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Critically Analyzing Conspiracy Theories
The document discusses the role of conspiracy theories in advancing digital and media literacy, emphasizing the need for critical analysis in educational settings. It explores the characteristics, impacts, and types of conspiracy theories, while addressing the concerns of their prevalence and influence on public perception. The workshop aims to equip educators and students with tools to evaluate the credibility of information and engage thoughtfully with such theories.
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Critically Analyzing Conspiracy Theories
- 1. Renee Hobbs Professor ofCommunication Studies Director, Media Education Lab University of Rhode Island USA Twitter: @reneehobbs A Workshop: Critically Analyzing Conspiracy Theories Landeszentrale fur politische Bildung Berlin May 19, 2017
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- 4. Summer Institute inDigital Literacy July 23 – 28, 2017
- 5. Can learning aboutconspiracy theories advance your digital and media literacy competencies?
- 7. LOVE HATE CONSPIRACY THEORIES HowMany Do You Recognize? Who Killed JFK? 9/11 Area 51 Holocaust Birtherism Moon Landings Jesus and Mary Magdalene Illuminati CIA Experiments Chemtrails Elvis Ebola Vaccines Global Warming
- 8. DEFINE SOME VOCABULARYWORDS TO UNDERSTAND CONSPIRACY THEORIES conspiracy anxiety hoax paranoid pessimism “false flag”
- 9. Are conspiracy theories beneficial,harmless or harmful? Should students learn to critically analyze conspiracy theories in school? Why or why not?
- 10. Some Conspiracy Theoriesare True
- 11. Conspiracy Theories in anInformation Age 1. Choice Overload 2. Sharing in a Network Culture 3. Six Types of Fake News 4. New Forms of Authority 5. Norms of Human Information Processing 6. Why We Share 7. How Context Shapes Text 8. Familiarity = Believability
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- 13. New Realities ina Networked Global Society Cost to produce content is low Massive fragmentation of production & consumption Viral sharing means popularity = profit Content is consumed as unbundled snippets on social media
- 14. Six Types ofFake News Disinformation Propaganda Hoax Parody/Satire Errors in Journalism Partisanship Informing and Engaging the Public Controlling Knowledge, Attitudes & Values Cultural Criticism or Creative Expression
- 15. New Forms ofAuthority Attention economics is surpassing traditional forms of authority and expertise our attention — and most of it free — being found is valuable." Immediacy Personalization Interpretation Findability
- 16. Selective exposure Confirmation bias Reality maintenance Performative sharing 60% of people share content without reading/viewing it Human Information Processing
- 17. Report from IronMountain
- 18. Government commission concludes: Peace isnot in the interest of a stable society. Even if lasting peace "could be achieved, it would almost certainly not be in the best interests of society to achieve it.” Context Shapes Text
- 19. Becomes a bestselling book, translated into 15 languages 1972: Leonard Lewin admits he is the author & explains its purpose as dark political satire Context Shapes Text
- 20. 1990: Liberty Lobby publishes thereport as a public domain document Right-wing websites re- distribute it online Context Shapes Text
- 21. Both LEFT ANDRIGHT WING radicals believe that government creates war for economic benefit Context Shapes Text
- 22. Familiarity Equals Believability THE POWEROF A SINGLE EXPOSURE Participants who were exposed to a conspiracy video were significantly less likely to : • think that there is widespread scientific agreement on human-caused climate change • sign a petition to help reduce global warming • donate or volunteer for a charity in the next six months. --Daniel Jolley and Karen Douglas, 2013
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- 24. Media Literacy: APedagogy of Inquiry TEAM 1
- 25. Media Literacy: APedagogy of Inquiry TEAM 2
- 26. Media Literacy: APedagogy of Inquiry TEAM 3
- 27. What did youlearn? What new questions have emerged? TIME TO REFLECT
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- 29. http://bit.ly/markdice Annotate a Videoto Critically Analyze It
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- 31. REFLECT ON SOMETHINGYOU LIKED OR LEARNED Using Today’s Meet www.todaysmeet.com/conspiracy
- 32. Media Literacy: APedagogy of Inquiry “The thing is, Google search isn’t neutral. Like any other set of complex algorithms, search is shot through with the values of its creators.” -Wohlsen, 2016
- 33. re Conspiracy theories arealarm systems that help people deal with threat. They resonate most among groups suffering from loss, weakness, or disunity. --Uscinski & Parent, 2014
- 34. Are conspiracy theories beneficial, harmlessor harmful? Should students learn how to critically analyze conspiracy theories in school? Why or why not? TIME TO REFLECT
- 35. Understand differencesin the quality of information sources Distinguish between anecdote and authoritative evidence Recognize disinformation and propaganda Understand how search engines operate Use a variety of websites with different perspectives and recognize their points of view Apply critical questions to analyze YouTube video Appreciate the importance of source verification of online information Participate in online dialogue by composing responses that demonstrate independent thinking and respect for others’ views
- 36. By exploring conspiracytheories, students strengthen critical thinking skills that advance media literacy
- 37. Discussion of conspiracytheories is motivating to adolescent learners Students improve Internet search skills They practice reasoning and analysis skills in a structured way They improve their communication and collaboration skills The topic is perceived as relevant and timely Discussion and critical analysis promotes intellectual curiosity
- 38. Teaching about conspiracytheories risks validating them There’s not enough time in class to examine evidence in depth There’s too much junk information online on these topics It’s too easy to trivialize conspiracy theories, reinforcing “us” and “them” thinking
- 39. Are conspiracy theories beneficial, harmlessor harmful? Should students learn how to critically analyze conspiracy theories in school? Why or why not? TIME TO REFLECT
- 40. Conspiracy theories areconstructed by people, they have an author, purpose, point of view & bias Even brief exposures to conspiracy theories can increase their believability Composing critical commentary about conspiracy theories using digital annotation tools may advance the development of critical thinking skills Conspiracy theories resonate in an age of anxiety by simplifying complex and ambiguous realities People need to take time to reflect on how conspiracy theories reflect and shape perceptions of the world
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- 46. Digital and MediaLiteracy Empowers People as Both Consumers and Creators
- 47. Renee Hobbs Professor ofCommunication Studies Director, Media Education Lab Harrington School of Communication and Media University of Rhode Island USA Email: hobbs@uri.edu Twitter: @reneehobbs WEB: www.mediaeducationlab.com