Media Conspiracy Theories in U.S. and Middle East

4 units · Undergraduate upper division (100-199)

Lecture, three hours. Through mass and digital media, conspiracy theories are reshaping politics and society around world. Although conspiracy theories are globally widespread, they find particularly fertile ground in Middle East and in U.S. Definition, identification, and analysis of conspiracy theories as they appear in media of Western democracies and Muslim majority societies. Interdisciplinary approach to study of conspiracy theories. Case studies, such as conspiracies about 9/11, taken from Middle Eastern media sources in English translation. Background knowledge of Middle East not required. P/NP or letter grading.