South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today (The Blackwell Philosophy & Pop Culture Series) 1st Edition by Robert Arp (PDF)

Description

If you think Saddam and Satan make a kinky couple, wait till you get a load of South Park and Philosophy. Get your Big Wheels ready, because we’re going for a ride, as 22 philosophers take us down the road to understanding the big-picture issues in this small mountain town. A smart and candid look at one of television’s most subversive and controversial shows, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year Draws close parallels between the irreverent nature of South Park and the inquiring and skeptical approach of philosophy Addresses the perennial questions of the show, and the contemporary social and political issues that inspire each episode Uses familiar characters and episodes to illustrate topics such as moral relativism, freedom of expression, gay marriage, blasphemy, democracy, feminism, animal ethics, existential questions and much more makes you laugh out loud

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: From Publishers Weekly With a firm belief in the power of satire, and a number of complicated questions-including the morals of laughing at a ten-year-old’s racist, sexually active hand-puppet-author and philosophy professor Arp presents an accessible collection of 22 essays on Comedy Central’s controversial, long-running cartoon series South Park. Drawing on the usual suspects-Plato, Aristotle, Freud and Sartre among them-the contributors gleefully argue that the fiercely juvenile and politically incorrect show speaks to some of the most important issues of our-or any-time. In the first entry, William W. Young III draws comparisons between moralizing condemnation of South Park and the charges “leveled against Western philosophy since its beginnings” in a section titled “Oh my God! They Killed Socrates! You Bastards!” Other essays take on the “ethics of amusement” in the face of a Virgin Mary statue bleeding from a wholly inappropriate place, the existential crisis suggested by the Kenny’s recurrent death and what a school mascot election between “a Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich” says about America’s two-party political system. Though the laundry list of philosophical issues-gender and sexuality, personal identity, the problem of evil, religious pluralism, the ethics of belief-feels familiar, and some of the writers’ attempts at lowbrow humor can be embarrassingly off-mark, it’s a serious but inviting roundup that high-minded South Park fans, as well as pop-philosophy devotees, will find worthwhile.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review “Twenty-two philosophers can’t be wrong. Here to confirm suspicions that a relevant subtext exists beneath the potty-mouthed facade of Comedy Central’s “South Park” (now in its 10th season) is this indispensable collection of thought-provoking essays.” Boston Herald, January 5, 2007. “Move over, Kant. South Park and Philosophy embodies a new categorical imperative: Read this collection, laugh, and think.” Nick Gillespie, Editor-in-Chief of Reason magazine “Give Cartman some hemlock to drink so he can join Socrates for a meeting of the minds! Troubled by such philosophical conundrums as free will and determinism or the existence of God? Worry no more. Here you will find the way, the truth, and the light. Or not. Either way, if this book can’t interest this generation in philosophy, then we’re all screwed.” Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Scientific American, and the author of Why Darwin Matters Book Description If you think Saddam and Satan make a kinky couple, wait lsquo;til you get a load of South Park and Philosophy. Get your Big Wheels ready, because wersquo;re going for a ride as twenty-two philosophers take us down the road to understanding the big picture issues in this small mountain town. Is Dan Rather real? Should Big Gay Al be allowed to marry Mr. Slave? What does philosophy have to do with flatulence? Addressing the perennial questions of the show, and looking at the contemporary social and political issues that inspire each episode, this book unravels everything that might be wrong and could be right about South Park. Are American voters inevitably forced to choose between a turd and a douche? Does South Parkrsquo;s blasphemous humor go too far? If itrsquo;s OK to ridicule Islam, is it OK to skewer Scientology? And how does Cartmanland present the problem of evil? Grab a bag of cheesy-poofs and take a seat, because yoursquo;re about to find out. South Park and Philosophy is a smart and candid look at one of televisions most subversive and controversial shows. If you like Chefrsquo;s salty balls, yoursquo;ll love this book. From the Back Cover If you think Saddam and Satan make a kinky couple, wait till you get a load of South Park and Philosophy. Get your Big Wheels ready, because we’re going for a ride, as 22 philosophers take us down the road to understanding the big-picture issues in this small mountain town. Is Dan Rather real? Should Big Gay Al be allowed to marry Mr. Slave? What does philosophy have to do with flatulence? Addressing the perennial questions of the show, and looking at the contemporary social and political issues that inspire each episode, this book unravels everything that might be wrong and could be right about South Park. Are American voters inevitably forced to choose between a turd and a douche? Does South Park’s blasphemous humor go too far? If it’s OK to ridicule Islam, is it OK to skewer Scientology? And how does Cartmanland present the problem of evil? Grab a bag of Cheesypoofs and take a seat, because you’re about to find out.South Park and Philosophy is a smart and candid look at one of television’s most subversive and controversial shows. If you like Chef’s salty balls, you’ll love this book. About the Author Robert Arp is a philosopher and ontologist. He has taught at Southwest Minnesota State University and Florida State University, and is author of Scenario Visualization: An Evolutionary Account of Creative Problem Solving (MIT, 2008), co-author of Philosophy DeMYSTiFieD (McGraw-Hill, 2011) and Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Reasoning Well (Continuum, 2011), as well as co-editor of Contemporary Debates in the Philosophy of Biology (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), Philosophy of Biology: An Anthology (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), and Information and Living Systems: Philosophical and Scientific Perspectives (MIT, 2011). Read more

