Deutsch, James I. and Bochantin, Levi. 2020. The Folkloric Roots of the QAnon Conspiracy. Folklife Magazine. Dec 7, 2020 Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Since first emerging in 2017, the conspiracy theory known as QAnon has attracted legions of devoted adherents, as well of legions of incredulous opponents. One aspect of QAnon that has attracted relatively little attention is its reliance on familiar folkloric motifs and themes. By borrowing and updating beliefs that have been shared among "the folk" for millennia, QAnon's tenets display a base that is deeply rooted in folklore.
