April 4, 2012

The Avengers and Philosophy reviewed on ComicBook.com

Michael Wirth reviews The Avengers and Philosophy:

Quite often, our favorite television shows, novels and movies have much more depth than is visible on a superficial level. By taking the time to explore the deeper or hidden meanings, we can actually find that our pop culture holds the keys to understand the tenants originally proposed by ancient deep thinks like Socrates, Aristotle, and Lao Tzu. What’s wonderful about the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series of books is that they take all of those shows and movies and dissect, searching for the philosophical core, explaining things in layman’s terms.

But movies and novels aren’t the only aspects of pop culture with themes that are more than they appear. The series has looked at many comic book topics such as Green Lantern, Batman, and the X-Men. Most recently the series took a look at the Avengers, realizing just how much of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes harkens back to the golden age of thought.

Read the whole review at ComicBooked.com.

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April 3, 2012

Q&A with the coeditors of The Hunger Games and Philosophy at The Hunger Games Trilogy Fansite

The Hunger Games Trilogy Fansite has done a Q&A with coeditors George A. Dunn and Nicolas Michaud about The Hunger Games and Philosophy:

1. Aside from The Hunger Games and Philosophy, can you tell us about some of your other works?

George Dunn: One of the things that has interested me since my student days is how good literature—and I put many popular novels and movies like The Hunger Games in that category—can get us thinking about some of the more vexing aspects of the human condition. As a philosopher and a teacher, I’m always on the lookout for ways to connect the philosophical issues that interest me with the pop culture media that my students and I enjoy. That interest led me to author a number of chapters for books in the Blackwell Pop Culture and Philosophy series, including books on Mad Men, Twilight, Battlestar Galactica, X-Men, Alice in Wonderland, and Iron Man. I’ve also edited several books in the series, The Hunger Games and Philosophy being my third and possibly the one of which I’m most proud.

Nicolas Michaud: Well I have written a great deal for Pop Culture and philosophy-type books. I was in Twilight and Philosophy, Final Fantasy and Philosophy, and Stephen Colbert and Philosophy, just to name a few. Feel free to check out my authors page to see more: www.amazon.com/author/nicolasmichaud. For the most part, my writing is in the world of academic philosophy, but I also have a real interest in fantasy writing and writing children’s books, and I am in the process of trying to get a few stories published.

Read the whole Q&A at The Hunger Games Trilogy Fansite.

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March 30, 2012

Q&A with the coeditors of The Hunger Games movie at The Hunger Games Trilogy Fansite

The Hunger Games Trilogy Fansite has done a Q&A with coeditors George A. Dunn and Nicolas Michaud about The Hunger Games movie:

1. What do you think of the changes made from the book to the film adaptation?

I thought that the filmmakers did an excellent job of translating the book to film. They found some creative and mostly successful ways to supply the audience with the crucial background information that readers of the book have by virtue of constantly being in Katniss’s head. My only real misgiving concerns the flashbacks of Peeta throwing Katniss the loaves of bread. Will moviegoers who haven’t read the book grasp the significant that gesture? On the plus side, I loved being able to peek behind the curtain to see what the Gamemakers were up to during the games. That was a nice touch.

Read the whole Q&A at The Hunger Games Trilogy Fansite.

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March 26, 2012

An article by the Pulaski Post about The Hunger Games

The Pulaski Post has done an article, which features quotations from coeditor George A. Dunn and contributor Brian McDonald:

The premiere of “The Hunger Games” movie Friday (March 23), has sparked discussion across the country, including the campus of Indiana University where the author of the best-selling “The Hunger Games” triology, Suzanne Collins, received a bachelor’s degree with distinction in 1985, with a double major in telecommunications and theater and drama.

“‘The Hunger Games’ is cautionary tale set in post-apocalyptic world. The opening of the movie, based on Collins’ books set box office records over the weekend.

Why has “The Hunger Games” struck such a powerful chord with audiences?

“The Hunger Games” is a cautionary tale about what human society could easily become, with the opportunity to reflect on the capacity for goodness in human beings,” explains IUPUI professor George Dunn who is a co-editor of “The Hunger Games and Philosophy: A Critique of Pure Treason,” a collection of essays that explore the wide range of philosophical issues raised in the “Hunger Games” trilogy.

Read the whole article at the Pulaski Post.

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March 24, 2012

Pat Marrison interviews coeditor about The Hunger Games.

Coeditor George A. Dunn speaks about The Hunger Games with Pat Marrison on 89.3 KPCC.

“The Hunger Games” book series is huge among young adults, and the highly anticipated movie version is huge at the box office already. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film has already racked up over $15 million in advance ticket sales, coming close to the number three place currently held by “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.” Box office projections are hyping a $145 million debut this coming weekend.

But it’s not just tweens and co-eds who have been devouring the series. Older readers have shown a healthy appetite for Suzanne Collins’ dark series about teenagers forced to fight to the death, and they’re expected to make up a large percentage of the films’ audience. Other book-inspired franchises like “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” did well across age groups, but neither had the pre-hype or breathless excitement we are seeing for this film.

Listen to the entire podcast at 89.3 KPCC.

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March 23, 2012

Coeditor of The Hunger Games and Philosophy interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor interviews coeditor George A. Dunn about The Hunger Games.

Themes of poverty, injustice, oppression – and yes, hunger – feature prominently in the story line of The Hunger Games, the film franchise launching this weekend.

Now, those issues are migrating off the page and silver screen into the real world. Fans of the dystopian world depicted by author Suzanne Collins are being urged to get involved with social-justice issues, such as fighting hunger.

Read the article at the Christian Science Monitor.

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March 22, 2012

Coeditor of The Hunger Games and Philosophy interviewed by The Indy Channel

The Indy Channel interviews coeditor George A. Dunn about The Hunger Games.

Because the movie focuses on teens as the main characters, University of Indianapolis philosophy instructor George Dunn said the film’s premise has many teachable moments, RTV6’s Myrt Price reported.

“The characters have flaws and care about the same things most kids care about,” Dunn said.”They’re put in a situation where they have to deal with problems and have to make some difficult moral decisions, and they rise to the occasion.”

