Boardwalk Empire and Philosophy (eBook, ePUB)

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Redaktion: Greene, Richard; Robison-Greene, Rachel

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

From Machiavellian city officials to big time mobsters (such as Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano, and Al Capone) to corrupt beat cops to overzealous G-men to suffragettes to abolitionists to innocent citizens caught in the crossfire, Boardwalk Empire is replete with philosophically compelling characters who find themselves in philosophically interesting situations. As Boardwalk Empire is based on historical events, political figures and mobsters, the philosophical issues raised bear on "real life" in the way the few fictional television shows and movies do. We see parallels with the events in Boardwalk Empire and contemporary political events, and between the characters in Boardwalk Empire (good, bad, and ambiguous) and contemporary figures. It is one of the most popular HBO television shows ever and its popularity is on the rise. In this volume, twenty philosophers address issues in political philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, feminism, and metaphysics. Gregory Littman analyzes Nucky Thomson as a Machiavellian Prince. In contrast, Richard Greene casts Thomson in the role of a Nietzschean superman. Michael Da Silva looks at the complex relationship between Nucky and Jimmy (Nucky's young protégé). Jimmy feels resentment towards Nucky for the role he played in bringing together Jimmy's father and his very young mother. Is this resentment justified given that Jimmy would never have come into existence had his parents not met? Is there a moral difference between the harm that Nucky allowed to happen and the direct harm caused by Jimmy's father? Don Fallis considers the ethics of lying in the seedy world of bootlegging. Agent Van Allen's unique religious attitudes bring a warped sense of morality to the Boardwalk universe. Roberto Sirvent brings to light the moral character of Van Alden's God. Thomson advises to "never let the truth get in the way of a good story." Rod Carveth explores the role that storytelling pays in the series and Cam Cobb illustrates the role of deception. Pat Brace and Maria Kingsbury address "Outsiders, Alcohol and All That Jazz"-the aesthetics of Boardwalk Empire and the prohibition era. Margaret Schroeder is used as a vehicle for the female voice of the era. Rachel Robison-Greene discusses the role that gender plays in the direction of the series. Ron Hirschbein lends a Freudian Analysis. This book is directed at thoughtful fans of Boardwalk Empire. It's the only book to address the popular show from a thoughtful yet instantly readable perspective.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Open Court
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Erscheinungstermin: 19. August 2013
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780812698398
• Artikelnr.: 39477784

Autorenporträt

Richard Greene is professor of Philosophy at Weber State University in Utah. He is co-editor of many volumes in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series, the most recent being Dexter and Philosophy. Rachel Robison-Greene is co-editor of Dexter and Philosophy and The Golden Compass and Philosophy. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Inhaltsangabe

1. "Karma, Bad Luck, or Divine Intervention? Exploring the Moral Character
of
Agent Van Alden's God?
Roberto Sirvent and Neil Baker
2. "Boardwalk Empire: The Ethics of Real History versus Reel History?
Rod Carveth
3. "Bunkum, Snake Oil, and Horseshit: What's Wrong with Lying to a
Bootlegger??
Don Fallis
4. "Doing vs Allowing Harm"
Michael Da Silva
5. "Nucky Thompson Superman!"
Richard Greene
6. "Watching Boardwalk Empire with Freud: How Much Sin Can You Live With??
Ron Hirschbein
7. "Machiavelli on the Boardwalk?
Gregory Littman
8. "Political Philosophy under the Boardwalk"
Rachel Robison-Greene
9. "Boardwalk Empire and the State of Nature?
John Fitzpatrick
10. "Nucky Thompson: In Bed with Everyone: Body Politic and Body Private in
Boardwalk Empire?
Weiland Schwanebeck
11. "Outsiders, Alcohol and All That Jazz: Prohibition Era Aesthetics in
Boardwalk Empire"
Pat Brace and Maria Kingsbury
12. "Narrative Pedagogy and Deception in Boardwalk Empire: Never let the
truth get in the way of a good story?
Cam Cobb
13. "'Thou shalt not kill': Systemic Violence in Boardwalk Empire"
Deborah Mellamphy
14. Gender Themes in Boardwalk Empire
Rachel Robison-Greene
15. "The Women of Boardwalk Empire"
Chelsi Barnard Archibald