Welcome to the Hoax to Hoax blog!
It may seem a little barren right now, but soon this place will be swarming with all manner of hoax-related content!
Before we get started though, let me explain myself.
As a kid, I obsessed over countless books about the “unexplained,” marveling at the low resolution images of ghosts, ghouls, flying saucers, and monsters. But when I started to learn filmmaking and videography techniques, I realized just how easy it was to fake that stuff.
Ectoplasm? Cheesecloth. Ghost? Reflection. Flying saucer? Hubcap with an icee dome glued to it.
But surprisingly, this disillusionment only strengthened my fascination. The game was no longer deciding if something was real, but deciphering HOW it was faked! The more elaborate the hoax, the more believable the hoax, the more fascinating it became.
At this point, I see many photographic and other media hoaxes (particularly those pertaining to the supernatural, paranormal, or otherworldly) as a form of art, a craft, an offshoot of the trick photography techniques of the 1800s. (It is no coincidence that the rise of spiritualism in the United States coincides so nicely with the emergence of photography!)
Unfortunately, the art is overshadowed by the deception. And for good reason. There are far too many folks willing to exploit other people’s desire to believe in something, be it fantastic or bizarre, if it means making a quick buck or getting their name in the local paper.
I believe that if others understand that something CAN be faked, HAS been faked, and HOW to do so, maybe they will be less susceptible to the snake oil salesmen. Additionally, maybe it can foster an appreciation for the craftsmanship and art behind the fakery, which could overshadow the need for deception. (A photo of a flying saucer may be fake, but we can still appreciate it as a cultural artifact, a piece of art, without the need to believe or convince others to believe that it is real.)
So here I am. I’m not necessarily debunking anything here (though that may happen too). My goal is really to encourage everyone to look at visual media critically, and with an informed eye. That way, maybe one day, we can start appreciating fake alien photos and Bigfoot videos for what they are--fun works of art--and worry less about being conned.
That's my rant. Here's a little about myself:
Some of the first books I ever read were cheap paperbacks about cryptids, ghosts, and "the unexplained." By the age of twelve, an obsession with visual effects, special effects, and trick photography eclipsed my interest in the paranormal. I have a BA in TV, Film, and Media studies, and a minor in Science, Technology, and Medicine studies. My focus in college was documentary filmmaking. I’ve worked as a makeup effects artist, a prop-maker, an editor, a director, and a behind-the-scenes videographer for feature films. My favorite planet is Saturn, my favorite dinosaur is Allosaurus, and my favorite cryptids are the Flatwoods Monster and the Dover Demon (I can't help but love those big, bulbous eyes; he's just SO CUTE!). I think that just about covers the important stuff.
Keep checking back to see where this wild adventure takes me.
Until next time, safe travels! 🛸
--Sean
