Books in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series

World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role playing game. It causes more and more real world events, as people marry individuals they have met in the game, and real-world financial markets thrive in virtual WoW property. This book offers an exploration of the thrilling, addictive world of online videogames.

Offers a sympathetic, philosophical look at the supervillains. This title delves into the dark nature of supervillainy, examines the boundaries of good and evil, offers helpful advice to prospective supervillains, and untangles diabolical puzzles of identity and consciousness.

A searching examination of the themes and values of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

A team of philosophical writers examines the startling ideas and arguments of this pundit of persuasion.

What makes Larry a monster, and why doesn't he know that he's a monster? This title discusses philosophical answers to these questions. It also discusses the ethical and existential issues, such as whether Larry is a bad apple or perhaps worth emulating.

Martial arts and philosophy have always gone hand in hand, as well as fist in throat. Philosophical argument is closely paralleled with hand-to-hand combat. And all of today’s Asian martial arts were developed to embody and apply philosophical ideas. In his interview with Bodidharma, Graham Priest brings out aspects of Buddhist philosophy behind Shaolin Kung-Fu — how fighting monks are seeking Buddhahood, not brawls. But as Scott Farrell’s chapter reveals, Eastern martial arts have no monopoly on philosophical traditions: Western chivalry is an education in and living revival of Aristotelian ethical theories. Several chapters look at ethical problems raised by the fighting arts. How can the sweaty and brutal be exquisitely beautiful? Every chapter is easily understandable by readers new to martial arts or new to philosophy.

What does it really mean to be a football fan (and why should we count Aristotle as one)? Why do great players such as Cristiano Ronaldo count as great artists? This title explores the complex and often hidden contours of the world's most popular game.

A dysfunctional group of philosophers and thinkers have created a book that will drag readers across the multiverse, through fractures in time, and down into philosophical depths that have never been reached by merely considering an irreverent sci-fi cartoon like Rick and Morty.

Suitable for Led Zeppelin's fans, this book appreciates the deeper aspects of the band's music and influence, such as the way that Hegel's metaphysics can illuminate Zeppelin's dynamic reconciliation of musical opposites, and how various theories of Sublime provide the key to understanding the enduring power and global appeal of Zeppelin's music.

An investigative team of philosophers uncovers the hidden meanings of this weird and puzzling television show.

If you know that someone is writing the script of your life, can you really be a hero? Deadpool is the super-anti-hero who knows he's in a comic book. His unique situation and blood-stained history give rise to many philosophical puzzles. Are his actions predetermined by the writers, or does he trick the writers into scripting his choices? And what happens when Deadpool breaks into the real world to kill the writers? Deadpool challenges us to think outside the box, and this collection of essays examines the profound implications of this most contradictory and perplexing comic book character.

Why do vampires and vegetarians share a similar worldview? Why is understanding zombies the key to health care reform? What does 'healthy in mind and body' mean for the undead? This book addresses these questions.

From the 1970s cult TV show, Monty Python's Flying Circus, to the current hit musical Spamalot, the Monty Python comedy troupe has been at the center of popular culture and entertainment. The Pythons John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam are increasingly recognized and honored for their creativity and enduring influence in the worlds of comedy and film. Monty Python and Philosophy extends that recognition into the world of philosophy. Fifteen experts in topics like mythology, Buddhism, feminism, logic, ethics, and the philosophy of science bring their expertise to bear on Python movies such as Monty Python's Life of Brian and Flying Circus mainstays such as the Argument Clinic, the Dead Parrot Sketch, and, of course, the Bruces, the Pythons' demented, song-filled vision of an Australian philosophy department. Monty Python and Philosophy follows the same hit format as the other titles in this popular series and explains all the philosophical concepts discussed in laymen's terms.

Explores what Facebook means for us and for our relationships. This title discusses issues ranging from the nature of friendship and its relationship to 'friending', to the efficacy of 'online activism'.

Philosophers explain and criticize many controversial aspects of the ambitious new TV show, His Dark Materials.

A team of philosophers tackles the issues raised by the Blade Runner movies.

Philosophers debate how Orwell's nightmare world compares to today's world of political acrimony and discontent.

A thought-provoking collection of essays explores the philosophical side of the comic book world, collecting the contributions of sixteen philosophers on a variety of subjects, including evil, justice, metaphysics, and the limits of violence. Original.

The first truly philosophical exploration of the drag queen in the context of this ground-breaking reality TV show