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SUMMARY:Paranoid Masculinities: Conspiracy Theory in Mark Twain's Fiction 
 - Prof.  Alex Beringer (Montevallo)
DTSTART:20141021T160000Z
DTEND:20141021T180000Z
UID:TALK53756@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Vickie Freer
DESCRIPTION:A public talk by Professor Alex Beringer. \n\nThis talk will e
 xplore Mark Twain’s perspective on conspiracy theory in late-nineteenth 
 century America. In Twain’s time\, public attitudes towards conspiracy t
 heory went through a somewhat unusual change. Namely\, conspiracy theory w
 as becoming increasingly identified with amusement and entertainment. Figu
 res such as Josiah Strong and Ignatius Donnelly drew enormous crowds and s
 old bestselling books by offering conspiratorial interpretations of histor
 y that bore a closer resemblance to P.T. Barnum’s promotions than to con
 ventional political rhetoric.\n\nFor his part\, Twain was ambivalent about
  these developments. On the one hand\, he expressed appreciation for the 
 “solid satisfaction” to be had from a good conspiratorial mystery. Twa
 in even penned a conspiracy theory history on Shakespeare where he comment
 ed on his enthusiasm for what he termed the “conjecturability” associa
 ted with conspiracy. On the other\, Twain also regarded the public’s amu
 sement with conspiracy thinking as a disturbing trend. If historical event
 s were only considered interesting when they provided a thrilling mystery 
 or visceral head rush\, this encouraged people to drift towards political 
 insularity and extremism. In tracing these currents in Twain’s thought\,
  the discussion will delve into widely-known works by Twain like Connectic
 ut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court as well as lesser-known pieces such as 
 the unfinished novel Tom Sawyer’s Conspiracy.\n\nThe talk will be follow
 ed by a wine reception. 
LOCATION:CRASSH Alison Richard Building\, 7 West Road\, Cambridge\, CB3 9D
 T
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