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I’ve read a few of the “South Park illuminates the world” books, and this is the only one that satisfies the thinking fan without being too awestruck and hyperbolic. Not only because it’s a great apologia for the most juvenile jokes in the TV series, but because it links Trey Parker & Matt Stone to a whole plethora of philosophers (if philosophers don’t come in plethoras, I think they should). The only part in whichI didn’t see the connection was in the ideas of Catherine McKennon, which is linked somehow with the episode in which a new racy style girls’ clothing shop becomes all the rage of the third graders. But that might be because McKennon is on a totally different planet from me, philosophically. On the other hand, that reflects one of the good points about this book, and about South Park itself: even if you’re offended by some of this, you might learn something today.

⭐I enjoy both South Park and the book. The show has been around for over ten years now and over that time it has dealt with many pressing issues with the trademark uncouth wit and dark humor. The show is a great deal of fun but is still a show and the opinions of two people. Surprising, you don’t get those opinions in many other places because it attacks the sacred cows of the rest of the media. Saying all that this book takes the show seriously and points out that there is a strong message that is rooted deep in western thought and culture.I am familiar with many ideas and authors of philosophy and this book connects some of the ideas of the show with some philosophers. I think they could do about two or three book more to better explore the meanings and episodes of South Park and reflect that this crazy show has a powerful and both radical and moderate view of the world. They reflect the many radical and outlandish ideas that are accepted in our culture we now see as normal.

⭐When I bought this book I thought it was going to talk about the specific ways the series employs philosophy and/or derives its own philosophy, and in many ways it does do this, but it’s more of an Introduction to Philosophy textbook and rather than using conventional examples to explain the theory it uses South Park episodes. This was interesting and I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be.

⭐The Book-“South Park and Philosophy: You Know I Learned Something Today” is humor, philosophy and a great reason to own a comprehensive dictionary. As a couch potato this book now is an accompaniment to my time at the fitness center while on a treadmill or doing numerous sit ups. My assessment of this book could not be fair since I am not someone who reads more than 3 hours a day. There are books that envelope most of my day but either way “South Park Philosophy” is entertaining and educating and this particular book is a testament for free speech and how an animated adult comedy addresses situations that have probably been around since written history. -Craig Barr.

⭐Gave this as a Xmas gift, he loved it!!!

⭐It’s a really interesting book. I will consider it as an excuse to know a little of some philosophers and have curiosity to read them too. I loved it.

⭐More focus on philosophy than South Park— not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it makes for rather dry reading. I prefer “South Park and Philosophy” as edited by Richard Hanley. Much lighter, and often laugh-out-loud funny.

⭐Great book and intro to philosophy. While a bit heavy in parts, it does get you to think and gives you some material for defending the greatness that is South Park to its critics.

⭐5 stars purely because it reminded me of some of the best moments of South Park throughout the years. But im sure most people are more interested in the philosophy – which it handles well and matches perfectly to the stories it chooses from the series.Recommendation: Read if you have a passing interest in philosophy and a deep love of South Park.

⭐sorry but tooo much philosophy, this book caused me to do away with philosophy for ever now. It’s too technical need something more simplified or average in ideas

⭐great

⭐Good read, some disjointed but good themes addressed. I am just writing words to fill this review.I am just writing words to fill this review.

⭐South Park eröffnet interessante Möglichkeiten im Oberstufenunterricht in den Fächern Werte & Normen/Ethik/Religion/Gemeinschaftskunde.Das vorliegende Buch bietet nach Themn geordnet Interpretationen von einzelnen Folgen/Staffeln der Serie. Das Buch lohnt sich überhaupt für alle Leser, die an Philosophie interessiert sind. Humorvoll und oft aberwitzig – aber immer auf den Punkt!

⭐Not found.

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