Tag Archives: QAnon

Fiction as Authoritarian Weapon

By Robin Bates | Published: December 21, 2022

In “Seduced by Story,” Peter Brooks warns of the dangers of narrative. Borges agrees in “Tlon Uqbar.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Why Conspiracy Theories Beat Logic

By Robin Bates | Published: November 14, 2022

Philosopher Mladen Dolar cites Socrates and Hamlet to explain why conspiracy theories are so resistant to logic.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Milton Explains QAnon Fantasizing

By Robin Bates | Published: March 21, 2022

Milton’s Satan whispering into Eve’s ear as she sleeps is a lot like QAnon and Fox News whispering into the ears of gullible followers.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

Spenser Would Understand QAnon

By Robin Bates | Published: January 23, 2022

In “Faerie Queene,” Redcrosse Knight must contend with the monster Errour. Think of her as rightwing conspiracy theories.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , | Comments closed

Eliot Explains Conspiracy Theories

By Robin Bates | Published: September 8, 2021

In “Middlemarch,” Eliot gives a succinct explanation as to why people are drawn to conspiracy theories.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

A Partial Defense of Plato’s Poet Ban

By Robin Bates | Published: April 25, 2021

Perhaps Plato banished poets from his ideal society because he appreciated the destructive potential of stories. He’s relevant in light of today’s conspiracy theories.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed