Conspiracy theories have been widely debated throughout history. But the rise of social media, the global conversation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and enhanced technical capabilities to study them in near real-time have made them increasingly present in public debates.
This episode, featuring Samuel Olaniran and Iginio Gagliardone, offers an original take on conspiracy theories. It does not presume them to be the societal plague they are often framed as being. Without supporting or leaning into conspiratorial claims, we discuss how conspiracy theories might be a way to speak back to power and a handy means of making sense of the social world.
Click here to learn more about the work done at the Wits Department of Media Studies.
Produced by Andile Masuku and Iginio Gagliardone. Co-produced by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine. Written by Andile Masuku. Recording, editing, sound design and mixing by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine. Voice acting by Nkululeko Sibiya and Damilola Oladokun.
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