The Philosophy of Popular Culture
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Series Editor: Mark T. Conard

Books in the Philosophy of Popular Culture series will illuminate and explore philosophical themes and ideas that occur in popular culture. The goal of this series is to demonstrate how philosophical inquiry has been reinvigorated by the increased scholarly interest in the intersection of popular culture and philosophy, as well as to explore through philosophical analysis beloved pop culture phenomena, such as movies, TV shows, sports, and music. Traditional philosophical ideas are made accessible to the general public through examples of popular culture. This series seeks to publish both established and emerging scholars who will engage appropriate popular topics for philosophical interpretation and examine the philosophical underpinnings of profound themes in a vital area of popular culture. By eschewing ephemeral trends of philosophical and cultural theory, this series will establish and elaborate upon connections between traditional philosophical ideas from important thinkers and the ever-growing pop culture phenomenon.

Golf and Philosophy Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 264
ISBN: 9780813125947
Pub Date: 24 Sep 2010
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: none
Description:
In a game where players are expected to call their own penalties and scoring the least points leads to victory, decorum takes precedence over showmanship and philosophical questions become par for the course. Few other sports are as suited for ethical and metaphysical examination as golf. It is a game defined by dichotomies -- relaxing, yet frustrating, social, yet solitary -- and between these extremes there is room for much philosophical inquiry.
The Philosophy of the Western Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780813125916
Pub Date: 02 Jul 2010
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Description:
The western is arguably the most iconic and influential genre in American cinema. The solitude of the lone rider, the loyalty of his horse, and the unspoken code of the West render the genre popular yet lead it to offer a view of America's history that is sometimes inaccurate. For many, the western embodies America and its values.
Tennis and Philosophy Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 294
ISBN: 9780813125749
Pub Date: 04 Jun 2010
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: 0 b&w photo
Description:
Tennis smashed onto the worldwide athletic scene soon after its modern rules and equipment were introduced in nineteenth-century England. Exciting, competitive, and uniquely accessible to people of all ages and talent levels, tennis continues to enjoy popularity, both as a recreational activity and a spectator sport.Life imitates sport in Tennis and Philosophy.
The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film Cover
Format: Paperback
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9780813192604
Pub Date: 05 Feb 2010
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: none
Description:
The science fiction genre maintains a remarkable hold on the imagination and enthusiasm of the filmgoing public, captivating large audiences worldwide and garnering ever-larger profits. The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film explores the storylines, conflicts, and themes of fifteen science fiction film classics, from Metropolis to The Matrix. Editor Steven M.
Football and Philosophy Cover
Format: Paperback
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9780813192192
Pub Date: 31 Jul 2009
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: 0
Description:
Football and Philosophy: Going Deep investigates many of the issues surrounding the nation's biggest sport. From a review of the flaws of the Bowl Championship Series, to a study of the violence inherent in the game, to an examination of Vince Lombardi's views on winning, the essays in this collection tackle the moral and philosophical principles behind gridiron competition. The result is an insightful, humorous, and original book that will engage all fans of the game.
The Philosophy of The X-Files Cover
Format: Paperback
Pages: 314
ISBN: 9780813192277
Pub Date: 27 Mar 2009
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: 0
Description:
In The Philosophy of The X-Files, Dean A. Kowalski has gathered a remarkable cast of contributors to shed light on the philosophical mysteries of the television show The X-Files. With sections devoted to the show's credos, such as "The Truth Is Out There," individual characters, and specific episodes, The Philosophy of The X-Files illuminates the philosophical assumptions and presuppositions of the show as well as presents discussions through the show to help the reader better understand philosophy and philosophical inquiry.
The Philosophy of Stanley Kubrick Cover
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780813192208
Pub Date: 13 Feb 2009
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Description:
In The Philosophy of Stanley Kubrick, some of our most respected philosophers investigate Kubrick's art to illuminate his view of reality. In films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Eyes Wide Shut, and Dr. Strangelove, Kubrick explores the world honestly, mirroring the vast complexity of the world of philosophy.
