Lecture/presentation exploring the "Men in Black" folk narrative as well as the psychological and sociological power conspiracies hold in twenty-first century America.

1. THE “MEN IN
BLACK” AND
CONSPIRACY
AMERICA

2. 4:43
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS
TYPICAL MIB ENCOUNTER?

3. WHAT ARE SOME
TERRESTRIAL
EXPLANATIONS
FOR THE “MEN IN
BLACK”?

4. 3UFO’S AND THE FIRST “MAN IN BLACK” ENCOUNTER
MAR. 30, 1905
FIRST KNOWN REPORT OF
A “MAN IN BLACK”
CONNECTED TO A UFO IS
FROM WELSH NEWSPAPER
OVER THREE NIGHTS A
“MAN DRESSED IN
BLACK” APPEARED IN A
BEDROOM

5. 4THE “MEN IN BLACK” IN THE 20TH CENTURY
OCTOBER 1953
ALBERT K. BENDER
CLAIMED HE KNEW
THE SECRET TO THE
UFO MYSTERY
BENDER CLAIMED THREE
“MEN IN BLACK” VISITED HIM
AND TOLD HIM WHAT UFOS
WERE

6. 9:24
WHAT ARE OTHER EXPLANATIONS FOR
THE MEN IN BLACK?

7. 6CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MIB
#1
#2
#3
ARRIVE UNANNOUNCED
DRESS IN BLACK CLOTHING
ARRIVE IN BLACK CADILLACS
OR DARK, LARGE SEDANS
DISPLAY AN UNUSUAL
WALKING MOTION
#4
THE “MEN IN BLACK” HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO...
SPEAK VERY DISTINCTLY#5

8. 7REVIVAL OF THE MEN IN BLACK (1960S-1980S)
1960S
TALES OF THE “MEN IN
BLACK” WERE NUMEROUS
& ANALYSIS OF THESE
TALES APPEARED IN
SCHOLARLY FOLKLORE
JOURNALS
LATE 1980S
JOHN KEEL REVIVED “MEN
IN BLACK” STORIES IN
HIS BOOK “THE MOTHMAN
PROPHECIES” DESCRIBING
THEME MORE AS
SUPERNATURAL BEINGS

9. 6:41
DO MIB STORIES "SAY" MORE ABOUT THE
BELIEFS OF UFOS OR THE GOVERNMENT?

10. WHY DO YOU THINK
PEOPLE BELIEVE IN
THE “MEN IN BLACK”
OR WHY ARE THESE
STORIES POPULAR?

11. 10THE “ALLURE” OF “MEN IN BLACK” STORIES
#1
#2
#3
ARE UPDATED STORIES OF DEVIL ENCOUNTERS
BECAME POPULAR IN 1960S WHEN GOVERNMENT
SUSPICION WAS HIGH (WATERGATE!)
FEED A DEEPER DESIRE THERE ARE ENTITIES
WATCHING US (FOR BETTER OR WORSE)
MAKE THOSE WHO BELIEVE FEEL
PART OF A GRANDER TRUTH
OR KNOWLEDGE
#4
FOLKLORISTS ARGUE THAT THE “MIB”...

12. HAS HOLLYWOOD’S
APPROPRIATION OF THE
“MEN IN BLACK”
CHANGED THE MESSAGE
OF THE NARRATIVE?

13. WHY DO YOU THINK
AMERICANS ARE SO
QUICK TO BELIEVE
IN CONSPIRACIES?

14. NEXT CLASS:
STUDY GUIDE FOR THE
FINAL EXAM
HOMEWORK: NONE