Libguide for "This Course is Out To Get You": Welcome!

Stonehenge was built by ancient aliens. COVID-19 was FAKE NEWS. Climate change is a hoax, birds aren’t real, the moon landing was filmed on a Hollywood soundstage — if you even believe in the moon. Why do people believe conspiracy theories? Why does confronting new evidence change some people’s minds, but leave others even more entrenched in their beliefs? At the same time, Wikileaks and whistleblowers have revealed real collusion. How do we know when to trust experts and when to be skeptical of authority? This Writing Seminar explores what we learn about ourselves from the conspiracies we create. We begin with the documentary Behind the Curve, examining how Flat Earthers support their claims using scientific methods. We turn next to academic research into conspiracies: How do they spread? What makes them appealing? What are some of the open problems in studying conspiracy theories — and why haven’t they been solved? In the second half of the seminar, students pursue their own intellectual interests as they craft a research paper investigating a conspiracy theory of their choice, placing it in political, scientific, or cultural context. Potential topics range from doubting Big Pharma to doubting vaccines, from MKULTRA to COINTELPRO. If you’ve read this far, you already know too much. This is the writing seminar THEY don’t want you to take.