The Culture And Philosophy Of Ridley Scott

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The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott

Author : Adam Barkman
Publisher : Lexington Books
ISBN 13 : 0739178733
Total Pages : 313 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (391 download)

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Book Synopsis The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott by : Adam Barkman

Download or read book The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott written by Adam Barkman and published by Lexington Books. This book was released on 2013-03-08 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott, edited by Adam Barkman, Ashley Barkman, and Nancy Kang, brings together eighteen critical essays that illuminate a nearly comprehensive selection of the director’s feature films from cutting-edge multidisciplinary and comparative perspectives. Chapters examine such signature works as Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma and Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), Hannibal (2001), Black Hawk Down (2001), and American Gangster (2007). This volume divides the chapters into three major thematic groups: responsibility, remembering, and revision; real, alienated, and ideal lives; and gender, identity, and selfhood. Each section features six discrete essays, each of which forwards an original thesis about the film or films chosen for analysis. Each chapter features close readings of scenes as well as broader discussions that will interest academics, non-specialists, as well as educated readers with an interest in films as visual texts. While recognizing Scott’s undeniable contributions to contemporary popular cinema, the volume does not shy away from honest and well-evidenced critique. Each chapter’s approach correlates with philosophical, literary, or cultural studies perspectives. Using both combined and single-film discussions, the contributors examine such topics as gender roles and feminist theory; philosophical abstractions like ethics, honor, and personal responsibility; historical memory and the challenges of accurately rendering historical events on screen; literary archetypes and generic conventions; race relations and the effect of class difference on character construction; how religion shapes personal and collective values; the role of a constantly changing technological universe; and the schism between individual and group-based power structures. The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott assembles the critical essays of scholars working in the fields of philosophy, literary studies, and cultural studies. An international group, they are based in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Italy, Greece, Korea, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The guiding assumption on the part of all the writers is that the filmmaker is the leading determiner of a motion picture’s ethos, artistic vision, and potential for audience engagement. While not discounting the production team (including screenwriters, actors, and cinematographers, among others), auteur theory recognizes the seminal role of the director as the nucleus of the meaning-making process. With Scott an active and prolific presence in the entertainment industry today, the timeliness of this volume is optimal.

Sons of Anarchy and Philosophy

Author : George A. Dunn
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1118641663
Total Pages : 278 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (186 download)

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Book Synopsis Sons of Anarchy and Philosophy by : George A. Dunn

Download or read book Sons of Anarchy and Philosophy written by George A. Dunn and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-08-21 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Brains before bullets” – ancient and modern wisdom for “mechanics and motorcycle enthusiasts” Essential reading for fans of the show, this book takes readers deeper into the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, the Teller-Morrow family, and the ethics that surround their lives and activities. Provides fascinating moral insights into Sons of Anarchy, its key characters, plot lines and ideas Investigates compelling philosophical issues centering on loyalty, duty, the ethics of war, authority, religion and whether the ends justify the means Teaches complex philosophical ideas in a way that’s accessible to the general interest reader in order to inspire them to further reading of the great philosophers Authors use their deep knowledge of the show to illuminate themes that are not always apparent even to die-hard fans

The Who and Philosophy

Author : Rocco J. Gennaro
Publisher : Lexington Books
ISBN 13 : 1498514480
Total Pages : 258 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (985 download)

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Book Synopsis The Who and Philosophy by : Rocco J. Gennaro

Download or read book The Who and Philosophy written by Rocco J. Gennaro and published by Lexington Books. This book was released on 2016-06-23 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Who were one of the most memorable and influential of the 1960s British Invasion bands—memorable because of their loudness and because they destroyed instruments during performances, and influential because of their success in crafting “Power Pop” singles like “My Generation” and “I Can See for Miles,” long-playing albums Live at Leeds and Who’s Next, and the “rock operas” Tommy and Quadrophenia. The themes that principal songwriter Pete Townshend imparted into The Who’s music drew upon the group’s mostly working-class London upbringings and early Mod audiences: frustration, angst, irony, and a youthful inclination to lash out. Like some of his rock and roll contemporaries, Townshend was also affected by religious ideas coming from India and the existential dread he felt about the possibility of nuclear war. During a career that spanned three decades, The Who gave their fans and rock critics a lot to think about. The remarkable depth and breadth of The Who’s music and their story as one of the most exciting and provocative rock bands over the last half-century are the subjects of the philosophical explorations in this collection.

