Abstract This paper examines ways in which popular American culture's fascination with conspiracy theories are reflected in Dan Brown's novel, "Da Vinci Code". The paper cites various conspiracy theories ranging from the murders of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. to U.S. involvement in Vietnam to the narrative of Brown's novel.
From the Paper "The murder of John F Kennedy in Dallas Texas on November fostered intense national desire to assign blame for the crime and bring those responsible to justice. One view of the assassination was articulated in detail in the Warren Commission Report WCR which..."
Abstract This paper explores some of the conspiracy theories surrounding the murder of President John F. Kennedy,. It argues that none of them, in the end, is supported by sufficient and believable evidence.
From the Paper "We've all had days like this. Your alarm clock will break and so you'll oversleep. When you do wake up you will burn your lips tongue and liver with your coffee. Your car will refuse to start and when it does you will discover that one of your tires is flat. ..."
Abstract Contends that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy shifted the U.S. from a period of hope to a period of paranoia and conspiracy theories. Idea of conspiracies as a staple of popular fiction, film, TV. Analysis of Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK. The 1997 film CONSPIRACY THEORY. Perpetuation on the Internet.
From the Paper "John Fitzgerald Kennedy was President of the United States for less than three years, yet in that time he had a major impact on the country and on foreign and domestic policy lasting for a decade or more. Some of his actions produced effects that were beneficial, and others can be seen now as less effective, notably his enmeshing the country in the Vietnam War. Kennedy's presidency began in a spirit of glamour and change and ended in the assassination of an American president. The country shifted from a period of hope to a period of tension, paranoia, conspiracy theories, and a growing distrust of government. In some degree, none of these things was new, but the Cold War era increased world tensions and made Americans less trustful both of other nations and of other Americans. The era of conspiracy theories really begins with the Kennedy assassination, an event ..."
Abstract This paper analyzes and compares four historians' responses to the article in the October 2001 issue of the the history journal "William and Mary Quarterly" entitled, "The Making of a Slave Conspiracy" which focused on the historical issues about black slavery in America particularly the Denmark Vesey insurrection conspiracy in Charleston, South Carolina in 1822. The articles reviewed include a review essay penned by Prof. Michael Johnson, entitled, "Denmark Vesey and His Co-Conspirators" which offered a new interpretation of the famous (and foiled) uprising of the Negroes in Charleston in the early 19th century.
From the Paper "Of all his criticisms of Johnson, Egerton said that the historian's biggest error is when Johnson failed to consult sources other than the Official Report and Evidence. Egerton said that Johnson became too focused in spotting differences between the two documents that he failed to recognize the importance of some small but significant and helpful sources such as "church records, city directories, and newspapers in St. Domingue", and most importantly, correspondence among people of Charleston during the time of trial and execution of the blacks. These "common biographer's technique" should have been helpful in his study of the issue. He also refuted Johnson's claim that the court punished heavily those who did not admit their guilt and pardoned those who did by giving an example. Sandy Vesey, Denmark's son, was also implicated in the insurgency plot, but unlike his companions who confessed and turned against them, Sandy Vesey did not admit his guilt, and as punishment, he was "transported to Spanish Cuba in 1822"."
Abstract This paper examines the conspiracy theory that the US Government is responsible for the creation and spread of AIDS. It looks at evidence supporting the creation of AIDS, the blocking of detection and treatment efforts, and the ultimate purpose behind the creation of the disease - to reduce the world's population.
Abstract This paper explores how one arrives at a conclusive theory of conspiracy that suggests the fact that one of America's most beloved leaders was systematically eliminated by his own countrymen, in the name of power and politics.
Table of contents
Introduction
The Assassination & Its Aftermath
The Conspiracy
From the Paper "The assassination of President Kennedy is an event that singularly stands out in both the memory and the history of the U.S., for it was an event that was to have a deep and enduring impact on the American public. The truth of this statement can be evidenced by the fact that most Americans who were above the age of five in 1963 can, to this day, recall exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the four words "the President is dead".
