Shakespeare v. conspiracy theories

What can the methods used to study Willie Shakes teach us about how to parse out (the absolute batshit of) conspiracy theories?

The modern conspiracy theories that exist today and those about Shakespeare are both a product of what Budra says is “a failure of imagination.” 

“That might sound counterintuitive because so many conspiracy theories are wildly fanciful and imaginative,” Budra tells the audience, referring to what’s known as the reptile conspiracy theory. David Icke argued that the world was essentially run by shape shifting alien reptiles.