Dunn said the movie is different from other teen-targeted films such as the “Twilight” saga because the main female character isn’t waiting to be rescued, but instead, she’s determined to save the day all by herself.

Read the entire article at The Indy Channel.

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March 21, 2012

The Kobo Edition of The Walking Dead and Philosophy is now available!

Zombies for all! The Kobo edition of The Walking Dead and Philosophy is available! Click here to grab your copy.

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The Kindle version of The Walking Dead and Philosophy is now available!

Still reeling from the finale of The Walking Dead and need to satiate the void it has left in your soul until season three airs? You should check out The Walking Dead and Philosophy, which is now available for Kindle! Click here to purchase a copy.

It may not be made of brains, but it’ll certainly be food for thought.

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March 7, 2012

The LanternCast does a podcast featuring Green Lantern and Philosophy

The LanternCast discusses Green Lantern and Philosophy:

This episode we switch gears a bit and instead of discussing more comics, we tackle the Green Lantern and Philosophy book! Each of us has read selections from the book, with varying degrees of entertainment. Is it good? Is it bad? Listen in and find out!

Listen to the podcast at The LanternCast.

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February 28, 2012

The NYPL recommends Mad Men and Philosophy

Mad Men and Philosophy makes the official NYPL blog’s reading list:

Have you been waiting patiently? Perhaps catching up on your reading? Are there books you’d like to finish before the new season starts? Have you been rewatching all of the previous episodes, timing your viewings to flow perfectly into the new season? Will you be attending viewing parties dressed like your favorite character?

Read the whole list at the official NYPL blog.

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February 27, 2012

AMC’s official Mad Men blog mentions Mad Men and Philosophy

Mad Men and Philosophy makes AMC’s official Mad Men blog’s reading list:

Mad Men has inspired fashion trends like the resurgence of red lipstick and the return of the pen necklace. It also happens to have inspired quite a bit of literary output as evidenced via the Mad Men-related books listed below.

Read the whole list at the official Mad Mad blog.

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February 17, 2012

Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture review on Evil Reads

Andrew Shaffer reviews Superheroes: The Best of Philosophy and Pop Culture:

If you haven’t read any of the pop culture and philosophy books from Wiley Blackwell, this is a good introduction. While the opening chapter on Thor was a little silly (Thor is a little silly, after all), the essay on Superman renouncing his American citizenship is well worth your time. And money, although you’re getting it here for free!

Read the whole review at Evil Reads.

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February 13, 2012

Inception and Philosophy on The Movie Mash

Barrett Goetz shares his thoughts on editor Kyle Johnson’s talk on Authors@Google about Inception and Philosophy:

Two reasons that made Inception such a polarizing film is because of a) the complex nature of the plot/narrative that subsequently b) made the ambiguous ending open to interpretation. This lack of concrete resolution didn’t sit well with a select few critics and audience members (most of which are too embarrassed or stubborn to say that they just didn’t “get it.”) I would also say this same resentful attitude towards Christopher Nolan’s intelligent blockbuster applies to Academy voters, who famously snubbed Nolan in the Best Director category two years ago. Which is why I wanted to share this presentation to you. It’s a video of the author of the book Inception and Philosophy (Kyle Johnson), passionately arguing why the film should have won Best Picture to Google employees, spurring some seriously interesting thoughts on the film’s clever and DELIBERATE subtext, within subtext, within subtext.

Read the whole blog post at The Movie Mash.

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February 10, 2012

The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series review on The Beggar Blade

Shara Guengerich blogs about The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series:

One of the fastest growing series on philosophy that can easily be found in bookstores is from Blackwell Publishers, entitled “Pop Culture and Philosophy.” Titles include The Daily Show and Philosophy, Batman and Philosophy, and Monty Python and Philosophy. The primary target of these books are those fans who enjoy examining the minute aspects of their favorite pop-culture entities. While I was reading one volume, Seinfeld and Philosophy, I was reminded of an experience commonly shared only by Providence students: the Avodah reflection. While often these times of reflection last around 45 minutes, the idea of taking time to examine common cultural phenomenon is something that was instilled in me since my Freshman year at Providence.

Read the whole review at The Beggar Blade.

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January 25, 2012

Inception and Philosophy review on Nolan Fans

Teddy Blass reviews Inception and Philosophy:

From the moment the end credits rolled, I knew then (sitting in a darkened theater back in July 2010) that Inception was going to a film that would get audiences talking — and not just because of its ending. It’s a thought-provoking and awe-inspiring film. I didn’t really need to tell you that, I am positive you all agree with me. In fact, I’ve seen (and participated in) the many varied discussions and debates held in our discussion forums attesting to it. These discussions have been taking place in internet forums, living rooms, coffee shops, and emptied out theaters for the past year and a half. Naturally, Inception was a perfect candidate for the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series of books; a collection of publications that dissect and philosophize various popular works of media, from Harry Potter to South Park.

So, what exactly is the book about? Inception And Philosophy: Because It’s Never Just A Dream is a collection of essays that explore the film’s philosophical questions and themes. The book is mostly well-written, and very cleverly edited, using the idea of the ‘Editor’s Totem’ to keep track of ‘the real world’ through the many different viewpoints of the writers.

Read the whole review at Nolan Fans.

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January 24, 2012

Metallica and Philosophy interview on Metallica Rockspirit

Series editor William Irwin is interviewed about Metallica and Philosophy:

1. Why did you choose this heavy metal band?
W. Irwin: Ever since high school heavy metal and philosophy have always been connected for me. Metallica, in particular, means a great deal to me and to many other people.

2. What have you wanted to show by analyzing the group, its history and discography?
W. Irwin: Many fans have realized for a long time that Metallica has some deep and profound things to say. By using the tools and vocabulary of philosophy we can highlight the hidden depths of James Hetfield’s lyrics.

3. What have you revealed with this philosophical analysis?
W. Irwin: The book Metallica and Philosophy connects the band to many important thinkers. But the bottom line is that Metallica is America’s answer to existentialism. The lyrics reflect on death, despair, freedom, and rebellion.