This paper is a review of "Crossfire" by Jim Marrs, an encyclopedic collection of information about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 39.95
Abstract This paper states that "Crossfire" presents virtually every conspiracy theory ever applied to the JFK assassination. The author feels that the biggest problem with this book is the sheer amount of information it provides with so many minute details, that it is easy to loose sight of the big picture. The author feels that Marrs presents an inescapable conclusion that the President's assassination was the result of some kind of conspiracy.
From the Paper "Marrs? background as a journalist serves him well as he examines theories claiming everyone from the Mob to the CIA to anti-Castro Cubans to J.Edgar Hoover's G-men to Lee Harvey Oswald were responsible for Kennedy's assassination. He points out inconsistencies within and across theories. Nor does he spare the official versions of what happed. He pounces like a hungry tiger on the unexplained elements of the Warren Commission Report raising questions that are difficult to answer or explain away as irrelevant."
Abstract This paper explains that, although the Warren Commission's report stated that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, and there was no conspiracy, the nagging question of who killed JFK still haunts the minds of many Americans. The author points out that the CIA theory of New Orleans District Attorney, Jim Garrison, is probably the most well-known of the conspiracy theories because it was made into a film starring Kevin Costner and directed by Oliver Stone. The paper relates that the Kennedy assassination is probably one of the most galvanizing events of modern history, and so, it will always remain controversial and shrouded in secrecy and theories.
Table of Contents
The CIA Theory and Jim Garrison
The "Grassy Knoll" Theory
The Mafia Theory
The Warren Commission
From the Paper "One of the most credible theories in recent years is the Mob or Mafia theory. Some historians point to Jack Ruby's known links with organized crime before he moved to Texas as evidence that the Mob was involved in the President's assassination. However, there are even more compelling arguments to back up the Mafia theory, including incriminating tapes of Mob bosses discussing bumping off one or more of the Kennedy's. The bosses were angry about John and Bobby's open war against organized crime, and it is conceivable that they could have created a conspiracy that pointed to Oswald, while making sure Ruby would do away with any evidence that might lead the trail back to the Mafia."
Abstract This paper analyzes the use of fate, coincidence, and accident in "Libra" as these topics serve to reinforce the book's titular concern with astrology, as well as the affinity that the concept of astrologically-determined fate and conspiracy theories have with each other. It traces the references to fate, coincidence, and conspiracy in the novel, ultimately finding Oswald's sun sign, Libra, to be the generator of the events of the novel.
From the Paper "Libra tells the story of the life and death of Lee Oswald, and the conspiracy to assassinate John F Kennedy. Oswald's life is out of control, constantly pushed and pulled in different directions by those around him. The chaos of Oswald's life and mind are explored throughout the novel, and his character is predictably weak-willed and mercurial. Less predictable, however, is the fact that the seemingly well-organized plot to kill the president is equally out of control, equally subject to the machinations of some greater exterior force. In admitting the chaos of Oswald and his life into their plot, the conspirators subject themselves to the forces of coincidence that this chaos facilitates and allow a greater outside force to manifest itself through him."
Abstract This paper explains that several conspiracy and the 'New World Order' theories, on the surface, may be considered as harmless, but, when evaluated in the light of their messages, may become quite menacing. The author states that, in its simplest definition, globalization is a social change, which brings about increased connectivity among societies; but, citizens, especially in lesser-developed parts of the world, see big businesses demolishing labor rights, environmental concerns and feminism and destroying entire cultures of indigenous people and decimating bio-diversity and cultural diversity.
Table of Contents
Introduction
New World Order, One World Governments, Conspiracy Theories, and Secret Societies
Economic Globalization
Analysis
From the Paper "The term 'New World Order' was first used, not as a political nomenclature, but by Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, in his Most Holy Book. Woodrow Wilson first widely used the phrase following World War I and during the formation of the League of Nations." Since then, numerous politicians have used the term as a generic term referring to a worldwide conspiracy, by a select and powerful group of the world's highest echelons of society. This group of the world's wealthiest people, top political leaders, and top corporate elite, has one goal, to strip societies of all nationalistic and regional boundaries and create a One World Government, which they solely control. It is a belief among apocalyptic religious and a variety of political groups that a conspiracy exists for world domination.
