Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017
The release of documents in the Kennedy assassination provided more grist for the conspiracy theory mill. Mike Collins looks at how conspiracy theories became a part of culture, then hears about horror stories and folklores from the creator of the "Lore" podcast.
PART ONE
Newly-released files on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy have failed to turn up the kind of bombshells that might prove long-held suspicions of a conspiracy.
More than a half-century after the shooting and despite countless investigations and books dissecting the events in Dallas, we’re still not satisfied with the conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. A survey this month found that more than 60 percent of those polled believe the assassination was the result of a conspiracy.
The assassination is just one of the major events in American history that have attracted conspiracy theories. Some firmly believe the moon landing was a hoax. The 9/11 attacks have also elicited skeptics doubting the official version of events.
How do these theories get started? Why do we believe in them?
GUESTS
David Bollinger, UNC Wilmington, professor of communication studies
Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works; director of NC State's Engineering Entreprenuers Program (@marshallbrain)
SHOW LINKS
"How Conspiracy Theories Work" by Marshall Brain
"Most People Believe in JFK Conspiracy Theories" (FiveThirtyEight.com)
"What Aren't They Telling Us?" Chapman University Survey of American Fears
PART TWO
Aaron Mahnke knows that truth is often stranger – and scarier – than fiction.
His hit podcast, "Lore," uncovers how horror stories and folklore full of dark figures, such as vampires, witches, and werewolves, are actually rooted in real-life events. A little bit history, and a little bit campfire storytelling, the award-winning podcast has found quite a following. The program has been so popular that Amazon has picked it up as a television series.
Just in time for Halloween, and ahead of his visit to Charlotte, Aaron Mahnke talks with WFAE's Sarah Delia about the world of "Lore."
GUEST
Aaron Mahnke, Creator, producer, and host of the podcast Lore, Executive Producer of the Lore television show on Amazon, and author of The World of Lore book series (@amahnke)
EVENT INFO
The "Lore Live" tour comes to CPCC's Dale Halton Theater on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m with musical guest Chad Lawson. More details: www.lorepodcast.com/tour17