By: Kevin D'Ercole
Think about the last conspiracy theory you heard of? Maybe it was one of the conspiracy theories about the JFK assassination or the Moon landing? Now Imagine that I told you that the conspiracy theory is in a TV show. That's right, a TV show and one of the main themes for the show are Conspiracy theories.
That TV show is called Utopia and within Utopia the show follows a group of people who try to purchase the long awaited sequel to a graphic novel series "Dystopia" called "Utopia." With extensive research and analysis, they find out the book has a connection to an unknown virus that is currently plaguing the U.S, eventually turning into a pandemic. The discovery of this virus within the novel leads to conspiracy theories of the origins of this virus. For example, the rash that the virus leaves is similar to the one in the novel.
Currently, the COVID-19 virus is affecting the world, and this TV show is being compared. Both viruses' origins are unknown but the media reception is very similar, and that's being compared as well. The conspiracy theories that are linked to COVID-19 are very similar to the ones in the show, and many people believe in these theories and follow some of the groups that create some of these theories, like QAnon. So, if people believe in these unproven conspiracy theories, you ask yourself, why do people believe in conspiracy theories? Why do people believe in conspiracy theories and how does Utopia portray some of these conspiracy theories?
Some of the conspiracy theories in Utopia can be seen as a direct representation of Conspiracy theories today. Within the show, the theme of conspiracy theories are occurring throughout every episode. One of the characters, Wilson Wilson, can be considered a paranoid conspiracy theorist because he’s constantly analyzing every page closely to find hidden messages. Another example is the whole show. It can be considered one whole theory since the graphic novel, “Utopia” has connections to the Christie-Virus in the show, and this is shown in episode one at the comic convention. At the convention, Sam talks to another group of super fans about how the virus in the graphic novel is connected to the virus that’s spreading currently. Another example is from the rash that was shown in one of the episodes. The rash on a kid’s head was the same exact rash as seen in the novel. With the multiple similarities of COVID-19 and the Christie-Virus, it wasn’t really planned to be that. In Caitlynn Flynn’s interview with Gillian Flynn, Caitlynn Flynn asked the producer about the similarities of COVID-19 and the show and if it affected their editing process. Gillian Flynn responded to her question, “Filming was done, so we couldn’t film anything different...I didn’t want to try to do anything that made it closer to COVID...it didn’t feel respectful to me to try to imitate or play on that.” Out of respect, Flynn didn’t want to change anything that mimicked the current COVID pandemic. Flynn also comments on the next question about the theme of paranoia saying it's “...alarming to see the conspiracy theories that came with COVID are, strangely echoed in a show that I wrote years ago.” In Jeff Ehren’s article, he explains that the show, Utopia is a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, and rightfully so. Ehren explains, “One of the fascinating aspects to conspiracy theories is the notion that people must have some knowledge as to what they are doing…The reason why large-scale conspiracy theories are so easily believed, however, is that it’s fairly easy to sway a group of people.” In Utopia, the show explores this as the main group of friends are easily swayed due to their knowledge and obsession with the novel series.
Like conspiracy theories, they are usually spread through groups on social media. This is seen in Utopia as the main group of friends are part of a “Dystopia” messaging board that's similar to 4chan. Today’s conspiracy theories are also spread in a similar way. Groups on social media and messaging boards like 4chan, most notably the conspiracy theory group QAnon, are constantly making conspiracies. Other notable conspiracy theories include Pizzagate. In Zara Abram’s article, she discusses why conspiracy theories are interesting backed up through psychological research. In her article, she explains in one section, “Widespread belief in conspiracy theories is cause for concern, says Karen Douglas, PhD...because research links support in such theories to prejudice, violence, and terrorism.” She goes on to explain that several QAnon supporters have been charged with violent crimes and the FBI labeling QAnon as a possible domestic terrorist group. This can be seen in Utopia as the group decides to do something and attack a government building to destroy vaccines. This action can be considered a domestic terrorist act because they attacked security, potentially killing guards. Another example of this can be found in Nathan Allebach’s article about how America became a land of conspiracy theories. If you haven’t read the article, it’s pretty interesting since it goes in depth about conspiracy theories and its background. In Allebach’s article, he explains, “...whether it’s conspiring that the Chinese Communist Party created COVID-19 or that Trump is secretly working with a military agent named “Q” to bring down a global cabal of satanic pedophiles, such as QAnon ascribes to.” This quote can be connected to the main group in Utopia. Throughout the show, they try to uncover this deepstate-like organization controlled by Mr. Rabbit who’s controlling powerful people in the government like the Department of Homeland Security.
