针对邪教的教师，应该考虑这个播客在解决更广泛的社会学理解方面的相关性。邪教作为一个社会学话题是独一无二的。虽然范围很窄，但分析几个概念是有用的，如前所述。