FYS547

Once relegated to the fringe of society, conspiracy rhetoric has moved to the center of political and public discourse in the United States. This course examines the narratives, argumentative structures, and functions of conspiracy rhetoric. Students examine an array of conspiracy theories - both real and fictional - to critique the work that conspiracy theories do for the individual and communities to understand the role of language and visual media in creating and defining reality. In addition, students create texts in various media to elevate discourse in the public sphere around fake news and conspiracy theories.