Books in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series

This collection uses "Seinfeld" episodes to introduce important concepts in philosophy. Some essays are devoted to single characters, while others explore philosophical issues raised by the show. The authors also examine ethical problems in everyday life, drawing upon examples from the show.

The progressive/hard rock band Rush has never been as popular as it is now. A documentary film about the band, "Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage," which was released in the summer of 2010 has been universally well received. They had a cameo in the movie "I Love You Man." Their seven-part song "2112" was included in a version of "Guitar Hero" released in 2010. The group even appeared on "The Colbert Report." And now this, a book about Rush written for a general audience and geared towards issues concerning popular culture and philosophy. There has been a recent explosion of Rush onto the popular culture front, and how ironic for a band that has spent the early days of their career on the outside of mainstream popularity. Even legendary trios such as Led Zeppelin, Cream, and The Police don't enjoy the commitment and devotion that Rush's fans lavish on Alex, Geddy, and Neil. In part, this is because Rush is equally devoted to its fans. Since their first album in 1974, they have released 18 additional albums and toured the world following nearly every release. Today, when other 70s-bands have either broken up or become nostalgia acts, Rush continues to sell out arenas and amphitheatres and sell albums--to date Rush has sold over 40 million albums. They are ranked fourth after The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band. Rush's success is also due to its intellectual approach to music and sound. The concept album "2112" made Rush a world-class band and cemented its reputation as the thinking-person's progressive rock trio. Rush's interest in political philosophy, mind-control, the nature of free-will, of individuality, and our relationship to machines makes Rush a band that matters and which speaks to its fans directly and honestly like no other. Lyricist Niel Peart has even built a following by writing books, both about his motorcycle travels and about the tragic death of his daughter, which have only furthered the respect Rush's fans have for (arguably) rock's greatest drummer and lyricist. Fiercely independent of trends, Rush has maintained a clear mission and purpose throughout their career. With a unique sound, best described as the "Rush sound," the band has been able to blend thought-provoking lyrics and music for almost four decades. The Rush style of music can trigger the unusual combination of air-drumming, air-guitar, singing along, and fist-pumping, just as much as it can thoughtful reflection and deep thinking, making Rush "The Thinking Man's Band." Rush and Philosophy does not set out to sway the public's opinion, nor is it an awkward gushing of how much the authors love Rush. "Rush and Philosophy" is a fascinating look at the music and lyrics of the band, setting out to address thought-provoking questions. For example, elements of philosophical thinking from the likes of Jean Paul-Sartre, Ayn Rand, and Plato can be found in Peart's lyrics; does this make Peart a disciple of philosophy? In what ways has technology influenced the band through the decades? Can there be too much technology for a power-trio? Can listening to Rush's music and lyrics lead listeners to think more clearly, responsibly, and happily? Is the band's music a "pleasant distraction" from the singing of Geddy Lee? In what ways is Rush Canadian? How can a band that has been referred to as "right-wing" also criticize big government, religion, and imperialism? "Rush and Philosophy" is written by an assortment of philosophers and scholars with eclectic and diverse backgrounds who love Rush's music and who "get" the meaning and importance of it. They discuss Rush with the enthusiasm of fans and the seriousness of college professors. The book will be a must-read for the many fans who have long known that Rush deserves as much respect as the ideas, concepts, and puzzles about human existence they write and compose music about.

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

The philosophically rich David Bowie is an artist of wide and continuing influence. The theatrical antics of Bowie ushered in a new rock aesthetic, but there is much more to Bowie than mere spectacle. The visual belies the increasing depths of his concerns, even at his lowest personal moments. We never know what lies in store in a Bowie song, for there is no point in his nearly 30 albums at which one can say, "That's typical Bowie!? Who else has combined techno and hard rock, switched to R&B love songs (with accompanying gospel) to funk to jazz-rock fusion and back again?Among the topics explored in David Bowie and Philosophy are the nature of Bowie as an institution and a cult; Bowie's work in many platforms, including movies and TV; Bowie's spanning of low and high art; his relation to Andy Warhol; the influence of Buddhism and Kabuki theater; the recurring theme of Bowie as a space alien; the dystopian element in Bowie's thinking; the role of fashion in Bowie's creativity; the aesthetics of theatrical rock and glam rock; and Bowie's public identification with bisexuality and his influence within the LGBTQ community.

Here, philosophers wittily and expertly uncover amazing philosophical insights from the endlessly fascinating TV show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.Greg Littmann shows how the values of the gang are the same as those of Homeric heroes. Christopher Ketcham argues that the Church should make Charlie a saint, partly because It’s Always Sunny is “all about free will.” Russ Hamer shows how closely the gang’s activities comply with the scientific method. Kyle Alkema and Adam Barkman analyze the way the gang perceives happiness and how they try to get it. Charlotte Knowles considers whether Heidegger would consider members of the gang authentic or inauthentic — and concludes that they’re a bit of both. Skyler King examines the morality of the gang’s behavior by the standard of how they respond to extreme suffering. Ethan Chambers agrees that each of the five central characters is a terrible person, but argues that they are not truly to blame for their actions. Fenner Tanswell demonstrates that many of the gang’s wrong actions result not from immoral motives but from illogical thinking. And Robert Arp compiles a hilarious list of historical examples where people acted even more foolishly than the Philadelphia Five.

