Monday, November 18, 2024
7pm ET
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America’s conspiracy theory problem has gone from a fringe phenomenon to a mainstream epidemic. In 2010, journalist Tea Krulos met Richard McCaslin, a conspiracy theorist who gave called himself “The Phantom Patriot.” McCaslin, inspired by Alex Jones, conducted a costumed, armed raid on a secret club for the elites, the Bohemian Grove.

In this talk, Krulos will discuss McCaslin and his introduction to the fascinating and bizarre history of the Bohemian Club, a breeding ground for conspiracies and a place President Herbert Hoover called the “Greatest Men’s Party on Earth.” McCaslin viewed himself as the Phantom Patriot, a “Real-life Superhero.” The government saw him as a “domestic terrorist.”

Krulos will share a portrait of the Richard McCaslin he knew: a lonely man obsessed with comic books, who snapped after a dark period in his own life. He will show images of McCaslin’s rarely seen and strange autobiographical comics created while in prison, and discuss the ways in which McCaslin may have been well ahead of his time, as recent years have brought a tidal wave of conspiracy theories and misinformation. He’ll highlight some recent examples, and suggest what might be done to stop the overwhelming flood of misinformation.

Tea Krulos is an award-winning journalist and author of five non-fiction books from Milwaukee. He specializes in unusual subcultures and social movements. His books include American Madness, Monster Hunters, and Apocalypse Any Day Now.

Image: The burning of the owl at Bohemian Grove, date unknown.