TheIlluminati is a secret society founded byAdam Weishaupt inBavaria in 1776. They have been referred to inpopular culture, in books and comics, television and films, and games. A number of novelists, playwrights and composers are alleged to have been Illuminati members and to have reflected this in their work. Earlyconspiracy theories surrounding the Illuminati have inspired various creative works, and continue to do so.
Gothic literature had a particular interest in the theme of the Illuminati.The Cambridge Companion to Gothic Fiction states that readers had a "scandalous vogue for German tales of the Illuminati."[1] The Illuminati have a role inHorrid Mysteries, as inMontague Summers' introduction to a later reprint of it. The Illuminati also turn up in two spoofs of the gothic genre, which both also referenceHorrid Mysteries,Northanger Abbey byJane Austen andNightmare Abbey byThomas Love Peacock.[2]
A number of writers have pointed outMary Shelley's familiarity with the early anti-Illuminati text,Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism (1797–98), due toPercy Bysshe Shelley's enthusiasm for it. They describe theMemoirs influence inFrankenstein, and point to Frankenstein's monster as an amalgam of Shelley's Illuminati-influenced ideas as well as of the Illuminati itself, with the monster being created inIngolstadt, where the Illuminati had been formed.[3][4][5]
Fallen Angels (1984) byBernard Cornwell (under the pseudonym Susannah Kells) is a love story set in the shadow of the Paris revolutionary guillotine and the grounds of Lazender Castle in England. The Illuminati plot to bring revolution to England is a central thread.
Angels & Demons (German title:Illuminati),Dan Brown's 2000 precursor to 2003'sThe Da Vinci Code, is about an apparent Illuminati order plot to destroy its enemy theCatholic Church by usingantimatter to blow up theVatican whilePapal elections are being held. In this novel the Illuminati movement was founded byGalileo Galilei, and others, as an enlightened reaction to persecution by the Catholic Church. They were initially based in Italy, but fled after four key members were executed by the Vatican. Apparently there are four churches to them in Rome, each representing one of the four elements. In fact, the Illuminati are indeed defunct and the events of the book are orchestrated as part of an elaborate scheme by its central antagonist.[8] This is also the plot ofthe film of the same name. Simon Cox, writer ofCracking the Davinci Code, also wrote the bookIlluminating Angels and Demons, in which he explains the facts behind the pagan signs and secret societies inAngels & Demons.[9]
InMichael Romkey's vampire novels, the Illuminati are an order of benevolentvampires, consisting of many famous figures throughout history (Beethoven,Mozart, etc.). The main character, David Parker, joins the order, but later leaves.[10]
InLarry Burkett's bookThe Illuminati, "The Society" seeks world power.[11]
In Kazue Kato'smangaBlue Exorcist, the Illuminati are a secret organization that oppose the True Cross Order (an organization of exorcists that specializes in killing demons) and, by extension, the Vatican itself, which controls the Order. Their goal is to merge the world of humans and world of demons so that Satan, the king of all demons, can rule over the new world order.
TheIlluminati are a fictional group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published byMarvel Comics. The characters joined forces and secretly work behind the scenes. The Illuminati was established to exist (via storyretcon) in their first published appearance inNew Avengers #7 (July 2005), written byBrian Michael Bendis. Their history was discussed in the specialNew Avengers: Illuminati (May 2006). The group was revealed to have been formed very shortly after theKree-Skrull War.
In the cartoonGargoyles, the Illuminati was founded by followers of King Arthur and has 666 seats ranked 1 through 36; the founders and senior members have rejuvenation drugs so they can join Arthur in bringing about a new kingdom. Detective Bluestone believed they are behind most governments and is inducted into the organization for his impressive willpower.David Xanatos, Thailog and John Castaway are Rank 36.
InSimon West's 2001 filmLara Croft: Tomb Raider, a group of high-society villains call themselves Illuminati, developing a plan to rule the world. Along with Lara Croft's father, they claim that the Illuminati have existed for four millennia for this purpose.[12][13]
The 2009 film adaptation ofAngels & Demons initially presents the Illuminati as the antagonists;conspiracy theorists led byMark Dice announced plans to protest the movie for portraying the secret society as fictional.[14]
InPrithviraj Sukumaran's 2019Malayalam filmLucifer,Mohanlal's character Stephen Nedumpally / Khureshi-Ab'raam is said to be a member of the Illuminati. Many signs and symbols of the Illuminati are used throughout the film.[15][16] Following the blockbuster success of the movie, director Prithviraj Sukumaran announced that he would be doing a sequel for the movie, which is titledL2: Empuraan and stars Mohanlal, reprising his role from the original.
In theStreet Fighter video game series, the Illuminati (also called the Secret Society) is a shady organisation led byGill, who wishes to find a utopia for all humans. They are most prominent in theStreet Fighter III games as a crime organisation similar toShadaloo.[19]
In the firstDeus Ex, the Illuminati was almost destroyed in an inside coup by their own research divisionMajestic 12. The events of the game are part of a power struggle between the Illuminati, Majestic-12 and other factions attempting to secretly take over the world.
InDeus Ex: Invisible War, the Illuminati was successfully revived after "the Collapse", an event which saw the destruction of the world telecommunication infrastructures. The Illuminati created and secretly controls two competing factions that rose in the post-collapse world: the hyper-capitalistWorld Trade Organization and atransdenominational church called "The Order Church", in order to bettercontrol society through social division.
InDeus Ex: Human Revolution, the protagonistAdam Jensen discovers the Illuminati were behind many of the game's events, attempting to control the spread of "augmentations", advancedartificial organs capable of greatly improving andenhancing the human body's performance.
Many fans of modernAfrican-American music, especiallyhip hop music, believe that an Illuminati conspiracy is active in its production and marketing. The methods and motives of the conspiracy, and its relation to the Bavarian order, are matters of speculation that change with each telling. Some artists, such asJay-Z,Katy Perry,Beyoncé,Rihanna, andKanye West, are believed to be agents of the conspiracy who leave hints to their listeners through lyrics,Eye of Providence handsigns or other signals.[20] Conspiracy literature involving the Illuminati has been cited in the lyrics of several hip hop artists.Milton William Cooper'sBehold a Pale Horse is one such work that bothNas andPublic Enemy have made reference to. Other such conspiracy books circulate in African-American communities, where both artists and listeners encounter them.[20] Aside from this, the "Illuminati" are invoked to explain why some artists become rich and famous, some die suddenly, and others go unnoticed.[21]
^abGosa, Travis L. (2011-06-01). "Counterknowledge, racial paranoia, and the cultic milieu: Decoding hip hop conspiracy theory".Poetics.39 (3):187–204.doi:10.1016/j.poetic.2011.03.003.
