| Title | : | Homer Simpson Ponders Politics: Popular Culture as Political Theory |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 254 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2013 |
It’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.
Homer Simpson Ponders Politics: Popular Culture as Political Theory Reviews
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I am very impressed by this book, discovered it by chance when I was studying for a Political Theory exam and regret not reading this earlier. It offers a very accessible introduction to some key themes in political theory, such as the social contract but also those that are not always touched on in-depth, such as political life and failures of liberal democracy. To keep engaged even after exams is really something...
The editors, Foy and Dale are excellent in their compilation and choice of articles; good editing and thematic. Articles are informative and accessible, you didn't have to read the original political texts or be exposed to the popular culture material beforehand. There was also some commentary about the strength of linkage between the two, offering a 'meta' like critique of the book somewhat. I have been convinced that a pop culture analysis can be very useful heuristically and also worth looking at, in a very bottom-up way, since pop culture is a very far reaching social phenomena and thus inform the public and attitudes to a certain extent. Foy's last article about social media and possibilities of liberal democracy's fourth revolution was a good ending. The articles range from older popular culture favourites like High Noon, The Godfather to current mainstream franchises like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings etc. It also accesses different genres, from science fiction to police and law procedurals. My favourite articles include Kowalski's Two Republics (Plato and Star Wars) and Vernay's analysis of feminism on the small screen. Falls short of the last star only because not all articles were as good as with most compilations.
