Publication
Title
Conspiracies, ideological entrepreneurs, and digital popular culture
Author
Abstract
This contribution starts from the contemporary surge in conspiracism to develop a theoretical framework to understand how conspiracy theories make it from the margins to the mainstream. To this end, it combines a view of conspiracy theories as ideology and its propagandists as ideological entrepreneurs with insights into how the affordances of digital media and popular culture are instrumental in propagating the conspiracy theories. It further complements sociological and psychological explanations with a fandom perspective to grasp the diversity of conspiracy audiences. Together, it is argued, these factors allow ideological entrepreneurs to push conspiracy theories from the margins to the mainstream. Alex Jones and QAnon are discussed as cases in point.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Media and communication. - 2013, currens
Publication
2021
ISSN
2183-2439
DOI
10.17645/MAC.V9I3.4092
Volume/pages
9 :3 (2021) , p. 179-188
ISI
000721144300002
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 13.09.2021
Last edited 02.01.2025
To cite this reference