Running low on conspiracy theories? Here are a few music-related ones you may not have heard about.
[This was my weekly column for GlobalNews.ca. – AC]
Conspiracy theories are seductive things in a complex world. They offer explanations for strange and terrible realities in a seemingly random and uncaring universe.
Someone or something malevolent must be to blame. Facts are suppressed, truth is obfuscated and unknown powerful forces are working to destabilize, conquer, destroy and manipulate, while profiting from our suffering and confusion.
The internet hasn’t helped. Remember when we thought that the greatest impediment to humankind’s intellectual and spiritual evolution was the lack of information? Nope. It wasn’t that. The internet has only allowed fringe ideas to proliferate and strengthen as like-minded conspiracists find each other online. Hence, chemtrails, flat-Earthers, moon landing skeptics, aliens at Area 51, the inside job that was 9/11, and so on.
We have a natural desire to make sense of senseless things. We feel powerless when something bad happens, so finding a “reason” becomes paramount. We want to regain control and feel safe again. By connecting all the dots — dots that powerful people don’t want us to know about — we reveal a truth that no one else sees, making us feel unique and superior. And if we find others who believe the same things, we’re no longer alone with our fears and suspicions. It’s a step towards restoring order and clarity.
The music world has long been awash in such thinking. With that in mind, here are some music-based conspiracy theories that have believers worldwide. Wake up, sheeple. Can’t you see what’s really going on?
Keep reading.
