The dream about domination, resp. control over other humans, elements, animals and unexplained "forces" or circumstances, is as old as humanity.
Formerly, what was beyond control, was divine and had to be soothed with adoration, rites and sacrifices or bewitched with the help of priests, sorcerers, healers, etc.
In our times, they refer to consumerism, fake and propaganda, creating (or recreating) artificial needs and addictions.
As to the means used to gain mind control over people, they start with education, traditions, families, clans, social structures, conditions and surroundings, religious or philosophical beliefs and principles, local activities, productions, services and resources, while cultures, sciences and arts are informing, entertaining, teaching and influencing the public.
And the first means of communication were languages, pictures, signs, writing, gestures, mimics, dancing, theatre and music, trade, fairs, artists, meetings, events, etc., followed by more and more performing technologies, like faster transportation, telecommunication, radio, movies, TV, Internet, artificial intelligence ...
Subliminal messages or stimuli and their effectiveness have been studied and researched into since long:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subliminal_stimuli
Any means can be a precious tool or a hazard, if used for bad purposes.