Strategic Conspiracy Narratives: A Semiotic Approach

Strategic Conspiracy Narratives offers a semiotic perspective to analyze how conspiracy theories are used to shape interpretation paths and identities of a targeted audience, focusing on their strategic function in social media and information conflict. The book proposes a theoretical framework based on semiotics of culture, strategic narrative, and transmedia storytelling and is targeted to specialists and graduate students.

Format: Hardback
Length: 134 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Strategic Conspiracy Narratives presents a novel semiotic lens for examining how contemporary conspiracy theories are employed to shape the interpretation pathways and identities of a targeted audience. Conspiracy theories wield substantial influence in the widespread dissemination of misinformation, exerting a profound impact on shaping public perceptions on various subjects. They facilitate the linking of disparate events across different eras and locations, involving multiple actors that may appear incongruous to observers. This book specifically delves into strategic-function conspiracy narratives within the realm of (social) media and information conflict. It elucidates the strategic techniques employed by conspiracy theories to instigate a hermeneutics of suspicion—a persistent skepticism and interrogation of mainstream media channels and dominant public authorities, delegitimization of political opponents, and an ongoing pursuit of hidden clues and coverups. The effectiveness of strategic dissemination of conspiracy narratives hinges on the cultural context, specific characteristics of the targeted audience, and the semiotic construction of the message. This book offers an innovative semiotic perspective for analyzing contemporary strategic communication. The authors develop a theoretical framework rooted in semiotics of culture, notions of strategic narrative, and transmedia storytelling.

This book is designed for specialists and graduate students engaged in social theory, semiotics, journalism, strategic communication, social media, and contemporary social issues in general.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 164 x 240 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367030988