Hiding in Plain Sight

Where is the line between popular culture and coverup?

I don't think of myself as much of a conspiracy theorist, but I'm sure that there are those who would disagree. Today's article leans pretty far in that direction.

In my reading I saw an article title that sounded like it would be about Mary Magdalene having been a wife or lover of Jesus. My first thought was "that isn't news, The DaVinci Code was published quite a while ago". The article wasn't about Mary M at all, but my own reaction to it sparked an interesting question to ponder.

Is "fiction" that is written about history, religion, or fantastical (but possible) events triggering us to automatically assume the events must be fictional just because a fictional story was public knowledge?

I think that the answer is yes, and I think there are implications from this that could be interesting.

Dan Brown wrote the Da Vinci Code as fiction, based on information from historical sources, and it is entirely possible that all of the mystery in his book is actually fact. However, because the book is presented as a fictional story, we subconcioiusly discount any of the facts in it as nothing more than interesting trivia.

Fiction - no matter how much truth is in it - is assumed to be nothing more than a story. A facinating and amusing story that ignites the imagination with the "what if's" but still just a story. It even goes to the extreme of people being embarrassed to tell others they think something is real because it was the subject of fiction. The fiction itself isn't debunking any truth to the events, it is elaborating on them and even speculating about further possible meaning, but the connotation of fiction gives us the sense that these events are like any other myth or story. (I personally think most myth isn't just story)

Here's where the consipacy part comes in - if there is a truth you want dismissed by the majority of people, just make it a book or movie. Think about it. Have you seen Men in Black? Will Smith is hilarious and the subject becomes completely laughable, lighthearted and fun. The movie portrays the rumored about MIB as quirky, slapstick, not a threat. Sure, they can erase your memory but they'll tell you a pleasant story instead so it's ok. They might even better your life in the process. Something that was terrifying and potentially deadly becomes funny overnight. Today, you see a man in a black suit looking like an agent and it is a lot easier to say "Hah that was a funny movie. Not real though, he's probably just a businessman or CIA or something". If you go to the very core of the ideas in the movie - that there are aliens on earth, that the government covers it up and that there is an elite group of agents who are usually in black suits and don't seem to have identities, these ideas all existed long before the movie but not in a humerous sense. It was something people (the few who were aware of the possibility) were genuinely concerned about and when mentioned to people who knew nothing of it, it could potentially spread a bit of panic and concern. Since the movie this is no longer a concern, because mentioning it to the average person is going to get that "hah, yeah that was a funny movie. I totally saw it. Stop pretending it's real that's stupid" kind of reaction.

The thing is, it is nearly impossible to tell what the real trigger for these books & movies is. Is it the subculture belief in these things that the authors/screenwriters find facinating and decide would make a good story? Or is it a deliberate attempt to make sensitive and potentially panic or revolt causing information public knowledge while also making it appear completely fictitious? Or, is it a coincidental benefit to both?

This is the question we might never get an answer to, but the stories keep on piling up. Video games are in the mix now too...

It does explain one thing for me... why the government and any supposed shadow groups like the Illuminati would allow such sensitive information to appear on the big screen. I've always heard it is safest to hide in plain sight, but this takes that to a whole new level.

Next time you enjoy one of these pieces of fiction, take the time to wonder just how much of it was true. You may be surprised by it someday.