Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Disturbing docu looks at how conspiracy theories take hold.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Shadowland
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Produced by renowned documentarian Joe Berlinger, SHADOWLAND is a limited docuseries based on The Atlantic 2020 Shadowland project, which was the magazine's extensive exploration of the systems that created the conspiracy theories that are dividing the U.S. in the 21st century. From Pennsylvania to California, documentary teams spend time with individuals involved with groups like Sovereign Citizens, Q-Anon, and anti-vaxxer movements in order to understand their conspiratorial beliefs and what led to them. Families and friends of conspirators describe how their loved ones completely changed after being exposed to people or organizations promoting conspiracies, and the impact it has had on their relationships. Meanwhile, some of the contributors to the original project, including Ellen Cushing, Megan Garber, and Adam Harris, talk about different aspects of conspiracy culture, while misinformation experts like Kathleen Ann Jamieson offer additional insights.
Is It Any Good?
The disturbing but informative docuseries is an attempt to objectively understand the foundation of the conspiracy theories that are dividing friendships, families, and the U.S. Shadowland highlights the conditions that motivate people turn to conspiracy theories; they range from people in a vulnerable place in their lives trying to find a supportive community, to looking for ways to make sense of larger catastrophes, including the COVID-19 epidemic. It also offers interesting insights into other systemic conditions that have allowed contemporary conspiracy theories to take hold, such as easy access to digital media distribution platforms, and the capitalist, profit-driven model that conspiracy leaders and promoters use to invent a sense of anger and spread disinformation to build their personal wealth. Meanwhile, viewers also see how many of their followers engage in self-destructive behaviors that lead to the loss of jobs and families, and sometimes jail time without being willing or able to take responsibility for their actions. Shadowland isn't the easiest of docuseries to watch, but its subject should be in the spotlight.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the value of media literacy. How can media education help us identify disinformation? Would there be fewer conspiracies today if more people were more media literate?
What losses have the individuals featured on Shadowland incurred as a result of their conspiracy beliefs? Why are they motivated to reexamine their positions? What would it take for these people to become less confident in the conspiracies they believe in?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 21, 2022
- Cast : Adam Harris , Megan Garber , Ellen Cushing
- Network : Peacock
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : May 14, 2023
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