Read the whole interview at Metallica Rockspirit.

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January 4, 2012

Kyle Johnson discusses The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Philosophy on Authors@Google

Watch editor Kyle Johnson discuss The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Philosophy:

Watch the whole video at @Google Talks.

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December 28, 2011

“Inception and Philosophy: Taking a Leap of Faith” on Psychology Today

In this edition of series editor William Irwin and editor David Kyle Johnson’s “Plato on Pop” column:

In my last entry, I pointed out that we all simply have to take a leap of faith when we believe that the world is real, and not a dream. The leap of faith was a large part of the work of the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, and is also a reoccurring theme in the movie Inception. My chapter, in my book Inception and Philosophy: Because It’s Never Just a Dream (published by Wiley-Blackwell) considers this question: When should we take a leap of faith?

Faith is often heralded as a virtue, something noble, something you should have. But clearly this is not always true. In the movie, Cobb asks Mal and Saito to take a leap of faith-to believe that their world is not real and to kill themselves so they can wake up. Cobb takes a leap of faith to believe that Saito can deliver on his promise to get Cobb’s charges dismissed. Yet when Mal asks Cobb to take a leap of faith-out of his hotel window-he doesn’t. And we don’t think he should; we don’t’ think it’s a good idea. (Although, if they were dreaming…) So, obviously, we don’t think that faith is always virtuous. It’s not always something you should have or act on.

Read the whole post at Psychology Today.

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December 25, 2011

Kyle Johnson discusses Inception and Philosophy on Authors@Google

Watch editor Kyle Johnson discuss Inception and Philosophy:

Watch the whole video at @Google Talks.

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December 18, 2011

“King’s Professor Explores Philosophy of ‘Arrested Development’” on The Citizens’ Voice

Series editor William Irwin discusses one of our new titles today on The Citizens’ Voice:

The editors behind “Arrested Development and Philosophy” have no reason to believe they’ve made a huge mistake.

The television show about a dysfunctional, narcissistic Orange County family on the verge of falling apart after patriarch George Bluth is arrested has earned critical acclaim and an ardent audience since its debut in 2003. While attempts to “Save our Bluths” failed and the show’s initial run ended in 2006 after just three seasons, the promise of episodes and a movie complement this month’s release of “Arrested Development and Philosophy,” part of the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series published by John Wiley & Sons Inc.

“It’s a cult following, but the people who know it are devoted, and embedded in it,” said series editor and King’s professor William Irwin. “The fans really are devoted because they feel they got a raw deal (with the show’s cancellation.)”

Read the whole article at The Citizen’s Voice.

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November 12, 2011

“Turn it Up to 11 and Celebrate National Metal Day” on Psychology Today

In this edition of series editor William Irwin and editor David Kyle Johnson’s “Plato on Pop” column:

How do you watch your favorite television show? We have so many options that we need to ask: which way of viewing is best? For some time we have been able to videotape our favorite shows and watch them when it is convenient for us, but now it’s even easier with DVR (TiVo). Still, other ways of watching television have also become popular. If you don’t have DVR you can legally or, more often, illegally download shows from the internet and watch them on your computer. Also, these days, nearly any TV show worth its salt is released on DVD.

In fact, I’ve particularly enjoyed watching certain shows on DVD, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for example. I was late catching on to Buffy, which was in its fifth season before I saw my first episode. But thanks to DVD I caught up in a hurry. In fact, watching the first two seasons of Buffy on DVD was one of the best viewing experiences I’ve ever had. In the evening my wife and I would sit on the couch and watch episode after episode; we couldn’t wait for the next one. I can’t imagine we would have enjoyed the show nearly as much if we had to wait a week between episodes and then months between seasons. The horror!

Read the whole post at Psychology Today.

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November 8, 2011

“Inception and Philosophy: Did the Spinning Top Fall?” on Psychology Today

In this edition of series editor William Irwin and editor David Kyle Johnson’s “Plato on Pop” column:

The movie Inception still fascinates me; I suppose that is why my colleague (and co-blogger) William Irwin asked me to edit the Wiley/Blackwell Pop Culture series book on the movie—Inception and Philosophy: Because It’s Never Just a Dream. The book came out this month and my Pop Culture and Philosophy class is about to dive into it. As a result I’ve really got Inception on the brain and I’d like to do a few posts on it. Although it’s been about a year and half since the movie was released in theaters, people are still talking about it—so I’d like to start out by settling a debate over a question that overtook the internet in the summer of 2010, and is still alive and well today:

Did the top fall?

Read the whole post at Psychology Today.

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November 1, 2011

“Lou Reed and Metallica: Existentialist Brothers in Black” on Psychology Today

In this edition of series editor William Irwin and editor David Kyle Johnson’s “Plato on Pop” column:

Lou Reed and Metallica have just released an album together. The question is why? When Cliff Burnstein (of Q Prime Management) suggested Metallica jam with Lou Reed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert at Madison Square Garden in October 2009, both sides were unexcited about the collaboration. The guys in Metallica weren’t fans of Lou Reed or The Velvet Underground, and Lou Reed seemed to look at Metallica as if they were the stereotypical knuckle-dragging airheads who just turn their amps up to 11. But Cliff Burnstein was right. When Metallica backed Lou Reed for performances of “Sweet Jane” and “White Light / White Heat” there was genuine musical chemistry. As the musicians parted ways later that evening, Reed suggested they do an album together. Now, much to everyone’s surprise, they have.

So why does this unlikely pairing work? I don’t think that Lou and the Metalli-guys even know, except to say it feels right. But here’s why I think it works. Both Lou Reed and Metallica are prime examples of existentialism. What’s that? It’s notoriously difficult to define, but here’s a definition anyway: Existentialism is a philosophy that reacts to an absurd or meaningless world by urging individuals to overcome alienation, oppression, and despair through freedom and self-creation. As discussed in my book, Metallica and Philosophy, Metallica express existentialist themes with lyrics focusing on death, anxiety, freedom, and authenticity. Reed’s lyrics likewise reflect individual experience with alienation, transgressive sexuality, and drug culture.

