dc.contributor.author	Clements, Joshua Grant
dc.coverage.spatial	United States	en_US
dc.coverage.temporal	2017-2021	en_US
dc.date.accessioned	2021-07-28T14:21:33Z
dc.date.available	2021-07-28T14:21:33Z
dc.date.issued	2021-06
dc.identifier.other	C4AA06D2-ADE9-2B85-4196-2667F87A6337	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10428/4936
dc.description.abstract	This thesis studies the proliferation of conspiracy theories, specifically QAnon, to determine how the media environment, including various media channels, audiences, and messages, played a factor in the group’s growth. QAnon grew from a relatively obscure branch of the alt-right movement into a mob capable of storming the Capitol Building in early 2021. Applying media ecology framework to the QAnon phenomenon, this research investigates the media environment where QAnon was facilitated by using a content analysis of various media surrounding QAnon and those affected by its messages. As a case study, this study reviews comments made about QAnon by Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene to illustrate the group’s influence and reach. This study demonstrates that media technology aided QAnon in spreading their conspiracy theories through social media influencers, algorithms, word of mouth, and traditional media. The target audiences of QAnon found in this study included people seeking entertainment and people seeking something bigger than themselves. According to this research, the media environment enabled QAnon to reach its audience. Marjorie Taylor Greene is an example of how fringe beliefs influence an individual with rising political authority due to the media environment surrounding her. Lastly, this research illustrates that limitless information and technology are insufficient resources to combat the spread of conspiracy theories such as QAnon due to their essence being epistemological and inherently part of the human condition.	en_US
dc.description.tableofcontents	Introduction 1 -- Theoretical Foundation 1 -- Research Questions 2 -- Literature Review 2 -- Conspiracy Theories 2 -- QAnon 8 -- Methodology 11 -- Analysis 16 -- Conclusion 29 -- References 32	en_US
dc.format.extent	1 electronic document, 45 pages. 584092 bytes.	en_US
dc.format.mimetype	application/pdf	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.rights	This dissertation is protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States (Public Law 94-553, revised in 1976). Consistent with fair use as defined in the Copyright Laws, brief quotations from this material are allowed with proper acknowledgement. Use of the materials for financial gain with the author's expressed written permissions is not allowed.	en_US
dc.subject	Academic theses	en_US
dc.subject	Communication	en_US
dc.subject	Conspiracy theories	en_US
dc.subject	Mass media	en_US
dc.subject	Social epistemology	en_US
dc.subject	Social media	en_US
dc.title	Environmental Impact: QAnon and Media Ecology	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US
dc.contributor.department	Department of Communication Arts of the College of Arts	en_US
dc.description.advisor	Eaves, Michael
dc.description.committee	Faux, William
dc.description.committee	Conway, Dennis
dc.description.degree	Ed.D.	en_US
dc.description.major	Communication	en_US