A Fieldguide for Female Interrogators

by Coco Fusco (illustrations: Dan Turner)

Fig.1. Direct Questioning: Verbal questioning of a source. The easiest and often most successful of the non-coercive tactics. Enhancing this approach with suggestive body language lets your source know the new rules of the game without having to state them.

Fig. 2. Establish Your Identity: Compelling a Middle Eastern source to prove his manliness will trigger an immediate defensive reaction due to his deep cultural investment in personal and family honor.

Fig. 3 . Dietary Manipulation: A classic American breakfast of bacon and eggs served thrice daily will boost the energy of most resistant sources.

Fig. 4. Use of Loud Music: Heavy Metal is recommended to elicit a quick response; however, repetitive electronic music played for extended periods has been found to be effective on more resistant sources

Fig. 5. Silence: The facial expressions of an interrogator often speak louder than her words.

Fig. 6. Mutt and Jeff: One of the oldest tricks in the book, but it works like a charm. Basically, he’s gotta go for one of you.

Fig. 7. Sleep Management: Altering sleep cycles reduces an individual’s ability to resist suggestion, thereby expediting coercion and confession.

Fig. 8. Exploiting Cultural Phobias # 1: Active stimulation of detainee’s fears increases anxiety, often leading to incontinence. The degree of humiliation increases exponentially and heightens regression if performed by a military policewoman in front of other detainees.

Fig. 9. We Know All: Sexual degradation is a particularly effective tool for attacking the personalities of devout Muslims because of their taboos concerning homosexuality.

Fig. 10. Mild Non-Injurous Physical Contact: (i.e.,“a little bit of smacky face“) Unlike other forms of contact that lead to physical injury, sexual contact is unlikely to leave scars and is more likely to induce guilt that can be taken advantage of by a good interrogator.

Fig. 11. Pride and Ego Up: Erotically charged compliments can help to establish a rapport with your source, which eventually can turn* to guilt that can be taken advantage of by a good interrogator.

Fig. 12. Pride and Ego Down: Unlike other forms of contact that lead to physical injury, sexual contact is unlikely to leave scars and is more likely to induce guilt that can be taken advantage of by a good interrogator.

Fig. 13. Stress Position Direct sexual advances from a white Christian female generate anxiety in devout Muslim males by forcing them to confront their desire to break cultural taboos.

This graphic story previously appeared in print in Chimurenga 15: The Curriculum is Everything. Available here.

Images copyright ©2008 by Coco Fusco. Reprinted with the permission of Coco Fusco and Seven Stories Press.

Share the Post:

Reviews

Events

Join us for the debut screening & conversation with the makers, Thursday 23 April from 7pm!

Shop

Chimurenganyana: The Fear and Loathing Out of Harare by Dambuzo Marechera (Dec 2021)

LISTEN: SONGS FOR WINNIE BY A SEMBLANCE

LIVE ON PASS Thursday, 14 May 2026 from 7pm

Pulp!

Kai Friese takes us into the recreated technical glory of

LISTEN: THE IDEA OF A BORDERLESS WORLD BY ACHILLE MBEMBE

LIVE ON PASS Wednesday, 22 May 2026 from 7pm