(Summer Short) Conspiracy Theory: What It Is and Why It Matters
This Summer Short explores the phenomenon known as Conspiracy Theory in culture and history. Here, we’re not concerned with particular conspiracy theories; we’re looking at Conspiracy Theory as an archetypal structure around which particular stories form. On the one hand, we’ll examine the psychological mechanisms that give this type of narrative its seductive appeal. On the other, we’ll look at when and where in history this type of narrative has flared up most aggressively; we’ll ask what those periods had in common; and we’ll consider what this implies for the metastasizing Conspiracy Theory of our own times.
About the Speaker
Tamim Ansary writes about history, culture, identity, and the issues that arise in zones where civilizations overlap. His books include Destiny Disrupted, A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes, and The Invention of Yesterday, which explores world history as an interaction among global narratives.
About Summer Shorts
Summer Shorts are one-time livestreamed and recorded seminars open to OLLI @Berkeley members and non-members. Just $30 a Short. Shorts take place on Fridays in June, from 10–noon.