Exhibition 'International exhibition, “To Believe or Not to Believe: Conspiracy Theories”' in House of Histories
This exhibition explores all the most significant historical phases: the aforementioned Middle Ages, the Enlightenment period, when Freemasons and Illuminati were accused of starting the French Revolution, and a presentation of the primary sources “thanks” to which a conspiracy could spread like a virus. We also explore the most brutal dictatorships of the 20th century, showing how conspiracy theories born in previous eras became a tool for manipulating society, leading to one of the greatest human tragedies – the mass extermination of those deemed to be “enemies of the state” of totalitarian systems. Perhaps more than ever before, the Cold War period taught societies to trust nothing and fear everything – from the threat of the atomic bomb to Colorado potato beetles. Turbulent times – wars, historical upheavals, revolutions – have always been conductive to the spread of conspiracy theories. As a result, 21st century humanity, influenced by a growing number of conspiracy theories, no longer trusts anything or anyone: neither official governments nor medicine, not the scientists speaking out with greater urgency about climate change, and not the technologies that bring them beneficial progress.
