John Bodner (Memorial University of Newfoundland)
This presentation uses two predominantly American conspiracy theories, one currently linked to QAnon, the other to Covid-19 to describe the various forces of ecotypification these narratives underwent after their arrival in Canadian facebook groups and protests. I argue that core changes occur at the level of narrative features (characters, acts, motivation) which effect explanatory, rhetorical and emotional reception of the narrative; however, the structural core of a vernacular political theory rooted in American far-right populism remains unchanged. I conclude by outlining the problems associated with foreign violent ideologies spread through traditional folklore forms have for a small country like Canada.
Part of 08-02 Approaches to Conspiracy Theory: Time, Parody, Politics, and Ostension, Saturday, October 15, 10:30 am–12:30 pm