Style: Essay containing a thesis, an introduction, a body and a conclusion, AND sub-titles that clearly indicate to which section you are responding.

PLEASE NOTE: Words marked in bold signify evaluation criteria; as you work, I recommend that you use these as a checklist for ensuring that you have completed all assigned tasks. Your final mark will reflect all items indicated in bold.

Write a 1,000 to 1,200 word critical essay analyzing and critiquing one very specific Conspiracy Theory (concerning an extraordinarily famous person, war, society, or event).

Assignment Details
By very specific theories, I mean that you must choose (a) both a subject and (b) the person or group allegedly responsible for exerting an influence on the subject. Here are four examples among many available to you:

 (i) the psychiatrist Greenson, working on behalf of the Kennedys, was responsible for the death of Marilyn Monroe,
 (ii) the CIA was responsible for the assassination of Che Guevara,
 (iii) E. Howard Hunt told the truth, in his deathbed confession, when he said that LBJ ordered him to participate in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
 (iv) The Apollo 11 crew did not land on the Moon. The alleged moon landing was staged at Area 51, as confirmed by photographic evidence.

(1) Be as unique as possible in your selection:

Twenty essays on the mysterious death of Tupac would be quite boring for me to evaluate; try unusual and challenging subjects for your studies, whenever possible. Make an effort to choose a conspiracy theory that was not discussed in detail in your readings. If you do choose one of our conspiracy theories from the reading modules, you must offer a different or fresh take on the information, and introduce new ideas and a significant degree of research/evidence that was not introduced in the readings.

(2) Analysis: This section should be the largest section of your paper.

After you have completed parts a and b (of this section, section 2), choose two of the remaining five (c through g) methods and apply them in an analysis of the conspiracy theory you have chosen and of the theorists who assert it.

(a) [mandatory] Discuss how your conspiracy theory might be specious, insubstantial, or over-the-top according to Daniel Pipes’ analytic tools and assumptions: common sense; a knowledge of history; distinct patterns; + evidence: obscurity of evidence; reluctance to divulge information; reliance on forgeries; inconsistencies; overabundant learned factoids; piling on conspiracy theories; dismissing contradictory evidence as a sign of conspiracy; indiscriminately accepting any argument that points to conspiracy; oblivious to the passage of time; cavalier attitude toward facts; + assumptions, etc.

(b) [mandatory] Discuss and analyze all of the available documentation that has been used to assert/support your conspiracy theory. Use the following questions to guide you:

• From where does the documentation originate?
• Are there specific authors of the papers/journal articles asserting your theory? Who are these authors? What is their background? Do they have a background/expertise in the subject matter?
• Do the authors present a logical train-of-thought, or do their arguments seem to jump randomly, from one idea or genre of ideas to the next?
• Do the authors actually have any access to documents (ie. declassified C.I.A. operation assignments, letters, etc.) that would elevate their assertions above the realm of speculation and into the realm of credible research? What are their sources?
• Are your authors’ papers, themselves, well-documented (ie. providing author name, title, location of research, publisher, date)?
• Do your authors consult a wide variety of sources, including people who have had personal involvement in the subject matter of the conspiracy theory, or are the views expressed confined only to those of the authors?
Remember: a and b are mandatory, whereas you are asked to choose ONLY TWO of the following ….

(c) Review the Professor’s Icons PowerPoint. Now, perform a basic Semiotic analysis of the icons in your study.

Use precise, accurate Semiotic terminology (signifier, signified).

• What ideas do your icons symbolize? What does your icon represent in the culture? As an example, consider what JFK or Tupac or Marilyn Monroe (the subject of your conspiracy theory) represents/represented to different types of people.
• Be certain to discuss your icon’s meaning for all perceivers– for example, to many Americans, George W. Bush is a hero; to some, he is a war-hawk and a poor business manager; to many people internationally, he is an imperialist. To some, Eminem or Tupac are champions of free speech; to others, they may be offensive; to feminists or pacifists, they may be considered misogynistic or violent. It is imperative that you present a balanced view of your icons that discusses all aspects of meaning for all potential perceivers. Be critical, even if you are a “fan.”

