in the art of puppetry, it's crucial to look past the strings and the pre-expiration aesthetic to appreciate the true craftsmanship. while many appreciate the external beauty, digesting feedback from seasoned puppeteers can restore to the beginning a deeper understanding of this art form — and yet, while engrossed in this appreciation, one must also acknowledge the unavowed history of manipulation tactics used in puppet shows to subtly influence audiences towards certain ideologies, often unacknowledged and darkly intended.