il Giardino Romantico

Barkun, Michael, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America (Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 2003)

Despite being preoccupied with all the assessments that are expected to be handed in this Friday, I simply cannot revert to my accademic work until I point out a couple of points that seems to bother my mind since I had put down the book. 

I was extremely excited to have found the book, thinking that a book which devotes a whole section on David Icke must be worth reading.  I was disappointed and not at the same time.  The truth is, I am unable to find a precise word to describe this book, or rather, how I felt about the book.  Seeing how it is published by a university press, I was well aware, even before I began reading it, that it would be an interesting reading.  If it was capable of infiltrating the core of conspiracy culture, and agree or make sense of any of the extant conspiracy theories, I would be extrememly satisfied by it.  As it turns out, it is merely an analysis of certain esoteric theories that have fortunately been leaked into the mainstream.

The issue that seems to bother me the most, is the fact that the author was well aware of the different type of 'knowledge' in this particular realm, namely forgotten knowledge; superseded knowledge; ignored knowledge; rejected knowledge; and suppressed knowledge, but managed only to analyse knowledge in the last two categories that have become easily accessible to the public reader.  He tries to maintain an objective standing point, neither disagreeing nor agreeing with the conspiracy theorist, but nonetheless subtle attacks and ridicules can be easily detected.

The most dissapointing aspect of the reading was the author's obsession with his analysis of ufology.  The issue here, is that he has not penetrated enough into this topic, for David Icke is hardly the hardcore spokesperson in this realm of conspiracy theory.  It is a pity that throughout the span of nearly two hundred pages of text, there was absolutely no mention of Michael Tsarion.  Surely, he would have been the best candidate for analysis in this particular area of interest. 

Nonetheless, there is ample information on what conspiracy theorists believe the nefarious schemes of certain clandestine superpowers are plotting against the public.  The book would cause an outrage in the conspiratorial realm because of its lack of audacity to choose clear side to support.  At one point, the reader is being lead into believing that the author could probably be a believer, but is merely holding back due to the nautre of the publisher's overtness and academic basis.  However, the author was unable to refrain from using subjective adjectives when it comes to ufology and reptilian theories.

It is, after all, an analysis of conspiracy theories and how they have influenced American culture.  To compound, we must not forget that it was published by a university press with a rather high standard of reputation held by the general public.  No matter how badly the author wishes he could believe, or even just make sense out of any of these theories, he was probably bound by certain limitations.  However, it could also be that the whole book was merely 'condemnation in disguise'.  If the latter is the case, I must admit that I still do not regret having read it.  The reason for that lies in the ancient wisdom of 'knowing thy enemy'.