Class Description
Much has been written about the culture of conspiracy in modern America. What can be misleading is that there is much that is not new about this culture. A conspiracy subculture has existed in America since its founding. Its targets and means of communication have varied, but its underlying beliefs persist. As journalist Jose A. Del Real put it, “A river of conspiracy theories flows through the wild lands of American history,” and we need to know the whole story as it is reflected in the nation’s politics and culture. Among the learning outcomes for this course are: What constitutes a conspiracy? How are they structured and communicated? How has belief in conspiracies led to a constant search for the “enemy within”? What has led to the spike in conspiracy thinking in contemporary America?
Bryan LeBeau earned his PhD in American Studies from New York University. He has taught for over 35 years and is the author of several books on American cultural history. He is currently teaching at Georgetown University.
All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.
Materials List
Recommended
Optional First Reading
- Chapter 1 of Goldberg's Enemies Within
A Brief Syllabus
- An American Tradition
- The Master Conspiracy
- The Rise of the Antichrist
- Conspiracies in Response to the Assassinations of the 1960s
- The Roswell Incident
- Mainstreaming Conspiracism
Cost and Registration
6 Sessions, $245 ($220 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($245), Community Supported ($230), and Sponsor ($260). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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