Skepticism and the Power of Story
My thesis is that an alternative means of persuasion and elucidation regarding skeptical issues is through entertainment, as opposed to direct confrontation. An excellent parallel in the field of politics is John Stewart of the Daily Show, who bypasses resistance to his political stance through parody. After a description of how art can be used as a means of instruction as well as entertainment, I will have a reading of a humorous play that I wrote–and has been produced It is the story of two old codgers sitting on a porch. One of them is convinced that we are being invaded by extraterrestrials in the guise of McDonald’s employees. It is called “Frying Saucers.” It parodies conspiracy theorists. This is just another tool to persuade the audience to think about skeptical issues in a new light.