Study Task 4 Introduction Page

My introduction page:

Where in animation can we find examples of conspiracy theory and mystery, and can we argue that audiences enjoy these theories as they are a way of creating a community amongst viewers.

My investigation for this essay thus far has taken me down some interesting paths. My question focuses on the communities which form around, and are informed by, conspiracies. Examples of this will be centred on animated series. To understand conspiracy theories, and the communities of followers they create, I have been looking into ‘basic’ theories. Rob Brotherton’s book ‘Suspicious Minds’ (2015) presents some interesting quotes:

“Sometimes buying into conspiracy is the cognitive equivalent of seeing meaning in randomness.” (Brotherton, 2015, p 14. ). This arguably represents our need to find order in everything. Another quote that sparked my interest from the New Yorker “Heightened need for cognitive closure can bias our choices, change our preferences, and influence our mood. In our rush for definition, we tend to produce fewer hypotheses and search less thoroughly for information” (Konnikova, 2013) The need for answers, why do we need the answer? Why do so many of us strive to find the meaning behind even the smallest things.

  I have also begun researching youth culture and subculture. Subculture is my main focus:  a group that has broken away from the wider, more dominant cultures. The link is that conspiracy theorists tend to see the world in terms of us and them, and so do subcultural groups. There is a strong following of conspiracy theories amongst young people and certain subcultural groups who have a sense of the outsider about them. Often in cartoons they are represented as hippies by their dress and mannerisms, very much pushing their individuality and individual views.

Usually it is common for people to be a theorist in the broader sense, being a conspiracy theorist is quite niche. Conspiracy theorists, like subcultural groups, could be seen as

“Social actors who create meaningful myths, stories and so on in order to think about and understand the world around them”.  (Kidd.W, 2002, p. 124). Conspiracies in cartoons are fairly common; there are shows dedicated to the subject matter.  ‘Gravity Falls’ follows siblings eager to discover the strange occurences of a small Oregon town. Other example include Tin Tin, Scooby Doo, Martin mystery. The theories may even be called myths or mysteries but nonetheless the story is that the character is eager to find an answer, and we as an audience follow along on the journey, offering our own answers and ideas. This can form a community, of likeminded people who share this idea. And that Is what I propose is an interesting topic.