Adventure Time and Philosophy is a monster-beating, wild ride of philosophical mayhem. One of the deepest and most thoughtful television shows ever to assault human brain waves, Adventure Time shows us what the world could be like, challenging everything we know about life, meaning, heroism, and even burritos, and it's time to give the show some serious thought. This book screws open our cranial lids, mucks about in the mess that is our heads, and attempts to come to some answers about the nature of reality. Adventure Time and Philosophy is a chance to put down your broadsword, put your exhausted monster-slaying feet up, and try to figure out why you spend your time rescuing people in distress and fighting for justice. Who better than Finn and Jake to have as companions when taking on Plato, Nietzsche, and Baudrillard or encountering the Slime Princess, the Ice King, and Marceline the Vampire Queen? Filled with chapters written by a colorful cast of characters, Adventure Time and Philosophy enlightens us about the profound and life-affirming spiritual subtext and dark comedic elements of an awesomely fantastic show.

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.

A dream team of philosophers relentlessly cross-examines the Perry Mason stories

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

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

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

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.

The authors turn existing theories about Stranger Things Upside Down.

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

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

Fearless thinkers enter the nightmare worlds of The Twilight Zone in search of powerful insights about humanity and the universe.

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

The Man in the High Castle is an Amazon TV show, based on the Philip K. Dick novel, about an "alternate present" (beginning in the 1960s) in which Germany and Japan won World War II, with the former Western US occupied by Japan, the former Eastern U.S. occupied by Nazi Germany, and a small "neutral zone" between them. A theme of the story is that in this alternative world there is eager speculation, fueled by the illicit newsreel, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, about how the world would have been different if America had won the war.In The Man in the High Castle and Philosophy, twenty-two professional thinkers look at philosophical issues raised by this ongoing enterprise in "alternative history." One question is whether it really made a profound difference that the Allies won the war, and exactly what differences in everyday life we may expect to arise from an apparent historical turning point. Could it be that some dramatic historical events have only superficial consequences, while some unnoticed occurrences lead to catastrophic results?Another topic is the quest for truth in a world of government misinformation, and how dissenting organizations can make headway.

Deep thinkers plumb the chilling depths of American horror

Philosophical feedback on the messiah of electric rock

Charlie Rose has called Louis C.K. “the philosopher-king of comedy,” and many have detected philosophical profundity in his material.Twenty-five philosophers examine the wisdom of Louis C.K. from a variety of philosophical perspectives. The chapters draw upon C.K.’s standup comedy, the show Louie, and C.K.’s other writings.One writer looks at the different meanings of C.K.’s statement, “You’re gonna be dead way longer than you were alive.” One chapter shows the affinity of C.K.’s “sick of living this bullshit life” with Kierkegaard’s “sickness unto death.” Another pursues Louis’s thought that we may by our lack of moral concern “live a really evil life without thinking about it.”C.K.''s insistence that “things that are not can’t be” points to the philosophical problem of nothingness in relation to being. His religion is “apathetic agnostic,” conveyed in his thought experiment that God began work in 1982. Louis’s argument that you can have the kind of body you want if you make yourself want a disgusting, shitty body, is the Stoic ethics of Epictetus. And, as C.K. has shown in so many ways, the fact that we’re soon going to die has its funny side.

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.

Hannibal Lecter, the subject of best-selling novels, movies, and the acclaimed TV series Hannibal, is one of pop culture's most compelling characters. In Hannibal Lecter and Philosophy, 16 philosophers come at Hannibal the way he comes at his victims - from unexpected angles and with plenty of surprises.What does the relationship between Hannibal and those who know him - particularly FBI investigator Will Graham - tell us about the nature of friendship? Does Hannibal confer benefits on society by eliminating people who don't live up to his high aesthetic standards? Can upsetting experiences in early childhood turn you into a serial killer? Why are we enthralled by someone who exercises god-like control over situations and people? Does it make any difference morally that a killer eats his victims? Can a murder be a work of art?Several chapters look at the mind of this proud and accomplished killer, psychiatrist, and gourmet cook. Is he a sociopath or a psychopath, or are these the same? Is he lacking in empathy? Does his moral blindness give him compensating abilities, the way literally blind people gain heightened senses? Does it harm us that we are drawn into Hannibal's world by identifying with him?

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.

Ever since it was first unleashed in 1818 the story of Victor Frankenstein and his reanimated, stitched-together corpse has inspired intense debate. Can organic life be reanimated using electricity or genetic manipulation? If so, could Frankenstein's monster really teach itself to read and speak as Mary Shelley imagined? Do monsters have rights, or responsibilities to those who would as soon kill them? What is it about music that so affects Frankenstein's monster, or any of us? What does Mel Brook's Frau Blucher say to contemporary eco-feminism? Why are some "Frankenstein"'s flops and others historic successes? Is there a "true" Frankenstein? Why are children, but not adults, drawn to Shelley's monster? And what is a "monster," anyway? "Frankenstein and Philosophy" calls 25 philosophers to stitch together these and other questions as they apply to history's greatest horror franchise. Some chapters treat the "Frankenstein" films, others the original novel, and yet others the many comic books, novels, and modern adaptations. Together they pay tribute to perhaps the most enduring pop culture icon and the fundamental fears, hopes, and puzzles it raises.