Read the whole post at Psychology Today.

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May 12, 2011

Announcing Game of Thrones and Philosophy!

We’re very pleased to announce the newest title in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, Game of Thrones and Philosophy, to be edited by Henry Jacoby.

Abstracts and subsequent essays should be philosophically substantial but accessible, written to engage the intelligent lay reader. Contributors of accepted essays will receive an honorarium.

Possible themes and topics might include, but are not limited to, the following:

Direwolves, dragons, and the Others: Metaphysics and the strange creatures of Westeros; What’s so bad about incest? The strange relationship of Jaime and Cersei Lannister; Maesters and Septons: Does science conflict with religion? “Winter is coming”: Seasons that last for years and the nature of space and time; The moral luck of Tyrion Lannister; What would Ned Stark do? Virtue ethics and moral exemplars; Bastards and cripples, dwarfs and kings: the nature of the self; Why don’t the gods ever help out? Melisandre and the problem of evil; The things I do for love: Jaime Lannister’s view of morality; Do’s and Don’ts at Dothraki Weddings: Is Morality relative?; “See with your eyes.” Zen and the Art of Water Dancing; Was Robert right to usurp the throne from Mad King Aerys?; Jon and Sam: An Aristotelian analysis of the Night’s Watch and the nature of friendship; The Wildings and Hobbes’ state of nature; Are Machiavellian virtues a necessary evil when you play the game of thrones?; There is no Dothraki word for ‘thank you’: Language and reality; Hinduism and the Seven Faces of God; The Wights beyond the Wall: Are zombies possible?; Subjectivity and the Mind-Body problem: What is it like to be a dragon?; How should we choose our leaders? The kings of Westeros vs. Plato’s Republic; Is “the King’s justice” really justice?; The old gods or the new gods: Is faith in any of them justified?; Queens, whores, and tomboys: Fantasy mores and feminist ideals; Is Daenerys a Nietzschean Superwoman?; Do Direwolves have souls? A Cartesian analysis of the brutes; Incest, bastards, and secret identities: Is keeping secrets to protect your family ethical?; Isn’t the Night’s Watch more like a penal colony? Who do we want protecting us anyway?; Plato’s Ring of Gyges and the immoralist’s question: Why should I be moral if I have dragons?; Valar morghulis, valar dohaeris (Every man must die, but first we must live): The meaning of life in the Seven Kingdoms; “You know nothing, Jon Snow.” The nature of knowledge and the limits of empiricism; Paganism and the Old Gods in Winterfell; No exit for Sansa Stark: A Sartrean analysis; From Arya to Cat of the Canals: Description vs. Causal theories of proper names; Greensight, dreams, and prophecy: Destiny vs. Free will; Do Bran and Summer share their consciousness? The problem of Personal Identity; Martial arts and the virtues of Arya Stark, Brienne of Tarth, and the Kingslayer; If Daenerys frees slaves, why does she keep the Unsullied?; Aristotelian virtues in Littlefinger and the Lannisters: Intelligence or practical wisdom?; Traitors and turncoats: The Kingslayer, Barriston Selmy, and Theon Greyjoy; Master morality and slave morality: Nietzsche looks at the citizens of Westeros
*While most topics listed here emphasize the first book and television series, contributions dealing with characters and events of later books are welcome as well.

You can submit an abstract at the And Philosophy website.

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April 11, 2011

“TiVo, or Not TiVo? That Is the Question” on Psychology Today

In this edition of series editor William Irwin and editor David Kyle Johnson’s “Plato on Pop” column:

How do you watch your favorite television show? We have so many options that we need to ask: which way of viewing is best? For some time we have been able to videotape our favorite shows and watch them when it is convenient for us, but now it’s even easier with DVR (TiVo). Still, other ways of watching television have also become popular. If you don’t have DVR you can legally or, more often, illegally download shows from the internet and watch them on your computer. Also, these days, nearly any TV show worth its salt is released on DVD.

In fact, I’ve particularly enjoyed watching certain shows on DVD, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for example. I was late catching on to Buffy, which was in its fifth season before I saw my first episode. But thanks to DVD I caught up in a hurry. In fact, watching the first two seasons of Buffy on DVD was one of the best viewing experiences I’ve ever had. In the evening my wife and I would sit on the couch and watch episode after episode; we couldn’t wait for the next one. I can’t imagine we would have enjoyed the show nearly as much if we had to wait a week between episodes and then months between seasons. The horror!

Read the whole post at Psychology Today.

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February 28, 2011

“Inception Wins Plato’s Academy Award” on Psychology Today

Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series editor William Irwin and Heroes and Philosophy editor David Kyle Johnson have a post on their Psychology Today blog called “Inception Wins Plato’s Academy Award”:

Inception has been nominated in eight Oscar categories, including best picture. Unfortunately, it won’t win. The Hollywood crowd just doesn’t appreciate philosophy. But, if they gave an Oscar for philosophical depth, call it “Plato’s Academy Award,” Inception would take home the statue. (It would look like Rodin’s The Thinker.)  In fact, there’s so much philosophical fodder in the film that we’re working on a new book, Inception and Philosophy.

Read the whole post at Psychology Today.

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February 15, 2011

“Is Dumbledore Gay? Who’s to Say?” reprinted in The Philosophers’ Magazine

Tamar Szabó Gendler’s chapter in The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy, “Is Dumbledore Gay? Who’s to Say?” was reprinted in The Philosophers’ Magazine.

On October 19, 2007, before a packed audience at Carnegie Hall in New York City, J. K. Rowling made a remarkable announcement. In response to a question about whether Dumbledore had ever been in love, she announced that she had “always thought of Dumbledore as gay.”

Responses fell into three categories. Some readers were delighted by the news. Others were dismayed. But the most interesting type of response was the third. These readers responded to the declaration by challenging Rowling’s authorial authority. “Unless she decides to write Book Eight, Ms. Rowling has missed her chance to impart any new information about any of the Harry Potter characters. If the series is truly at an end, then the author no longer possesses the authority to create new thoughts, feelings, and realities for those characters,” wrote one reader.

