How to create a conspiracy theory
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Date
2023
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
visua
Language
en
Pages
70
Series
Abstract
The recent rise of world-wide rightwing populism, the pandemic, and the climate crisis. Conspiracy theories hold significant sway over the contemporary zeitgeist. This is a problem ,since rational debate between conspiracy theorists and those who do not believe in conspiracy theory is neigh impossible, for they speak opposite languages and inhibit different worlds . In addition, it is significantly more difficult to debunk conspiracy theories than to spread them. Especially so because debunking is often ineffective to those who are deeply invested inconspiracy theory. New methods are needed in countering harmful conspiracy theories. And this work attempts to create such a method. The following text attempts to understand conspiracy theory; what it is, what it looks like andhow it spreads and how it feels. The combined knowledge of these inve stigations results in a framework which can be used to create your own conspiracy theory, with its intention to communicate between worlds, or the creation of conspiracy theories which undermine harmful existing conspiracy theories. The framework is then tested on its effectiveness by the creation and publication of a conspiracy theory, after which data is gathered from the experiment. This data is in turn analyzed to estimate its effectiveness. The author – like any good conspiracy theorist – makes use of scientific literary review methods, but also “does his own research”1. In other words, the author uses conspiratorial research methods and becomes the conspiracy theorist, immersing himself in their world to gain greater understanding through being rather than mere outside observation. The gained information is lived and analyzed in a process where art and art research speak to one another, cumulating in this work. This work is intended as art research and part of the art itself.Description
Supervisor
Ryynänen, MaxThesis advisor
Pyrhönen, NikoKeywords
conspiracy theory, conspiracy, art, internet, conspiracy as art, what is conspiracy, what is conspiracy theory, why do people believe in conspiracy theories