The Science of Hoaxography

A professor at George Mason University is making waves with a "laboratory" course he has been teaching for a few years now in how historical mythology is created, with emphasis, of course, on present-day media and environments such as the Internet.

This article in The Atlantic describes the course and its import very well. But the account, as well as apparently the course itself, somehow avoids that Hoax of the Twentieth Century that Arthur Butz indelibly named with the title of his landmark 1976 book.

It's clear that, in order to retain his academic post and standing, Professor Kelly must continue to avoid the biggest elephant in his room assiduously. But at a minimum, those of his students who pay even passing attention to his lessons will be unable to miss seeing where they most need to be applied.