78: Society of the Conspiracy

Conspiracy theories flourish during uncertain times. They're always with us, passed down through generations like alternate histories, yet they’re constantly reinvented when collective stress levels peak. Julian reports on the QAnon spin-off group that’s been camped out in Dallas’s Dealey Plaza for two weeks, hoping to catch a glimpse of a pantheon of resurrected dead celebrities. In light of the Astroworld concert tragedy, which killed 10 people, being interpreted as a ritual Satanic sacrifice on social media, Derek wonders if conspiracies are just how we process everything now. Matthew points out the legitimate reasons conspiracy theorists have for their paranoia while warning against the media's tendency to titillate by misusing the terminology of cult research. And he also reads a bit from Paradise Lost. A conversational recap week as we’re working on some Big Shows in the next few weeks.Show NotesRiots, deaths, sexual assault: Maybe Woodstock was always a nightmareThe Bizarre Travis Scott Claims Show That Conspiracies Are Just How We Process ThingsTikTok and QAnon Panic Over ‘Satanism’ Conspiracies at Deadly Travis Scott ConcertQAnon’s Refuse to Leave Dallas After JFK Jr. Fails to AppearInside The QAnon Cult Waiting for JFK Jr.On The Ground At Dealey PlazaTwitter videos/thread on Michael Brian ProtzmanWhat Biden is keeping secret in the JFK files QAnon Influencer Recruiting Secretary of State Candidates Academic Research on Conspiracy Theories in Times of Social CrisisKaren Douglas PhD on The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories -- -- --Support us on PatreonPre-order Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Health Threat: America | Canada Follow us on Instagram | Twitter: Derek | Matthew | JulianOriginal music by EarthRise SoundSystem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices