-Caveat Lector- Conspiracy theorists exploit Y2K fears, Syracuse prof says Updated 12:00 PM ET November 8, 1999 By Jesse Serwer The Daily Free Press Boston U. (U-WIRE) BOSTON -- With the disappearance of tangible, Cold War-era enemies like the Soviet Union, many Americans have latched onto theories of millennial apocalypse as the next great threat to society, a Syracuse University political science professor told an audience at the School of Management last night. "In a post-Cold War world, the visible enemy has vanished," Michael Barkum told a crowd of about 100 at the Fourth Annual Conference on Millennialism. "There is a great temptation to manipulate the old Naturalist theme of an invisible enemy whose power is a function of their invisibility." Barkum pointed to movies like "Conspiracy Theory" and "The X-Files" as examples of how apocalyptic fears have infiltrated pop culture, contributing to a mass paranoia about the year 2000 and the possibility of alien takeover. "What was once relegated to fringe groups has become increasingly apparent in mainstream society," Barkum said. Barkum's lecture, titled "The Dark Side of the Millennium," was the latest in a series of talks sponsored by the BU Center for Millennial Studies. Unlike many other conspiracy theories, Barkum said so-called "millennialism" is not shaped by any single religious tradition or ideology. Millennial fears unite a wide variety of people who otherwise have nothing in common, he said. Barkum said right-wing politicians like Pat Robertson, militia groups, UFO watchers and racial separatists have all converged around the belief that there is an unseen yet all-pervasive organization plotting to seize control of the world. As themes of apocalypse and conspiracy have become closely intertwined, such conspiracy theories have grown more complex, he said. "These people view the whole world as a text... Nothing is as it seems," Barkum said. "By claiming to know the locus of world evil, conspiracy theorists absolve themselves from responsibility for the world's problems." Some in the audience said that Barkum's portrayal of the darker, more absurd side of millennialism did not take into consideration more legitimate takes on global conspiracy. Several people said Barkum's overview failed to acknowledge fears about global corporate capitalism that have been seized upon by everyone from hip hop artists to left-wing politics. Lara Brindle, a graduate student at the University of Alberta, said many of the issues raised by millennial conspiracy theorists remind her of early modern European witchcraft, which she is studying for her masters degree. "The talk raised a serious issue as far as handling beliefs that don't mesh with our own," Brindle said. "How do we go about understanding ideas that are completely alien to us?" DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
