Homer Simpson Ponders Politics: Popular Culture as Political Theory

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Synopsis
What pop culture from The Hobbit to The Office reveals about modern politics—from the authors of Homer Simpson Marches on Washington: “Fun and engaging.” —William Irwin, author of Black Sabbath and PhilosophyIt’s said that the poet Homer educated ancient Greece. Joseph J. Foy and Timothy M. Dale have assembled a team of notable scholars who argue, quite persuasively, that Homer Simpson and his ilk are educating America and offering insights into the social order and the human condition.Following Homer Simpson Goes to Washington (winner of the John G. Cawelti Award for Best Textbook or Primer on American and Popular Culture) and Homer Simpson Marches on Washington, this exceptional volume reveals how books like J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, movies like Avatar and Star Wars, and television shows like The Office and Firefly define Americans’ perceptions of society. The authors expand the discussion to explore the ways in which political theories play out in popular culture.Homer Simpson Ponders Politics includes a foreword by fantasy author Margaret Weis (coauthor/creator of the Dragonlance novels and game world) and is divided according to eras and themes in political thought: The first section explores civic virtue, applying the work of Plato and Aristotle to modern media. Part 2 draws on the philosophy of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Smith as a framework for understanding the role of the state. Part 3 explores the work of theorists such as Kant and Marx, and the final section investigates the ways in which movies and newer forms of electronic media either support or challenge the underlying assumptions of the democratic order. The result is an engaging read for students as well as anyone interested in popular culture.
Copyright:
2013

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
272 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780813141503
Related ISBNs:
9780813141473
Publisher:
The University Press of Kentucky
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
The University Press of Kentucky
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Nonfiction, Social Studies, Philosophy, Politics and Government
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.
Edited by:
Joseph J. Foy
Foreword by:
Margaret Weis

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