Moon Landing Conspiracy
By: Melissa Tilley
Here is the link to my screencast video: https://somup.com/c0ev0U4ndU
For my LEAP project, I chose to focus on conspiracy theories and how it is a form of harmful propaganda since it is the section I have found the most interesting during this class. I was looking through the Mind Over Media website and came across this image right here showing Astronauts on the moon seemingly being on some kind of production set that alludes to the landing being fake. While this image itself may not be real, these images are a form of propaganda because it is misleading and created to influence the public to believe a certain point of view. The Moon landing conspiracy suggests that the Apollo moon landings were a hoax and filmed on a set. While there are some suspicious findings that support this conspiracy theory, none of it can be completely proven and many have been debunked by multiple sources. While these suspicions are subjective, the theory continues to persist in popular culture. The moon landing conspiracy theory can be harmful to the public because it promotes distrust of science and scientific evidence, and it can also undermine the accomplishments of the scientific community, in this case, NASA.
This conspiracy also fits into the overall theme we have been discussing throughout this course. That being you should not believe everything you see online. Doing research is very important and this also promotes a lack of critical thinking and an unwillingness to accept evidence-based conclusions. It is important to rely on credible sources. Another way this image and others like it can be harmful is that the conspiracy theory can be disrespectful to the families of the astronauts who risked their lives going on the Apollo missions. By promoting false information and undermining the achievements of the scientific community, the Moon landing conspiracy theory can have a negative impact on society’s ability to understand scientific advancements and the importance of evidence-based thinking.
As we have learned, conspiracy theories can be addicting. They immerse people in search of hidden secrets or sealed information. Coming into contact with propaganda and fake news, the same effect happens to viewers. Some things you read may seem really enticing but it’s not all true. It is important to be aware and conscious of that fact. While making this project I wanted to keep things simple and pick images I found online that aligned with my explanation of the propaganda I chose. I wanted my video to be the least confusing possible to whoever views it. Although the moon landing happened many years ago, this is just another example of how everyone seems to be questioning a lot of things these days. Even events that happened 60 years ago. I think this conspiracy theory in particular is enticing since it is such a significant point in history. After researching I must admit I was even questioning things myself.
Sources:
Dunbar, Brian. “Moon to Mars Overview.” NASA, NASA, 29 June 2018, https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars/overview/.
Kramer, Jillian. “Why People Latch on to Conspiracy Theories, According to Science.” Science, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/why-people-latch-on-to-conspiracy-theories-according-to-science.
“The Moon Landing.” History, National Geographic Kids, 10 May 2022, https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/moon-landing.
