Erin’s blog

Today in class, we discussed conspiracy theories and examples like the moon landing being fake, the Earth being flat, and Walt Disney having his body frozen, with the movie Frozen supposedly being created as a distraction. I thought these examples were interesting because they showed how people can come up with explanations for things even when there is not much evidence to support them. We also discussed what makes people believe conspiracy theories. I think people are more likely to believe something when there is evidence to support it, but also when it aligns with their existing beliefs. This connects to confirmation bias, which is when people look for or believe information that supports what they already think. I think this can make it harder for people to consider other perspectives or question their own assumptions. This discussion reminded me of the importance of thinking critically and looking for reliable evidence before deciding what to believe, especially with how quickl...

Today in class, we learned about the Waco cult and David Koresh. I thought it was interesting to learn about how he gained so much control over his followers and how much they trusted him. It is hard to imagine being in a situation where you believe someone so strongly that you stop questioning their actions. I think it shows how much influence one person can have over a group, especially when that person convinces others that they have special knowledge or authority. What stood out to me was how difficult it can be for people on the outside to understand why someone would stay in a group that seems dangerous. When people are surrounded by others who share the same beliefs, it can become harder to question what they are being told. I think this is one of the reasons cults can be so powerful. People may not realize how much control a leader has over their lives until they are already deeply involved. Learning about Waco made me think more about how people get drawn into these groups and...

This week’s discussion about White Slave Trade Hysteria made me think about how fear influenced society during a time of major change. During this period, women were fighting for more rights, including the right to vote, while challenging traditional expectations of their roles. The Mann Act of 1910 was passed to combat the transportation of women for prostitution, but it also reflected growing fears surrounding white slavery. I found it interesting that these concerns were happening alongside progressive movements for women’s independence. This also made me think about confirmation bias and how people may have focused on stories that supported their existing fears about changing roles rather than questioning the information they were hearing. Overall, this topic showed me how society can make progress in some areas while still holding onto traditional beliefs in others.

Today in class, our presentation was on The Talented Mr. Ripley , and we focused on the idea of self and other. I found it interesting that Tom was already a con artist who pretended to be different people in order to benefit himself and get what he wanted. When he met Dickie, he became fascinated with his lifestyle and started wanting to be more like him. After Dickie died, this became even more extreme because Tom changed his hair, wore his clothes, and started acting like him. He was no longer just pretending to be someone else to get something; he was almost trying to become Dickie. I think this connects to the idea of self and other because Tom seemed to define himself through the people around him rather than having his own sense of identity. At first, changing who he was helped him get what he wanted, but eventually he became so focused on Dickie that he lost sight of his own identity. It made me think about how the people we admire can influence how we see ourselves and who we ...

I think the werewolf became such a real terror in the sixteenth century because people were trying to make sense of things they could not explain. I think part of what makes the werewolf so frightening is the idea that something so familiar and human could turn into something dangerous and uncontrollable. During this time, religion played such a large role in how people understood the world, so the idea of someone making a pact with the devil and transforming into a wolf was something people could genuinely believe. What I found interesting was how similar werewolf trials were to witch trials. Both show how fear and religious beliefs could influence people’s understanding of reality and even determine someone’s fate. I also thought it was interesting that some of the accused were likely innocent or were forced to confess under torture. It makes me wonder how many people were punished simply because society needed someone to blame for something frightening or unexplained. I think the ...