Conspiracy theories, populism and audiovisual media

About this programme

No fees are charged for EU and EEA citizens, Swedish residence permit holders and exchange students. In public conversation, conspiracy theories are often seen as a form of disinformation and closely tied to populist rhetoric. Today, conspiracy theories and populist thought figures are also largely conveyed through audiovisual fiction media such as TV series and feature films, but also through documentaries, political election films, and propaganda videos, etc. But are conspiracy theories always a form of disinformation and thus a threat to democratic institutions and practices? Are they always populist in some sense? And how are audiovisual expressions (sound, music, moving images) and narratives used in the construction of conspiracy theoretical and populist messages? This course examines the relationships between conspiracy theories and populism and the role audiovisual communication plays in the spread of conspiracy theoretical and populist discourses in contemporary times. Admission to the course requires completed courses of at least 180 credits, the equivalent course requirements for Bachelor's degree in humanistic or social sciences educational field or an equivalent discipline. Furthermore, knowledge corresponding to English A/English 5 is required. Selection is based upon the number of credits from previous university studies, maximum 165 credits. The Faculty of Humanites premises are in the building Humanisten at Renströmsgatan 6. The facilities of the Department of Cultural Sciences are situated on the second floor of the building. Both Humanisten and the