CMP-125 (Harris, Spring 2022)

Harris

CMP 125

Modeled on Dr. Terra Joseph’s Assignment

Conspiracy Theory Analysis Essay

First Draft: Tues., 2/22

Final Draft: Thurs., 2/24

For this 5 to 6-page paper you must use at least one of our assigned texts to analyze a conspiracy theory of your choice.  You will also need to identify and incorporate at least two substantive, credible sources of your own to substantiate your discussion of this conspiracy theory.  Your thesis should answer the following:  What is the cultural significance of your chosen conspiracy theory?  What does it tell us about the people who believe in it and/or the culture that created it?  Consult the suggested questions below for additional issues that you may wish to address in your paper.

Work with at least one of the following:

• “The Future of Expertise” (2021) from The Chronicle of Higher Education

• Charles Seife, “The Loneliness of the Interconnected”

• Melinda Moyer's "People Drawn to Conspiracy Theories Share a Cluster of Features" (2019) from Scientific American

• Noam Shpancer, "True False Believers: The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories" (2020) from Psychology Today

• The PBS Frontline documentary "United States of Conspiracy" (2020)

• Excerpts from Anna Merlan's Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power (2019)

 Criteria for Evaluation:  This paper should do the following:

• Contain a clear thesis statement that directs the ideas in the paper;

• Use and analyze evidence—including quotations—from at least one source discussed in class as well as from at least two relevant secondary sources from the library;

• Make use of the skills we’ve learned on summary and quotation integration in incorporating sources;

• Avoid accidental plagiarism in accurately paraphrasing and summarizing sources;

• Include an accurate MLA style Works Cited page or APA style Bibliography and in-text citations

The following are suggested questions to guide your analysis and help you develop your thesis.  You will not need to answer all of these questions, and you will likely be able to develop a thesis through a focus on two or three of these questions. You should tailor your paper to the specific conspiracy theory you are analyzing and your specific claim about why it matters and what it shows us about the culture of which it’s a part.  The organization of your paper should be based on your thesis--or the flow of your own ideas--and should not simply answer these questions in the order they are presented here.

• If it is possible to determine, what is the original source of this conspiracy theory?  Is this a credible source?  Why or why not? If no original source can be determined, do you think this matters?  Why or why not?

• How does this conspiracy theory respond to ideas of expertise and authority? Does it challenge the authority of experts (e.g. doctors, scientists, academics)? Does it appeal to the authority of “outlaw” experts and/or one’s own critical thinking and research against the mainstream ideas of experts? 

• Does this conspiracy theory attack specific groups (e.g. Jews, Democrats)?  Does it try to protect a particular group?  How and why?

• What groups or types of individuals tend to believe in this specific conspiracy?  Why do you think they find this conspiracy theory appealing?  If possible, identify a specific demographic and consider how Moyer's and Shpancer's discussion of the psychological features of believers might help explain this.

• Who—if anyone—benefits from this conspiracy theory and how do they benefit (e.g. financially, in terms of political power, a sense of inclusion, etc.)?  You may wish to compare to other examples we've discussed of people who profit off of conspiracy theories (e.g. Alex Jones in the Frontline documentary and Andrew Wakefield in Merlan's book).

• Who—if anyone—is harmed by belief in the conspiracy theory (e.g. believers themselves, those excluded or vilified, specific racial, ethnic, or religious groups, etc.)?  How so?  You may wish to compare to other examples of harm caused by conspiracy theories, such as those discussed in the Frontline documentary and in Merlan's book.

• Is there any credible evidence to support this conspiracy theory?  Are there similar conspiracy theories that have been proven true and that might inspire belief in this one?  Consider connecting this insight to Merlan's discussion of actual conspiracies against minority communities, patients, etc.

• What credible evidence is there against this conspiracy theory?  Why do you think conspiracists discount or ignore this evidence?  Consider Moyer's and Shpancer's discussions of why they do this.

Possible Conspiracy Theories to Explore:

#PizzaGate

QAnon

Wayfair Trafficking Conspiracy Theory

Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theories

Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories

Vaccination Conspiracy Theories

Flat Earth Theory

Hollow Earth Theory

2020 Stolen Election 

Lizard People Theory

Denver International Airport Conspiracy Theory

9/11 Conspiracy Theories

Jeffrey Epstein Suicide Conspiracy Theories

Faked Moon Landing

Chemtrails/Chemical Trails

5G Conspiracy Theories

JFK Assassination Conspiracy Theories

Ong’s Hat/Incunabula Conspiracy Theory

Celebrities that are not actually dead (JFK Jr., Elvis, Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur)

Celebrities that are not alive (Adam Sandler, Avril Lavigne)

[Check out podcast Mysterious Universe for ideas]