The Town Crier: From Medieval Rumors to Modern Misinformation
Oyez, Oyez!
In this episode of Hold That Thought, hosts Becca and Taylor continue their fourth mini-series “Archetypes of a Village,” this time following the infamous ‘Town Crier’. From his origins in ancient Greece, his heyday in medieval Europe and his presence in Colonial America they chat through the many (often sordid) hats this town-person has worn across time. Becca and Taylor end the episode by exploring elements of our modern day news that are similar to characteristics of the Town Crier’s time.
Topics: Town Crier, News Cycle, Social Media, News, Gossip, Society, Psychology, Village Archetypes, Ancient Greece, Roman Empire
Resources:
Town Criers Were the Original Social Media
Fact-checking misinformation about the Correspondents' Dinner shooting
The Guelphs vs. Ghibellines Feud That Turned Italian Cities Into Battlefields
The Tree of Fertility in Massa Marittima
Column: Why a correspondents’ dinner at a White House ballroom could endanger press freedom
