Gossip, Rumor, and Lies
Small talk can have big consequences. Gossip devastates both high-schoolers and high-ranking government officials; rumors have led to revolutions. Bullying, conspiracy theories, and celebrity scandal are all part of U.S. discourse on gossip, rumor, and lies, and the popular consensus seems to be that talking about others is, well, wrong. But what if gossip is good for you? Why do we gossip anyway, and why do we enjoy it? In this course we will examine powerful speech too often dismissed as “low” or of little importance, conduct close methodical analysis of interaction, and consider macro ramifications of supposedly micro events.