Conway Hall: Where Ethics Matter

In this talk, Professor Joseph Uscinski will show that conspiracy theories follow a strategic logic: they are tools used by the powerless to attack and defend against the powerful. Conspiracy theories must conform to this logic, or they will not be successful. In this way, conspiracy theories are for losers.

Joseph Uscinski is associate professor of political science at University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL and co-author of American Conspiracy Theories (Oxford, 2014). This talk was recorded at Conway Hall on the 18th July 2017 with The London Fortean Society. Hosted by Scott Wood.

London Fortean Society, in partnership with Conway Hall, present a night marking the centenary of the Cottingley Fairies case.

Michael Terwey of the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford discusses how the photographs were taken and how they fitted in to the Spiritualist culture of the time and Professor Diane Purkis asks why Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, along with many others, so wanted to believe in fairies.

Image credit: Kristian Nordestgaard - Frances and the Fairies

John Grindrod tells of the vision behind green-belts, their creation, and discusses the fiery emotions they stir up and tells a story of growing up there, recounted in his poignant social history Outskirts. Hosted by Scott Wood of New Lands http://dirtymodernscoundrel.blogspot.co.uk/

WARNING: Contains some strong language.

Will Storr comes to Conway Hall to take us on a journey of self-obsession; from the shores of Ancient Greece, through the Christian Middle Ages, to the self-esteem evangelists of 1980s California, the rise of narcissism and the selfie generation, and right up to the era of hyper-individualistic neoliberalism in which we live now.

Paul Robeson was a modern renaissance man: lawyer, linguist, actor, professional athlete, civil rights activist and one of the greatest singers of the twentieth century, famous for "Ol Man River" on Broadway and The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. The son of an escaped slave, Robeson became an international superstar before his socialist political convictions brought him to be white-washed from public view by the US government in the McCarthy era.

Author Jeff Sparrow tells Robeson’s story and explores his relevance to contemporary political movements in a new book: No Way But This. He will be in conversation with journalist Ellie Mae O’Hagan.

Jacqueline Wilson talks about her new book, Wave Me Goodbye, which is set at the beginning of WWII. Jacqueline will also talk about her life, how she has become one of the best-selling authors of recent years and about a host of her well known characters such as Hetty Feather and Tracy Beaker.

In aid of Refugee Week, Battersea Cats & Dogs Home and Conway Hall Ethical Society

A. C. Grayling explores the long, tragic history of war and how warfare has changed in response to technological advances.

Radicals is an exploration of the individuals, groups and movements rejecting the way we live now, and are attempting to find alternatives. In it, Jamie Bartlett, one of the world’s leading thinkers on radical politics and technology, takes us inside the strange and exciting worlds of the innovators, disruptors, idealists and extremists who think society is broken, and believe they know how.

The Conway Memorial Lecture 2016. Lawrence Krauss. Chaired by A. C. Grayling. Recorded on 16th December 2016.

Francis Sealey chairs a panel of Matt Scott, Charlie Blowers, Professor Evan Parker discussing the importance of how we can all be involved in cultural change is very empowering as it shows us that the path to making a better world can rest with us all and not just Parliamentarians.