The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy

Author : Dean A. Kowalski
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3031246853
Total Pages : 2127 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (312 download)

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Book Synopsis The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy by : Dean A. Kowalski

Download or read book The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy written by Dean A. Kowalski and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2024-04 with total page 2127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Much philosophical work on pop culture apologises for its use; using popular culture is a necessary evil, something merely useful for reaching the masses with important philosophical arguments. But works of pop culture are important in their own right--they shape worldviews, inspire ideas, change minds. We wouldn't baulk at a book dedicated to examining the philosophy of The Great Gatsby or 1984--why aren't Star Trek and Superman fair game as well? After all, when produced, the former were considered pop culture just as much as the latter. This will be the first major reference work to right that wrong, gathering together entries on film, television, games, graphic novels and comedy, and officially recognizing the importance of the field. It will be the go-to resource for students and researchers in philosophy, culture, media and communications, English and history and will act as a springboard to introduce the reader to the other key literature in the field.

Asian American Culture [2 volumes]

Author : Lan Dong
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 691 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis Asian American Culture [2 volumes] by : Lan Dong

Download or read book Asian American Culture [2 volumes] written by Lan Dong and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2016-03-14 with total page 691 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing comprehensive coverage of a variety of Asian American cultural forms, including folk tradition, literature, religion, education, politics, sports, and popular culture, this two-volume work is an ideal resource for students and general readers that reveals the historical, regional, and ethnic diversity within specific traditions. An invaluable reference for school and public libraries as well as academic libraries at colleges and universities, this two-volume encyclopedia provides comprehensive coverage of a variety of Asian American cultural forms that enables readers to understand the history, complexity, and contemporary practices in Asian American culture. The contributed entries address the diversity of a group comprising people with geographically discrete origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, identifying the rich variations across the category of Asian American culture that are key to understanding specific cultural expressions while also pointing out some commonalities. Entries are organized alphabetically and cover topics in the arts; education and politics; family and community; gender and sexuality; history and immigration; holidays, festivals, and folk tradition; literature and culture; media, sports, and popular culture; and religion, belief, and spirituality. Entries also broadly cover Asian American origins and history, regional practices and traditions, contemporary culture, and art and other forms of shared expression. Accompanying sidebars throughout serve to highlight key individuals, major events, and significant artifacts and allow readers to better appreciate the Asian American experience.

Jurassic Park and Philosophy

Author : Nicolas Michaud
Publisher : Open Court
ISBN 13 : 0812698509
Total Pages : 302 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (126 download)

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Book Synopsis Jurassic Park and Philosophy by : Nicolas Michaud

Download or read book Jurassic Park and Philosophy written by Nicolas Michaud and published by Open Court. This book was released on 2014-06-16 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Twenty-one philosophers join forces to investigate the implications of the Jurassic Park franchise for our lives, our values, and our future. Human beings live and thrive by modifying nature, but when do the risks of changing nature outweigh the likely benefits? If it’s true that “Life will find a way,” should we view any modified or newly reconstituted life as a hazard? The new scientific information we could gain by bringing back T. Rex or other dinosaurs is immense, including greater understanding of biology leading to immeasurable medical benefits, but should we choose to let sleeping dinosaurs lie? And if we do bring them back by reconstituting them from ancient DNA, are they really what they were, or is something missing? If life will find a way, then why isn’t the Dodo still around? How close are we, as a matter of fact, to achieving Jurassic Park? Are we really likely to see reconstituted dinosaurs or other ancient species in the near future? How do the different forces—human curiosity, profitability, and philanthropy—interact to determine what actually happens in such cases? What moral standards should be applied to those who try to bring back lost worlds? If velociraptors could talk, what would they tell us? The idea of bringing back the dead and the powerful is not limited to biological species. It also applies to bringing back old gods, old philosophies, old institutions, and old myths. If revived and once again let loose to walk the Earth, these too may turn out to be more dangerous than we bargained for.

