December 20, 2023

Conspirasphere Rising w/Derek Arnold (BR 9)

42 minutes

EPISODE 100 | Conspirasphere Rising - A Talk w/Derek Arnold (Because Reasons 9)

Guest: Derek Arnold, Senior Instructor at Villanova University, where he teaches a course on The Rhetoric of Conspiracy Theories

The modern conspirasphere sort of starts with the assassination of JFK, and events in the two decades that follow help shape a growing trend toward conspiracy thinking in the United States. Mr. Arnold teaches his students all about this, and also offers guidance in how to construct a toolkit for analyzing conspiracy theories that they can take with them out into the world.

This is our 100th episode! What a long, strange trip it's been. Thank you for your past support!

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SECTIONS

03:14 - 2012: A Beginning - Apocalyptic thinking creates some good stories, an overview of some motivations for belief

11:24 - JFK Kicks It Off - Liberals have deep distrust, conservatives hate Communism, both are fighting what they think is the "good fight", Flower Power on one side and Nixon on the other

21:17 - Post-Watergate - Conservatives search for a new Wallace, Reagan invents the soundbite

28:01 - Pop Culture Gets Weird - Woo rising, fantasy films succeed, things are getting better or worse (depending on your perspective)

29:58 - The New Age Movement Comes of Age - Faith replaces proof for some, volume becomes authority

33:05 - Four Tools for the Conspiracy Toolkit - Cui Bono, Occam's Razor, How Many People, Falsifiability

Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info:

Derek Arnold at Villanova University

Villanova University Offers Course On Conspiracy Theories on CBS News Philadelphia

From Bigfoot to JFK, Villanova Students Study Conspiracy Theories on Delco Today

Villanova professor discusses conspiracies theories linked to the moon landing

Why Princess Diana conspiracies refuse to die by Derek Arnold in The Conversation

How Donald Trump Changed the Way College Students Learn About Conspiracy Theories in Time Magazine

Conspiracy theory mentality on WHYY PBS radio

“We sometimes just want to believe” - the theory behind conspiracy theories on KYW Newsradio

Five Hidden Benefits of Gossip in Fast Company

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