What we face here is a version of what philosophers call the problem of truth in fiction. Are there facts about what is true in the world of a story, and if so, what determines those facts? We can start with a simple two-part proposal: what’s true in the world of Harry Potter are (a) all and (b) only those things that appear on 4,100 pages that together compose the Harry Potter volumes.

Read the full chapter at The Philosophers’ Magazine.

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January 11, 2011

Announcing three new titles

You can now submit abstracts for three new announced titles in the And Philosophy series: The Big Bang Theory and Philosophy, The Big Lebowski and Philosophy, and The Avengers and Philosophy!

Interested in more news about The Avengers and Philosophy or The Big Bang Theory and Philosophy or The Big Lebowski and Philosophy or The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series?
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November 19, 2010

Deathly Hallows and Ron’s insecurity on ABC News

Jealousy is an emotion Ron knows well. “For years, Ron has been chronically jealous of Harry. who’s famous, rich and glamorous, with all the girls crazy about him,” said [Gregory] Bassham. “We’ve seen, over several books, that Ron lacks confidence. And he’s always suspected that Harry has this thing for Hermione.”

“There’s also the issue of inferiority,” said Anne Collins Smith, a professor of philosophy and classical studies at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. “Ron is the middle child, overshadowed by his older brothers, and by Harry, who’s The Boy Who Lived.”

Smith, whose essays in “The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy” explore feminism and the power of love, also said Ron may feel that Hermione sees Harry as more attractive.

Read the whole article at ABC News / Entertainment.

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November 18, 2010

RIDIKULUS: Review of The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy

Calm yourself, young Muggle! This is not just a simple children’s tale! You can’t just saunter in, clueless and innocent! Petrificus Totalus! Now that I’ve petrified your body, you must know that there is a deeper message and questions to be answered. Is death something to be mastered? Is love the most powerful magic of all? Is it legal yet to think that Ron Weasley is a sexy ginger beast? Thank­fully, an elite team of philosophers explains it all, exploring the philosophy behind all seven Potter books.

Read the whole review at the Montreal Mirror.

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November 9, 2010

The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy contests

Over on Twitter, we’re giving away four copies of The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy to celebrate the release of the first Deathly Hallows movie! We’ll have four trivia questions, and chose the winners from among those who give the correct answers.

The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy also made a list of Christmas Gifts for the Wizard or Witch in Your Home.

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September 27, 2010

Express Night Out reviews The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy

J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series raises a lot of weighty questions: Is death truly the end? Is love the most powerful force of all? What does violence do to your soul? If the answers eluded you, however, The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles has your back.

Read the full review at the Washington Post’s Express Night Out.

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September 23, 2010

Announcing The Hunger Games and Philosophy

We’re very pleased to announce the newest title in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, The Hunger Games and Philosophy, to be edited by George A. Dunn and Nick Michaud.

Abstracts and subsequent essays should be philosophically substantial but accessible, written to engage the intelligent lay reader. Contributors of accepted essays will receive an honorarium.

Possible themes and topics might include, but are not limited to, the following:

“May the odds be ever in your favor!”: Hard Choices and “Moral Luck” In and Out of the Arena; “You love me. Real, or not real?”: Katniss and the Philosophy of Love and Friendship; Leviathan in the Arena: The Games and Hobbes’ War of All Against All; Panem et Circenses as Instruments of Domination; Machiavelli and the Capitol: Is It Better to be Feared than Loved?; Katniss and Nietzsche on Revenge and Resentment; “Rue, who when you ask her what she loves most in the world, replies, of all things, ‘Music.’”: Rue, Katniss, and the Power of Song; “That was the one thing I had going for me. Taking care of your family.”: Gale, Family, and Responsibility; Personal Identity: Is Hijacked Peeta Still Peeta?; Games, Deception, and the Problem of Other Minds; The Games and Game Theory; Schadenfreude: The Joy of Watching Others Suffer; René Girard and the Hunger Games as Sacrificial Rituals; A Hegelian Analysis of Panem: Katniss as World Historical Figure; Eating in the Districts and in the Capitol: The Many Meanings of Food; Katniss, Prim, and the Feminine Care Ethic; Authenticity: Why Does Katniss Fail at Everything She Fakes?; The Morality of Capital Punishment: Do Snow and Coin Deserve to Die?; Varieties of Hunger: The Need for Food, Self-Respect, and Love; Why Is Religion Absent from Panem?—Or Is It?; Caesar Flickerman and the Banality of Evil; Katniss and Theseus: What Is a Hero?; Freedom, “Hijacking,” and Personal Responsibility; President Snow and Plato’s Critique of the Life of the Tyrant; “I want to die as myself”: Peeta and the Virtue of Integrity; Just War Theory in the Arena and in the Rebellion; Punishment or Reconciliation: What Should Happen to Those Who Aided the Capitol?; The “Mockingjay” and Noble Lying; Critiquing the Culture of Voyeurism, Fame, and Celebrity; Foucaultian Power Relations: How the Capitol Controls the Districts; The Ethics of Literature: Should Collins Present Violence to Young Readers?; The Capitol and Capital: A Marxist Analysis of the Hunger Games Trilogy; Virtue Ethics and Moral Particularism: Do Ordinary Rules of Morality Apply In the Arena?; Katniss’s “Extended Mind” in the Woods; Mutts and the Morality of Bioengineering

You can submit an abstract at the And Philosophy website.

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August 27, 2010

Interview with James B. South

James B. South, co-editor of Mad Men and Philosophy, was interviewed for this piece on Mad Men — in Danish! Any Danish speakers out there?

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August 26, 2010

Magical Menagerie on The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy

[The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy] explores many of the themes that are present in the Harry Potter books, such as morality, choice, freedom, racism, love and the soul in a fun way by relating them to Harry Potter. [...] The book even pointed out a few things that I, a Harry Potter encyclopedia as some friends call me, had never noticed before.  So that is definitely a bonus!  Most of the contributors for this book definitely know their Potter and it shows in their understanding and love of JK Rowling’s wonderful world.