(d) Psychological analysis:

Re-read your psychology PowerPoints (Disorders, Freud, Jung, Maslow). What would psychology (psychiatry, Freud, Jung, Maslow) say about the assertion of the theory you have chosen? Try to briefly analyze the conspiracy theory and its theorists using as many psychological paradigms (at least three) as possible…

• Psychiatry: paranoia, disorders. Even if it has facts to support it, does your theory sound crazy to ordinary listeners? If so, according to which disorder? Is a secret cabal of powerful people running the world, listening to our private conversations, brainwashing us? If your theory asserts such things but lacks proof, perhaps it sounds paranoid to some listeners. Explain why theorists who support your choice of theory may suffer from a psychological issue or disorder, and what that disorder might be.
• Freud: defenses (ie. projection, denial), parent complexes. Does your theory involve the little man struggling against (often unnamed) powerful leaders? If your theory asserts such things but lacks proof, perhaps it sounds like a Freudian parent complex to some listeners. Do some research. Explore the defence mechanisms that may come into play in the assertion of your theory.
• Jung: archetypes, parents as spiritual figures. Is your conspiracy theorist (ie. Jesse Ventura or Barry Zwicker) a “herald”? Does your conspiracy theory involve an unwilling hero (ie. Bob Lazar of Area 51) up against a unified establishment? A loner hero? (See the ‘List of Jungian Archetypes’)
• Maslow: hierarchy of needs. To what level(s) of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs does your chosen conspiracy theory appeal? Is your safety/security threatened by your conspiracy theory? This is the most common Maslowian appeal to which conspiracy theories often refer. Of course, if we are examining the activities of a secret society, like the Masons or the Bilderbergers, then Maslow’s Social/Belonging level is an important level of analysis.

(e) Sociological / Cultural Anthropology:

There are certain rituals, beliefs, and ways of communication that are distinctive to our culture, but are not found in some other cultures.

The following are the kinds of things sociologists are concerned with, with respect to Western culture:

• We, in the West, are an individualistic rather than a communitarian culture;
• we believe in egalitarianism, that all are created equal. Thus, in principle, we reject the idea of hierarchies (while paradoxically maintaining a class system);
• we are taught to question authority and to question things that we don’t understand;
• rather than addressing others using family names or titles, we prefer to address people using first names, as if we own them and they are our friends (e.g. Brangelina, Elvis, Barack, etc.);
• like the ancient Egyptians, we are obsessed with death—when performers whom we have forgotten about pass away, suddenly they are famous once again;
• in our culture, we are obsessed with time, with being on time, and with saving time;
• we are accustomed, in our culture, to receiving brief, superficial information about things—the Internet, Twitter, texting and other technologies have enculturated us to this superficiality. Thus, we yearn for deeper explanations about cultural narratives, explanations that are rarely provided;
• analysis, in our culture, entails taking something apart and examining it in a critical way. Thus, we are prepared to be suspicious when presented with any story.

Consider all of these cultural norms, and others concerning human group behaviours in our society, as you formulate a sociological analysis of your conspiracy theory.
(f) Political science: Is there a possibility that your conspiracy theory is, itself, designed as a distracter? For example, many have suggested that Stanton Friedman is a CIA agent who propagates alien conspiracies in order to confuse people and to make conspiracy theorists, in general, look foolish.

• From what sources might your conspiracy theory have been asserted, in order to distract members of society from actual ‘truths’? Is your conspiracy theory a possible example of ‘bread and circuses’ or a ‘false flag’ in action?
• Who benefits from your conspiracy theory? (e.g. Jesse Ventura’s Conspiracy Theory show concluded that the United States government actually fosters/promotes the idea of UFOs and UFO sightings in order to distract from the actual agenda of the Air Force at Nellis AFB/Area 51– the building and testing of secret, space-aged aircraft).
• Assuming that your theory is true, what political position or belief (ie. Liberalism, Republicanism, Libertarianism, Communism, etc.) is aligned/allied with your theory?
• From which political position does your political analysis emerge?
(g) Literary theory: Think about the ‘plot’ of your conspiracy theory. Analyze your theory as if it was a story, written by an author. Does the narrative of your conspiracy theory follow the structure of any traditional myths and legends?

• good vs. evil;
• the big guy trying to crush the little guy;
• the little man against the gods;
• gods disguised as mortals;
• a secret pantheon of gods (ie. on Mount Olympus) who manipulate our lives;
• heroes disguised as ordinary people;
• the good king murdered for political reasons.