When people believe in conspiracy theories, they usually believe them out of paranoia, or distrust, usually distrust of authorities and government agencies. Another possible reason is the medical conditions. Certain neurological conditions and personality traits side effects can lead to distrust of others. Throughout Utopia, the character Wilson Wilson is a conspiracy theorist, and a paranoid one at that. Due to him being highly paranoid, it can be considered a possible reason why he’s always examining both graphic novels. Going back to Zara Abrams’ article, she looks at the medical reasons as to why people believe in conspiracy theories. With the research she found suggests that some people are more likely to embrace conspiratorial narrative than others and that it's linked to a personality trait called Schizotypy which is defined by eccentricity and suspiciousness of others. Further analyzing this quote, the character Wilson Wilson can possibly have this personality trait since he’s highly suspicious and paranoid to others.
Neurological and human evolution can be connected to certain medical reasons as to why people believe in conspiracy theories. Within Richard Freedman’s article, he discusses that psychiatrists need to be alert that many of their patients are exposed to conspiracy theories, but he also explains human evolution and the effects of cognitive errors. In his article, he says, “...humans lived together as small groups of hunter-gatherers. Our survival depended, in part, on our ability to recognize and mitigate various threats...We have evolved to quickly detect patterns...Our tendency to discern patterns and make sense of the world also makes us prone to cognitive errors, such as seeing connections between events when none exist.” With some conspiracy theories not proven, human cognitive error can make people believe in conspiracy theories since those theories are not proven to be real, but cognitive errors can make it seem like those theories are true. In Utopia, the main group of friends try to figure out these hidden conspiracies, eventually believing that they solved the puzzle when questioning Mr. Rabbit in the last episode, but there’s something else which was never explained due to the show's cancelation.
Within the article, "Utopia might be the most unlucky show of the year" The author discusses the show and how its one huge conspiracy theory that's currently growing. Due to current times with the COVID-19 pandemic, it's difficult to take watch a show that clearly mirrors today's situation. The author describes the show as "Put in 2020 vernacular, it’s a bit like watching a show about QAnon believers." Within the text, the author explains, "This makes Utopia look terribly naïve in a way that’s not really anyone’s fault, although it can be criticized for having little to say about the erosion of truth and the appeal of conspiracy theories." What the author is saying here is, although the show mirrors our situation today and it's hard to take that truth, the show can be criticized for not paying more attention to truth and conspiracy theories. Towards the end of the article, the author sums up Utopia as a show "that mostly falls flat" and due to the little time in the series, it prevents you from getting to know the characters more.
Alongside conspiracies is connection to fantasy in Utopia and if you're not paying close attention, you might miss it. In Jeff Ehren’s article, he points out that, “The name Milner could be a nod to hat making. If so, it could represent the Mad Hatter in Wonderland or magicians — both scenarios include a white rabbit.” Little theories like these are spread throughout the series. There’s even a reference to the Greek god Demeter due to the connection of The Harvest.
There are many conspiracy theories out there, most, if not all of them are disproven. With the availability of social media and how easy it is for someone to gain information, it's also easy for them to come across false information like conspiracy theories. Although many don't believe in these conspiracy theories, there are people who do. Usually they believe them out of paranoia and comfort. With Utopia, the show portrays some of these conspiracy theories as its many themes. Just the other day, I was talking with someone on a server on Discord, a voice chatting platform, and we were discussing the COVID vaccine and some of its “supposing” side effects.
This person told me that some of the ingredients in the vaccines are harmful for our bodies and can cause sterilization for a few years. According to him, his sources were credible and are all over the internet. He then said to me, “you probably think I sound like a conspiracy theorist,” and I was thinking that. I did, in fact search up on the CDC website about some of the side effects of the vaccine and it's been proven that it doesn’t cause sterilization. This conversation that I had with this person shows that some of these theories can make people believe them and not trust actual credible information. He did tell me to take the information on how I see it and in no way go by what he said, and I didn’t. ~
Author Bio:
Currently, Kevin is studying at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, NJ, majoring in Animation in hopes to become a character designer or a concept artist for a video game company. His interests are gaming, drawing, reading, history, military history and computers.
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