CONSPIRATION THEORIES ON THE INTERNET WEBSITES

The paper presents one type of potential 'new genres' or subgenres within folklore studies, called conspiracy theories. It is that kind of rumours, which deal with hidden conspiracies threatening 'our' civilization or values. They belong to the permanent indicators and agents of social conflicts and crisis. The main topics of the paper are attack on New York, Iraq war or political and religious conspiracy of Masons. The authoress is particularly concerned with actual forms, patterns and functions of this conversational genre. From the functional point of view, she emphasizes following points: ideological and psychohygienic function, effort to raise one's social prestige, entertainment or relaxation. The research monitors especially the spontaneous communication and the use of rumours as arguments or weapons in the ideological duels. Internet discussion forums on Christian pages and the setting of specialized web pages devoted to conspiracy theories were used as a field. We can find many advantages as well as disadvantages of such type of research. The authoress is however convinced that internet research efforts a very important way in terms of observation and analysis of present-day communication.