The Philosophy of the Coen Brothers Cover The Philosophy of the Coen Brothers Cover
Format: 
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780813125268
Pub Date: 12 Dec 2008
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: 0
Pages: 332
ISBN: 9780813134451
Pub Date: 30 Mar 2012
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Description:
Many critics agree that Joel and Ethan Coen are one of the most visionary and idiosyncratic filmmaking teams of the last three decades. Combining thoughtful eccentricity, wry humor, irony, and often brutal violence, the Coen brothers have crafted a style of filmmaking that pays tribute to classic American movie genres yet maintains a distinctly postmodern feel. Since arriving on the film scene, the Coens have amassed an impressive body of work that has garnered them critical acclaim and a devoted cult following.
Steven Spielberg and Philosophy Cover Steven Spielberg and Philosophy Cover
Format: 
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780813125275
Pub Date: 21 Nov 2008
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: 17
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780813133898
Pub Date: 04 Feb 2011
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: 17
Description:
Without question, few directors have had such a powerful influence on the film industry and the moviegoing public as Steven Spielberg. Often referred to as the most successful American filmmaker of all time, Spielberg has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director six times, winning twice -- for Schindler's List in 1994 and Saving Private Ryan in 1999. Seven of his films have received the Best Picture Oscar nomination.
Basketball and Philosophy Cover
Format: Paperback
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780813191867
Pub Date: 15 Feb 2008
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Description:
With a Foreword by Dick Vitale What can the film Hoosiers teach us about the meaning of life? How can ancient Eastern wisdom traditions, such as Taoism and Zen Buddhism, improve our jump-shots? What can the "Zen Master" (Phil Jackson) and the "Big Aristotle" (Shaquille O'Neal) teach us about sustained excellence and success?
The Philosophy of TV Noir Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780813124490
Pub Date: 04 Jan 2008
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Description:
The influence of classic film noir on the style and substance of television in the 1950s and 1960s has persisted to the present day. Its pervasiveness suggests the vitality of the noir depiction of human experience and the importance of TV for transmitting the legacy of film noir and producing new forms of noir. Noir television is also noteworthy for its capacity to raise philosophical questions about the nature of the human condition.
The Philosophy of Martin Scorsese Cover The Philosophy of Martin Scorsese Cover
Format: 
Pages: 280
ISBN: 9780813124445
Pub Date: 31 May 2007
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Pages: 280
ISBN: 9780813192185
Pub Date: 17 Jul 2009
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Description:
In The Philosophy of Martin Scorsese, an impressive cast of contributors explores the complex themes and philosophical underpinnings of Martin Scorsese's films. One of the most significant filmmakers in the history of American cinema, Scorsese is the creative force behind films such as GoodFellas, Taxi Driver, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Aviator, and The Age of Innocence. The contributing authors use Scorsese's films as vehicles for exploration of philosophical concepts such as friendship and egoism, vigilantism, libertarianism, Buddhist ethics, desire and self-restraint, madness, the criminal mind, beatitude and unhappiness, and the absurd.
The Philosophy of Neo-Noir Cover The Philosophy of Neo-Noir Cover
Format: 
Pages: 222
ISBN: 9780813124223
Pub Date: 05 Jan 2007
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: photos
Pages: 222
ISBN: 9780813192178
Pub Date: 20 Feb 2009
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Illustrations: photos
Description:
Film noir--a cycle of American films from the 1940s and '50s--is characterized not only by a constant opposition of light and shadow and a disruptive compositional balance of frames and scenes, but also by dark, foreboding characters and plots and an overriding sense of alienation and moral ambiguity. Noir films reflect the sense of loss, fragmentation, and nihilism at the heart of the human condition in the twentieth century. Although the classic film noir period ended in the late 1950s, its impact on more films has been profound.
The Philosophy of Film Noir Cover
Format: Paperback
Pages: 264
ISBN: 9780813191812
Pub Date: 27 Jan 2005
Imprint: University Press of Kentucky
Description:
From The Maltese Falcon (1941) to Touch of Evil (1958), the classic film noir is easily recognizable for its unusual lighting, sinister plots, and feeling of paranoia. For critics and fans alike, these films defined an era. The Philosophy of Film Noir explores philosophical themes and ideas inherent in classic noir and neo-noir films, establishing connections to diverse thinkers ranging from Camus to the Frankfurt School.