Tags:conspiracy, village, reality, cuture, lesser-developed
Abstract This paper discusses whether there really was a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy. The paper looks at how we may never really know positively, despite the efforts of the Warren Commission to go on record and state, unequivocally, that Lee Harvey Oswald killed the President, that there was no conspiracy, and there were no co-conspirators.
From the Paper "There are a number of others who disdain the lone gunman theory., One author, David S. Lifton, believes he has found a document that leads to more than a single shooter. But, as his law professor pointed out: "If there's another assassin, where's the bullet?" (Lifton, p. xvii) Lifton replied: "They simply took the bullet out before the autopsy....That is why FBI agents...reported that when the President's body arrived at the autopsy room of the Bethesda Naval Hospital, there had been, quote, 'surgery of the head area, namely at the top of the skull', unquote." (Lifton, p. xviii) He, too, began to believe in a conspiracy theory, and tended to agree with much of Mark Lane's theories and evidence."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that Abraham Lincoln's life as president was a celebration of the American paradigms of equality and freedom. The President spent not only his time in office, but also his life, in attempting to understand the plight of the poor and the oppressed, and to relieve this plight. The writer points out that as such, Lincoln attempted to mitigate the issues leading to the Civil War in order to stop such a war from ever occurring. After discussing Lincoln's life, the writer studies his assassination and looks at conspiracy theories. The writer concludes that the tragedy of Lincoln's assassination is directly connected to his accomplishments as President and the fact that he would never be able to carry on the work that he started at a time when his country needed it most.
Outline:
Abraham Lincoln's Life
Booth's Decision to Assassinate
Conspiracy Theories
Sources
From the Paper "After the horror of the Civil War, it appeared that this president's wisdom and generosity would make him an instrument not only of peace, but also prosperity in the future of the United States. In this lies the tragedy of his assassination.
"The President would never have the opportunity to lead the country towards the bright and peaceful future he projected for it. The highly emotional issues that sparked the Civil War in the first place had not fully come to rest in the heart of people such as the actor John Wilkes Booth. Booth assassinated the President at Ford's Theater in Washington on Good Friday, April 14, 1865. This crushed all hopes of a peaceful and magnanimous reunion between North and South, and among the various ethnic cultures of the country. Instead, further upheaval resulted not only in terms of politics, but also in terms of rather hysterical speculations regarding the possibility of conspiracy."
Abstract This is a study of the elements of President Kennedy's assassination and the conspiracy theories that correlate. The author examines the evidence available on Kennedy's assassination and lists possible conclusions.
From the Paper "One of the most controversial topics in America for the 20th century was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. The 35th American President was pronounced dead due to a gunshot wound at approximately 1pm Dallas time on November 22, 1963. As shocked as the nation was at the sudden loss of their beloved President, rumors on the uncertainty of his death were even more appalling. A country already under the scare of the Cold War was faced with doubts on the reliability of their government. After the assassination, officials arrested Lee Harvey Oswald and charge him as the sole gunman responsible for the shot to the back of President John F. Kennedy's head, as well as the shot that wounded Governor Connally of Texas, who was a passenger in front of the President. In the days following the event, many would doubt all the facts listed in the previous sentence."
Abstract This paper discusses the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the unanswered questions that surround his death. The author looks at some of the conspiracy theories that have risen over the years, such as whether Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, was Kennedy shot in the front or the back of the head, why is there a different coffin when the body is unloaded from the plane?
From the Paper "" November 22, 1963 was an important and sorrowful day in American history. It was the day John F. Kennedy was shot. Many of the facts from this day are common knowledge to almost anyone who has ever taken a high school level class in history. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, who was hiding in the Texas Schoolbook Depository, as his car passed through Dealey Plaza in Dallas , Texas . These are the accepted facts of the assassination; however, many Americans believe there is more to this story, possibly even a government cover-up. Any conspiracy buff knows that there are several unanswered questions and facts that simply don"t add up. For example, did Oswald act alone" If he did, could he have fired all the shots in that short of time? Was Kennedy hit in the front or the back of the head? The answers to these and other questions have led many Americans to believe that the assassination of John F. Kennedy was part of a conspiracy by our own government. The question that I have asked myself many times is: Is the government telling us the truth?"