Read the full review on Magical Menagerie.

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August 23, 2010

Contributor Christopher Robichaud on Spider-Man and moral responsibility

Does Peter Parker Have a Moral Responsibility to Be Spider-Man? Series contributor Christopher Robichaud answers:

Often, Peter wonders whether he should remain Spider-Man. The role taxes him significantly, hurting his studies and his personal life. Is Peter morally permitted to throw in his costume?

I believe that he is. Taking up the role of a superhero is a supererogatory act—an act that’s good to do, but not wrong not to do. If we were consequentialists and thought that the rightness and wrongness of actions depends entirely on the good or bad outcomes produced, we would believe that Peter is morally obligated to be Spider-Man, at least on the assumption that being a superhero produces more overall good than being a good scientist, boyfriend, etc. As appealing as consequentialism might seem at first blush, it’s riddled with problems.

Read the whole answer at Heather Wax’s blog.

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August 19, 2010

James B. South at Boswell Book Company

James B. South, editor of Mad Men and Philosophy, will be appearing at Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, September 28th at 7 PM.

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August 17, 2010

Publishers Weekly on True Blood and Philosophy

Can John Locke’s memory theory explain the nature of vampire identity? Is there a PETA message buried in True Blood’s take on vampire-human relations? These and other biting issues constitute the smart and amusing essays in the latest William Irwin-edited Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series (after Mad Men and Philosophy). Authors invoke the likes of Kant, Sartre, and Freud and approach their topics with the seriousness of a devoted fan balanced with the levity and wit the series is known for.

Read the whole review at Publishers Weekly.

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August 16, 2010

Announcing Inception and Philosophy

We’re very pleased to announce the newest title in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, Inception and Philosophy. The science fiction thriller, written and directed by Christopher Nolan, took the #1 box office spot for three weeks after its release. The complex, mind-altering plot and stunning visuals make it popular among viewers and a natural fit for And Philosophy.

Abstracts and subsequent essays should be philosophically substantial but accessible, written to engage the intelligent lay reader. Contributors of accepted essays will receive an honorarium.

Possible themes and topics might include, but are not limited to, the following:

• “Their dream has become their reality”: Inception and Nozick’s Experience Machine
• “How did you get here?” Can We Tell if We are Dreaming?
• Your Very Own Token: Solving the Skeptical Problem with a Spinning Top
• “They come to be woken up”: If Life is a Dream, Does it Matter?
• Living in Limbo: Convenient Dreams vs. Inconvenient Reality
• Is That Your Idea? A New Kind of Skeptical Problem
• Self, Mind, and Free Will: Could Your Brain be an Inceptor?
• Is the top still spinning? Does an Author’s Intent Matter?
• “An idea is like a virus”: The Power of Ideas
• “Take a leap of faith”: Is it Ever Acceptable to Believe without Evidence?
• “Only a fraction of our brain’s potential”: Separating Myth from Reality
• Penrose Steps: The Possibility of Paradox
• Real Life Inception: The Challenge of Changing People’s Minds
• “Your mind is the scene of the crime”: The Ethics of Inception
• What is a Dream Made Of? The Nature of Mind
• Is Shared Dreaming Possible? The Problem of Neural Interpretation
• Shared Dreaming and the Problem of Other Minds
• The Nature of Free Will: Inception in Frankfurt-style Counterexamples
• Could Cobb be Insane? Demons, Dreamers & Madmen
• The Nature of Time: Time Moves More Slowly, the Further Down You Go
• Populating a Dream with Your Sub-conscious: Split Minds and Personal Identity

You can submit an abstract at the And Philosophy website.

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August 13, 2010

BBC examines philosophical questions that arise from Superheroes and Comic books

For years, fans of the Batman comics have puzzled over a mystery at the heart of the series: why doesn’t Batman just kill his arch-nemesis, the murderous Joker?

The two have engaged in a prolonged game of cat-and-mouse. The Joker commits a crime, Batman catches him, the Joker is locked up, and then invariably escapes.

Wouldn’t all this be much simpler if Batman just killed the Joker? What’s stopping him?

Enter philosopher Immanuel Kant and the deontological theory of ethics.

Read the full article on BBC

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August 9, 2010

Time’s take on Mad Men and Philosophy and the Philosophy series

Don Draper, meet Friedrich Nietzsche. You might not think that the fictional ad exec from the critically acclaimed AMC drama Mad Men and the German philosopher have much in common, but consider this: Nietzsche believed happiness requires that a person forget the past in order to act boldly in the present — a methodology that Draper, who has denied his past by stealing a dead man’s identity, seems to embrace.

That allusion, and more, come from Mad Men and Philosophy: Nothing Is as It Seems — a book of essays that examines the show through a philosophical lens. In it, philosophy professors reference classic works of philosophy by the likes of John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Simone de Beauvoir to explore topics like Draper’s identity crisis, the ethical lapses of the advertising business and the burgeoning feminism of the 1960s. For readers of a bloodier bent, there’s also a companion to HBO’s Southern Gothic vampire series, called — Freudian primal instincts, anyone? — True Blood and Philosophy: We Wanna Think Bad Things with You, which examines, for example, whether John Locke’s theories on an individual’s right to life, liberty and property should be expanded to include the undead.

Read the full article at Time.com

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August 6, 2010

Mad Men and Philosophy on vvb32 reads

In-a-word(s): remembering and forgetting

As a fan, I enjoyed reading this somewhat in-depth look into this tv series, Mad Men. I liked learning about the possible meanings and reasons for the portrayal of the different characters and settings.

Read the full article at VVB32 Reads

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August 2, 2010

Review: True Blood and Philosophy on readreactreview.com

If you read these volumes with the same expectations you would have for an issue of peer reviewed academic journal, you aren’t being fair.  I suppose some critics object to using examples from popular culture to teach philosophy (and by “teach”, I mean both in formal settings like classrooms, and the kind of self-teaching average fans might do when they pick up such books at Borders). That may be because they think popular culture is harmful (we should all be reading Proust instead), or because they don’t think using popular culture to teach philosophy works.

