Resource person: Audra Bullard - office@clehighlands.com

Description:

Conspiracy discourse has been with our nation from the start. President George Washington had to deal with allegations of conspiracy put forward by Benjamin Franklin’s grandson. From that moment until today, conspiracy discourse has played a pivotal role in our public conversations about politics and culture. What is different now, however, is the ability for conspiracy theorists to utilize today’s powerful social media platforms such as Reddit, Instagram and TikTok to energize audiences into a more participatory model of generating conspiracies. These new conspiracy theories challenge our democratic institutions as they both encourage political participation while avoiding accountability for threats, violence, and attacks on democracy. This presentation will trace the recent history of conspiracy theories through an analysis of PizzaGate and QAnon with suggestions about how we might respond to these new threats from conspiracy discourse.

Dr. R. Jarrod Atchison serves as the John Kevin Medica Director of Debate and Professor of Communication at Wake Forest University. He is a scholar of American public address with an emphasis on public argument. His first book, A War of Words: The Rhetorical Leadership of Jefferson Davis, was published by the University of Alabama Press. His second book, We Are Not One People: Secession and Separatism in American Politics Since 1776, was co-written with Dr. Michael J. Lee and published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Atchison teaches courses on argumentation theory and practice, rhetorical theory and criticism, the rhetoric of the South, and conspiracy theories.

Notes: Cancellation Policy Please let us know immediately if you are unable to attend a class. There is no refund for cancellations within two (2) weeks prior to a scheduled class. Programs that include food, beverage or art materials must be canceled within three (3) weeks prior to receive a refund. CLE reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum enrollment has not been met or for circumstances beyond our control, and participants will be notified, a complete refund will be issued. All classes are held in the CLE Lecture Hall at the Peggy Crosby Center unless otherwise noted. In the event information has changed from the published brochure, it will be posted on our website and in our e-blasts. Addresses for “private home” venues will be provided to registrants within 2 days of the program date.

Share this activity: