Philosophy and the Interpretation of Pop Culture

by Irwin, William; Gracia, Jorge J. E.

• ISBN13: 9780742551749
• ISBN10: 0742551741
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-11-27
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

Comprised of thirteen articles by well-known authors, this book makes the case to philosophers that popular culture is worthy of their attention. Issues of concern include the distinction between high culture and popular culture, the aesthetic and moral value of popular culture, allusion and identification in popular culture, and special problems posed by the interpretation of popular culture. Popular art forms considered include movies, television shows, comic books, children's stories, photographs, and rock songs.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
1 Philosophy Engages Popular Culture: An Introduction	1	(20)
William Irwin
Part I: Philosophy and Popular Culture
2 Philosophy and the Probable Impossible	21	(20)
Carolyn Korsmeyer
3 Philosophy as/and/of Popular Culture	41	(24)
William Irwin
4 Allusion and Intention in Popular Art	65	(24)
Theodore Gratyk
5 On the Ties That Bind: Characters, the Emotions, and Popular Fictions	89	(28)
Noël Carroll
6 Liking What's Good: Why Should We?	117	(14)
Ted Cohen
7 Popular Art and Entertainment Value	131	(30)
Richard Shusterman
Part II: Interpretation and Popular Art Forms
8 Popular Culture and Spontaneous Order, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Tube	161	(26)
Paul A. Cantor
9 From Horror to Hero: Film Interpretations of Stoker's Dracula	187	(28)
Jorge J.E. Gracia
10 Socrates at Story Hour: Philosophy as a Subversive Motif in Children's Literature	215	(20)
Gareth B. Matthews
11 Of Batcaves and Clock Towers: Living Damaged Lives in Gotham City	235	(20)
James B. South
12 "American Pie" and the Self-critique of Rock 'n' Roll	255	(20)
Michael Baur
13 Photography, Popular Epistemology, Flexible Realism, and Holistic Pragmatism	275	(20)
Peter H. Hare
About the Editors and Contributors	295