Holly Elsdon- Moral Panic! The Folklore of Fearmongering

Storytelling is an integral part of being human; we love to share stories, listen to stories, create stories... Unfortunately we are also primed to pay greater attention to bad news stories as opposed to good news; so what happens when this propensity is exploited though inciting fear leading to moral panic? Who gains? Why do moral panics occur? This talk traces the urban myths, legends, and conspiracy beliefs that feed moral panics, focussing on the current anti-trans panic and analysing its roots in the gay, AIDS, Satanic, drugs, 'political correctness', 'stranger danger', video nasties, and other moral panics of the 20th century.

Content warning: this talk will include discussion of racism homophobia, transphobia, child abuse and murder.