Conspiracy Culture Summary

In contrast to unreasonable discounts of conspiracy theories, a new approach to phenomena of conspiracy theories focuses on investigation of the cause of conspiracy within a particular historical context. A variety of scholars from different disciplines have pursued to address the logic of conspiracy theory, within cultural and political context. This generates critical comment. A new aspect with a focus on conspiracy as a culture detailed by Peter Knight in his books, (Conspiracy Culture: From Kennedy to the X-Files and Conspiracy Nation: The Politics of Paranoia) provides a new insight in understanding conspiracy theories. In Conspiracy Culture, Knight opens his book by examining the influentially accepted notion of conspiracy as political

As bases of the book begun with conspiracy theories in political context, however, the majority of the book focuses on analysis of political conspiracy through popular culture. Nonetheless, Knight analyzes the significance and rising popularity of conspiracy theory, which challenges cultural phenomenon that has been central to American history. As knight explains “the prominence of conspiracy culture tells an important story about . . . American culture.” Based on the framework laid out on Conspiracy Nation, Timothy Melly, author of two monographs on culture of conspiracy, investigates conspiracy theory in American culture and fiction. His earlier book, Empire of Conspiracy, seeks to answer closely why and how paranoia has become central in American culture and fiction beginning with the Cold War era. It strongly suggests that failure to understand conspiracy theory as a rational response based on the cause and problem ignores the larger social control. As Melly, explains conspiracy “has come to signify a broad array of social

However, Melly’s Empire of Conspiracy: The Culture of Paranoia in Postwar America fails to show evolution of government role that caused anxiety and panic in American culture. Thus, his recent monograph is helpful as it connects the social anxiety with lack of government transparency. Dean would agree with Melly’s method of investigating conspiracy with rising social fear, as Dean argued the "boundary-blurring," breaking down "formerly clear distinctions," result of social fear and the principal logic of contemporary