I have no comment on the former, but for the latter I will need to see some argument. What I know, after being in the front of a philosophy classroom for 12 years, is that starting from a place where students feel knowledgeable and comfortable can work very well to introduce them to a subject they have likely never directly encountered, a subject which in the absence of direct knowledge, signifies for many students obsolescence and irrelevance … if it signifies anything at all.

Read the full article at Readreactreview.com.

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July 30, 2010

Mad Men and Philosophy giveaway on vvb32 reads

You can win a copy of Mad Men and Philosophy on vvb32 reads! Here are the instructions:

1. Take the quiz: Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce – Job Interview
Find out if you have what it takes to get hired…
2. Visit Wiley’s site and tell me what other philosophy book interests you.
3. Let me know in comments yours answers with your email.

The contest ends on August 1.

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Mad Men and Philosophy in Slate

[G]raduate school has come to Mad Men in the form of Mad Men and Philosophy: Nothing Is As It Seems. The table of contents are often the best parts of these pop-culture philosophy books—” ‘And Nobody Understands That, but You Do’: The Aristotelian Ideal of Friendship among Mad Men (and Women)”—though, to be fair, there are usually two or three amazing essays as well.

Read the full article at Slate.

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July 27, 2010

Review of Twilight and Philosophy on infoZine.com

From Taoism to mind reading to the place of God in a world of vampires, Twilight and Philosophy: Vampires, Vegetarians, and the Pursuit of Immortality is the first book to examine the moral and philosophical dilemmas in the bestselling Twilight series. Some of the questions this book explores include:

• What do the struggles of Edward and his family of “vegetarian” vampires to control their biological urge for human blood say about free will?
• Are vampires morally absolved if they kill only animals and not people?

Read the full article at infoZine.com.

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July 22, 2010

Mad Men and Philosophy news

Mad Men and Philosophy is getting a lot of attention as the premiere of season 4 approaches. Below, a mention of the book in the New York Times, editor James B. South opines on the meaning of Mad Men for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, and an excerpt on the Wall Street Journal!

It’s a series set in the days of ice-cold martinis and cold war anxiety that has seduced contemporary fashion, advertising and even the English language. There are “Mad Men” Barbie and Ken dolls, a “Mad Men” clothing line at Banana Republic and pop culture books like “Mad Men and Philosophy: Nothing Is as It Seems.”
[Read the full article at The New York Times.]

What is “Mad Men” about?

“That’s a broad question,” said James B. South, associate professor and chair of Marquette University’s philosophy department. “I think, at the end of the day, it’s a show about a disparate group of people who are trying to come up with identities for themselves in a rapidly changing set of social situations.”

And you thought it was about advertising.
[Read the full article at JSOnline.com.]

Let the words of Roger Sterling consign him to Kierkegaard’s aesthetic lifestyle. First, Sterling distances himself from personal commitment to the extent possible. On the topic of intimacy, love, and friendship: “I have a very good friend . . . cannot remember the guy’s name.” On lasting commitment: “I’ll tell you the same thing I told my daughter. If you put a penny in a jar every time you make love in the first year of marriage and then you take a penny out of the jar every time you make love in the second year, you know what you have? A jar full of pennies.”
[Read the full excerpt at The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog.]

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July 21, 2010

Announcing Stieg Larsson and Philosophy

We’re very pleased to announce the newest title in the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, Stieg Larsson and Philosophy. Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy — comprised of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest — is hugely popular throughout the world, and Larsson’s heavy emphasis on ethics and defense of women’s rights make the series perfect for philosophical analysis.

Abstracts and subsequent essays should be philosophically substantial but accessible, written to engage the intelligent lay reader. Contributors of accepted essays will receive an honorarium.

Possible themes and topics might include, but are not limited to, the following: Vanger Family Values: Was Martin Destined to Follow His Father?; Why Vengeance is Moral: Nazis, Johns, and the Book of Leviticus; The Psychology of Sadists and Serial Killers; Deadbeat Dads: Zala, Vanger, and The Brothers Karamazov; Elementary, My Dear Blomkvist: What We Learn from Mysteries; Stieg Larsson and Our Dead Author Fetish; Kicking the Artist’s Nest: Good Literature or Guilty Pleasure?; Fermat’s “Marvelous Proof”: Why We Love Mysteries; Media Studies and the Ethics of Revealing Sources; Why Riot Grrrls Love Lisbeth (and Don’t Like You); Is Lisbeth a “Dyke”?; Bodies and Boundaries: Judith Butler and Dragon Tattoos; Intersectionality and Mimmi Wu’s Feminism; Who’s Pinging Whom?: Lisbeth’s Cyborg Manifesto; Psychotics and Whores: Goffman’s Labeling Theory; Medicalization and the Doctors Who Hate Women; Why We Institutionalize the Innocent: Palmgren and Foucault; The Argument from Authority: Why Salander and Vanger Go On the Lamb; Zala’s Secret Section and Foucault’s Governmentality; Surveillance Studies and “The Rolls-Royce of Portable Computers”; Hacker’s Republic: Plague vs. Plato; Is Palmgren a Libertarian?; The Philosopher Who Played With Fire: Larsson’s Marxist Manifesto; Kalle F***ing Blomkvist and Lisbeth F***ing B*tch Salander: An Existential Love Story; Is Mikael Blomkvist an “Insufferable Do-Gooder” or “Just Another A**hole Who Hates Women”?

You can submit an abstract at the And Philosophy website.

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July 2, 2010

Dawn Hullender reviews True Blood and Philosophy

While filled with many interesting quotes and thoughts from the HBO hit show, True Blood and Philosophy delves deeper into the supernatural (supe) community by offering some very thought provoking “philosophy.”

In reading this book, you are forced to ask yourself “what if?” “What if” vampires, werewolves and other supes actually exist? Do they deserve they same civic rights as humans? Do they deserve to live their lives unemcumbered by their “abnormal abilities?”

Read the full article at Southern Musings.

