Chapter 1: The Flash Drive Encounter

Have you ever stopped to consider how many flash drives you have lying around your home? Each one likely carries its own narrative. In my case, some are promotional items from events, while others were bought for specific purposes. I’ve even received a few as gifts from coworkers. However, one flash drive stands out—it's a source of both worry and frustration, and I obtained it from my father.

He was eager to share his research for a book he claimed to be writing. He insisted it was too sensitive to send via email, fearing there was a target on his back. This prompted me to drive 400 miles to meet him in a hotel over breakfast to collect this flash drive.

In reality, it was all nonsense. There was no book, and frankly, no one was interested in his internet pursuits. I played along until I discovered the contents of the drive.

What I found was a collection of conspiracy-related memes and links to dubious websites. The dramatic exchange for such trivial information seemed unwarranted, especially given its negligible worth.

My father’s fascination with the notion of a shadow government began in the 1980s after reading a book endorsed by the John Birch Society. Over the years, his interest in conspiracy theories has only intensified. Witnessing him delve deeper into these beliefs has been a growing concern for me, but I hadn’t realized just how far he had fallen down the rabbit hole until I examined the flash drive.

What he deemed "research" was reminiscent of the laughable “crazy uncle” memes you often see on Facebook. It was strikingly obvious, almost self-parodic. There was no original content, no writing—just a handful of outdated conspiracy memes, a few Wikipedia excerpts, and links to terrible websites.

My initial concern transformed into anger. I felt frustrated that I had gone through so much trouble for so little gain. Yet, when the outcome is minimal, sometimes you just have to accept it. I strive to unearth a kernel of truth wherever it may lie.

To express my feelings, I created an art project using various images from the flash drive. This piece aimed to illustrate a sense of ambiguous interconnectivity, implying that we are all interconnected components within the societal machine.

I incorporated a spiral to symbolize a deceptive rabbit hole, which ultimately fails to deliver any real resolution. Additionally, I modified the logo of a well-known news broadcasting channel in the upper-left corner, leaving two crucial letters intact to convey a new meaning that encapsulates my thoughts on the entire situation.

I hope you appreciate it.

I assembled several images from my dad’s flash drive to forge a new interpretation reflecting my ambivalence toward conspiracy theories. If you enjoy my work, please leave a comment or consider buying me a coffee!

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Chapter 2: The Impact of Conspiracies

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