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July 11, 2023
11 July 2023 at 18:30: Chris Kavanagh: The rise of secular gurus in an age of conspiracy theories
From: Benoit Hardy-Chartrand <b.hardy-chartrand@tuj.temple.edu>
Date: 2023/07/05
Dear SSJ moderator,
I would like to advertise the following event, which will be held next Tuesday, July 11, at Temple University Japan.
Best regards,
Benoit Hardy-Chartrand
The Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan Presents
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11 July 2023 at 18:30
Chris Kavanagh
The rise of secular gurus in an age of conspiracy theories
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11 July 2023 at 18:30
Temple University Japan Room 401
RSVP appreciated but not required (icas@tuj.temple.edu)
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Chris Kavanagh, Associate Professor, Rikkyo University.
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Benoît Hardy-Chartrand, Temple University Japan.
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We are living in a golden era of digital gurus from YouTube influencers to techno monks and podcast pundits. Their rise has been facilitated with a revived and increasingly influential interest in conspiracy theories, particularly notable in the online world and among populist politicians. Charismatic figures such as Elon Musk, Jordan Peterson, and Russell Brand now spread their prophetic and conspiratorial messages to millions of digital followers.
This talk explores how these very modern gurus have adapted a traditional charismatic and performative role to suit a contemporary context, offering a comforting antidote to the alienating complexities of modern life. Based on a multi-year deep analysis of their content, partly documented on the Decoding the Gurus podcast, this talk will explore the psychological and rhetorical techniques these gurus leverage to grow their audiences and position themselves at the forefront of public discourse.
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Christopher Kavanagh is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Rikkyo University and a Researcher at the Centre for Studies of Social Cohesion at Oxford University. His research focuses mainly on the psychological and social effects of religious belief and collective rituals and he has a long standing interest in skepticism, pseudoscience, and conspiracy theory communities. He co-hosts Decoding the Gurus, a podcast dedicated to examining the techniques of modern online Gurus.
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Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies
Temple University, Japan Campus
www.tuj.ac.jp/icas
Information: Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies
Email: icas@tuj.temple.edu
Support ICAS: Donate below
https://icas.tuj.ac.jp/support
ICAS events reflect the opinions of the speakers and participants, and do not represent
the views of Temple University or the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies.
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