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June 12, 2010

Review of True Blood and Philosophy on The Vault

I had the pleasure of reading [True Blood and Philosophy] recently, and I have to say it was quite an intriguing premise. I have seen countless discussions on message boards and blogs regarding some of these very subjects, but to have them gathered in one book made the experience just a bit more special.

Read the full article at The Vault.

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Interview with editor Rebecca Housel on the Huffington Post

Tom Morris of the Huffington Post interviewed Rebecca Housel, co-editor of Twilight and Philosophy and True Blood and Philosophy, about the appeal of vampires in popular culture.

Tom: Why do you think vampires have had their recent meteoric rise in popularity?

Rebecca: Good question. Similar to the post 9-11 surge in superhero films, people are looking for escapist entertainment that reclaims some sense of agency and power over the impermanence in life that’s been so exaggerated in recent years with things like the situation in the Middle East, the uncertain global economy, and widespread unemployment in the States.

Read the full interview at the Huffington Post.

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June 10, 2010

Twilight Saga Educational Materials

Twilight and Philosophy was cited in “A Guide to Twilight Saga Educational Materials” on Twilight Novel Novice.

Anyone who’s even been remotely involved in the Twilight fandom knows that the subject can always spark a debate of some kind, whether we band together to argue against the Twilight haters, or if we’re arguing Team Edward versus Team Jacob amongst ourselves. But the editors of Twilight and Philosophy take it to the next level — delving deep into philosophical subjects broached by Meyer’s series.

Read the full article at Twilight Novel Novice.

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June 2, 2010

True Blood and Philosophy on TrueBloodNet.com

TrueBloodNet.com reviewed True Blood and Philosophy:

It’s a great book, and one that I think is something all True Blood fans should add to their bookshelves. True Blood and Philosophy takes many aspects of True Blood and breaks them down into several sections, then takes those sections and breaks them down further into singular arguments that are left open for you to think about.

And, don’t miss their interview with series editor William Irwin about the book, the series, and, of course, True Blood.

What is the book about and what are some of the areas that the book covers?

The book introduces the reader to some major questions and issues in philosophy by using the show and the novels for examples. Topics covered include: the politics of human-vampire relations, the out-of-the-coffin/out-of-the-closet analogy, the ethics of mindreading, and the metaphysics of the undead.

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May 15, 2010

The Morality of Iron Man

Iron Man and Philosophy editor Mark D. White’s essay “Can Iron Man Be a Hero if Tony Stark Is a Womanizer?” appeared on Psychology Today on May 7th.

In earlier days, this behavior may have been laughed off (among men and women alike) as charmingly roguish. But with the recent surge of news reports of sex addiction and adultery among celebrities and politicians, Stark’s promiscuity takes on a new life. (Never mind the fact that if a female character acted like Stark has, no one would be laughing.) To be fair, Stark is not married, nor even seriously dating anyone (in the film, much less the present comics); nonetheless, his behavior may be read as displaying a lack of respect for women as valuable persons, and is therefore problematic—especially for a hero.

Read the full article at Psychology Today.

Mark also participated in a podcast for A Welcome Invasion of Privacy on the subject of Iron Man. Listen to part one and part two of his interview.

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May 14, 2010

Review of True Blood and Philosophy on True-Blood.net

Philosophy not your strong suit? It’s not mine, either. I took a philosophy class as an undergrad and another literature-based theory class in grad school, but Kant and Nietzsche and Descartes aren’t my BFFs. Fortunately, you don’t need a PhD in philosophy to enjoy these essays and begin considering the deeper themes running through True Blood.

Read the full article at True-Blood.net. Also, enter to win a copy of the book!

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May 6, 2010

Review of Iron Man and Philosophy on All Headline News

The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series takes aim at the modern day knight in shining armor in their latest discussion of all things philosophical. The topics could not be more appropriate with the subject, as contributors throw out their thoughts regarding the questions of personal responsibility and the wavering of virtuous behavior from Iron Man and billionaire alter ego Tony Stark, as well as what classic thinkers like Aristotle and business geniuses like Andrew Carnegie would think. The blend of man and machine, an ongoing theme throughout the run of the “Iron Man” comic book, also comes together as philosophers focus on the advancements of the Iron Man armor, the endless potential of technology and what kind of disaster this could spell for mankind. And not just in the Marvel Comics world.

Read the full article at All Headline News.

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April 29, 2010

Popular Culture in the Philosophy Classroom

A piece by Harry Potter and Philosophy editor Gregory Bassham, with Michael W. Austin, called “Popular Culture in the Philosophy Classroom” appears in the Fall 2008 issue of the American Philosophical Association’s newsletter.

An effective hook

As educational theorists from Rousseau to Dewey to contemporary constructivists have emphasized, teaching is most effective when it connects with what students know and care about. Students are more engaged when they are studying materials they find interesting and relevant, and they learn more quickly and more deeply when they can fit what they are learning into a framework of existing knowledge. Today’s students live in a veritable Platonic Cave of popular culture, flickering with digital shadows and abuzz with electronic chatter. Students are often keenly interested and amazingly knowledgeable (much more than they should be) about various aspects of popular culture. By tapping into these interests, pop philosophy can serve as a springboard to serious philosophical reflection. Moreover, the memorableness of such examples can promote long-term learning. As Fordham University student Alexandra Fernandes said after taking a course on fantasy and philosophy, “What really matters in an education is what you walk away with, what resonates with a student and what they retain for the rest of their lives. If using these modern sources creates a better technique of retention, why not use them?”

Read the full article at the American Philosophical Association’s website.

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March 18, 2010

Preview of Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy on Bookgasm

“You take the blue pill,” Morpheus says to Neo in THE MATRIX, “and the story ends . . . . You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.” It’s a tempting offer, isn’t it? For at one time or another in our lives, we’ve all wanted to escape — from a dull and tedious job, an impossible relationship, from a world in which we often have so little control over what happens to us. Perhaps it’s for reasons such as these that our culture has become positively obsessed with the idea of transcending the confines of this world for the cool fresh air of another. Whether it’s by a red pill, a secret wardrobe, a looking glass, or a rabbit-hole, it doesn’t really matter. We’ll take it.

Read the full article at Bookgasm.

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