Analyze your conspiracy theory in terms of its similarities to mythological structures such as the ones listed above or any others you may find in your research. Name a specific ancient story to which your theory can be compared.
Note: the following (brief) components should also be included in your essay:
3) Discuss your icon’s consumer applications– discuss, for example, how your conspiracy theory has become a ‘brand,’ used to sell posters, t-shirts, and other merchandise (e.g. people who believe that Area 51 is where the US government back-engineers UFOs like to wear alien T-shirts, watch TV shows like Roswell and the X-Files, and buy video games like ‘Area 51’).

4) Provide only very brief historical background on the ‘story’ or ‘plot’ of your conspiracy. You should concentrate more on your analysis (parts 2 and 3 of the assignment).

5) Discuss briefly (in about 150 words) your personal opinion of the conspiracy theory and its impact on your own life and consciousness. How has this theory been an influence on your own beliefs. Do you agree or disagree with the theory? Use the word “I,” and reflect on your thoughts and beliefs.

6) Your essay should be well-structured, with a clear introduction paragraph (containing thesis and preview; the preview sentence previews your entire essay—ie. ‘these are the methods I will use in order to analyze this theory’), a ‘body’ section containing the four analytic methods you have chosen, and a conclusion, containing a recap of your research and your final thoughts on the subject. For clarity, the use of subtitles, to indicate different sections of the report, is required.

7) Use 4 hard-copy sources (2 books minimum, plus 2 articles, journals, or newspapers), and create a bibliography (MLA or APA styles are acceptable).

Hard-copy sources are sources that you are able to hold in your hand: books, newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals.

If you use online articles from reputable publications (ie. New York Times) or scholarly journals (ie. American Psychologist) and wish for them to count among your 4 hardcopy sources, cite them as if they were hardcopy sources, omitting the retrieval notice normally required in citations of online sources.

Be sure to credit individual facts or opinions with in-text references, e.g… (Jones 34). Even if you have not directly quoted from other sources, any ideas, historical facts, or opinions of authors other than yourself must be accurately referenced– at a college level, you must give credit to all those who contribute to your essay in any conceivable manner.

Ask yourself (a) is this a universal fact I learned as a child? [ie. “Jesus was crucified by the Romans” or “Mohammed is the spiritual leader who is considered to be the founder of Islam”]; and (b) is this a fact known to everyone [ie. “February is the second month of the year”]. If the answers to either of these questions is “no,” you must provide a reference for your fact or assertion. Facts and ideas that are more complex than those you learned early in life are usually facts that you read somewhere or facts that were told to you. If your brother/sister told you about Kurt Cobain, for example, you must provide references to articles, publications, or journals to support the hearsay assertions of your sibling.

You may use some web sources, but these must be included only in addition to your four books, journals, or newspaper articles. You may not use a web source unless the following information is provided: author, title of article, web publisher name (organization posting the article), and the date of the article. In addition, you must, as per MLA/APA format, provide the date on which you ‘retrieved’ the article from the WWW.

8) Your work must be original– the submission of even a partially-plagiarized paper will result in an automatic failure.

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* Thesis Examples
Five examples of what a thesis might look like for this paper:

# 1-There is substantial proof that former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney received large payments of cash from defense contractor and war profiteer Karlheinz Schreiber in exchange for preferential treatment regarding Canada’s usage of his products and services. According to the Oliphant Commission, the Airbus Scandal is a conspiracy theory that deserves public scrutiny.

#2- The assertion that psychoanalyst Ralph Greenson murdered Marilyn Monroe by lethal injection, on orders from John F. Kennedy, is not sufficiently substantiated by hard evidence.

#3- The conspiracy theory that 9/11 was used as a “false flag” to justify for-profit wars in Afghanistan and Iraq lacks forensic proof regarding the actual demolition of the buildings, yet bears substantial motive regarding the Project for the New American Century’s possible involvement in this “false flag.”

#4- There is overwhelming evidence that John Wilkes Booth and a large group of co-conspirators engineered the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. This group of conspirators were anti-seccessionists who were strongly opposed to Lincoln’s plan to incorporate the south into the American nation.