A new display is up in the James B. Duke Library entitled “Pop Goes Philosophy.” This display highlights books which discuss some of the philosophies behind popular television shows and movies. Stop by and wax philosophical with the likes of Homer Simpson, Dexter, and Seinfeld.
Dexter and Philosophy: Mind Over Splatter
An elite team of philosophers don their rubber gloves and put Dexter’s deeds under the microscope. Since Dexter is driven to ritual murder by his “Dark Passenger,” can he be blamed for killing, especially as he only murders other murderers? How and why are horror and disgust turned into aesthetic pleasure for the TV viewer? Why does Dexter long to be a normal human being and why can’t he accomplish this apparently simple goal?
place holder place holder place holder place Twilight and Philosophy: Vampires, Vegetarians, and the Pursuit of Immortality
Bella and Edward, and their family and friends, have faced countless dangers and philosophical dilemmas in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight novels. This book is the first to explore them, drawing on the wisdom of philosophical heavyweights to answer essential questions such as: What do the struggles of “vegetarian” vampires who control their biological urge for human blood say about free will? Are vampires morally absolved if they kill only animals and not people? From a feminist perspective, is Edward a romantic hero or is he just a stalker? Is Jacob “better” for Bella than Edward?
place holder place holder place holder place holder South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today
With a firm belief in the power of satire, and a number of complicated questions, author and philosophy professor, Robert Arp, presents a collection of 22 essays on Comedy Central’s controversial, long-running cartoon series. Drawing on the usual suspects – Plato, Aristotle, Freud, and Sartre – the contributors argue that the juvenile and politically incorrect show speaks to some of the most important issues of our time.