Writing Assignment: Simulacra, Fake News, and Conspiracies
Overview:
This assignment asks you to connect James Morris’s article, Simulacra in the Age of Social Media: Baudrillard as the Prophet of Fake News (2020), with the Conspiracy Chart (2021). Together, these materials explore how misinformation spreads, how conspiracy theories gain traction, and why “truth” is often hard to pin down in today’s media environment.
Prompt:In a short essay (2–3 pages, double-spaced), respond to the following:
Choose one conspiracy theory from the Conspiracy Chart (2021). Briefly explain where it falls on the chart and why.
Apply Baudrillard’s concepts of simulacra and hyperreality (as explained in Morris, 2020) to this conspiracy. How does this theory blur, distort, or break the relationship between media images and reality?
Analyze its impact: How might this conspiracy theory influence public decision-making, particularly around health, politics, or science? Use examples from the pandemic or other recent events if relevant.
Finally, reflect on the role of social media: How does the online attention economy (likes, shares, clicks) contribute to the spread of this conspiracy?
Requirements:
Length: 2–3 pages (double-spaced).
Sources: You must reference Morris (2020) and the Conspiracy Chart (2021). Additional sources are optional but encouraged.
Citations: Use either APA or ASA style consistently. Be sure to cite both direct quotes and paraphrases.
Use this website as well.