Race in American Film [3 volumes]

Author : Daniel Bernardi
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 1149 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (161 download)

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Book Synopsis Race in American Film [3 volumes] by : Daniel Bernardi

Download or read book Race in American Film [3 volumes] written by Daniel Bernardi and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2017-07-07 with total page 1149 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This expansive three-volume set investigates racial representation in film, providing an authoritative cross-section of the most racially significant films, actors, directors, and movements in American cinematic history. Hollywood has always reflected current American cultural norms and ideas. As such, film provides a window into attitudes about race and ethnicity over the last century. This comprehensive set provides information on hundreds of films chosen based on scholarly consensus of their importance regarding the subject, examining aspects of race and ethnicity in American film through the historical context, themes, and people involved. This three-volume set highlights the most important films and artists of the era, identifying films, actors, or characterizations that were considered racist, were tremendously popular or hugely influential, attempted to be progressive, or some combination thereof. Readers will not only learn basic information about each subject but also be able to contextualize it culturally, historically, and in terms of its reception to understand what average moviegoers thought about the subject at the time of its popularity—and grasp how the subject is perceived now through the lens of history.

Critical Essays on Twin Peaks: The Return

Author : Antonio Sanna
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3030047989
Total Pages : 303 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (3 download)

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Book Synopsis Critical Essays on Twin Peaks: The Return by : Antonio Sanna

Download or read book Critical Essays on Twin Peaks: The Return written by Antonio Sanna and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-01-04 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited collection offers an interdisciplinary study of Twin Peaks: The Return, the third season of a TV program that has attracted the attention (and appreciation) of spectators, fans, and critics for over two decades. The book takes readers into several distinct areas and addresses the different approaches and the range of topics invited by the multidimensionality of the subject itself: the philosophical, the artistic, the socio-cultural, and the personal. The eighteen chapters constituting the volume are academic in their approach to the subject and in their methodology, whether they apply a historical, psychoanalytical, film studies, or gender studies perspective to the text under examination. The variety and range of perspectives in these aforementioned chapters reflect the belief that a study of the full complexity of Twin Peaks: The Return, as well as a timely assessment of the critical importance of the program, requires both an interdisciplinary perspective and the fusion of different intellectual approaches across genres. The chapters demonstrate a collective awareness of the TV series as a fundamental milestone in contemporary culture.

A Critical Companion to James Cameron

Author : Adam Barkman
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1498572316
Total Pages : 246 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (985 download)

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Book Synopsis A Critical Companion to James Cameron by : Adam Barkman

Download or read book A Critical Companion to James Cameron written by Adam Barkman and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2018-10-26 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers a comprehensive, academic and detailed study of the works of James Cameron, whose films include successful productions such as the first two Terminator films (1984-91), Aliens (1986), Titanic (1997), and Avatar (2009), but also lesser known films such as Piranha 2: The Spawning (1981), The Abyss (1989), and True Lies (1994), and a series of documentaries on the depths of the ocean or on the tomb of Christ. Cameronʼs major productions have an immense and enduring popularity throughout the globe and have attracted both public and critical attention. This volume investigates several distinct areas of Cameronʼs works and addresses the different approaches and topics invited by the multidimensionality of the subject itself: the philosophical, the artistic, the socio-cultural and the personal. The methodologies adopted by the contributors differ significantly from each other, thus offering the reader a variegated and compelling picture of Cameronʼs oeuvre. Contrary to the numerous volumes published in the past on the subject, each chapter offers specific case studies that have been previously ignored, or only partially mentioned, by other scholars.

Monstrous Children and Childish Monsters

Author : Markus P.J. Bohlmann
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 1476619867
Total Pages : 287 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (766 download)

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Book Synopsis Monstrous Children and Childish Monsters by : Markus P.J. Bohlmann

Download or read book Monstrous Children and Childish Monsters written by Markus P.J. Bohlmann and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2015-03-06 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Perhaps because of the wisdom received from our Romantic forbears about the purity of the child, depictions of children as monsters have held a tremendous fascination for film audiences for decades. Numerous social factors have influenced the popularity and longevity of the monster-child trope but its appeal is also rooted in the dual concepts of the child-like (innocent, angelic) and the childish (selfish, mischievous). This collection of fresh essays discusses the representation of monstrous children in popular cinema since the 1950s, with a focus on the relationship between monstrosity and "childness," a term whose implications the contributors explore.

New Perspectives on Detective Fiction

Author : Casey Cothran
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317435249
Total Pages : 264 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (174 download)

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Book Synopsis New Perspectives on Detective Fiction by : Casey Cothran

Download or read book New Perspectives on Detective Fiction written by Casey Cothran and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-10-14 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection establishes new perspectives on the idea of mystery, as it is enacted and encoded in the genre of detective fiction. Essays reclaim detective fiction as an object of critical inquiry, examining the ways it shapes issues of social destabilization, moral ambiguity, reader complicity, intertextuality, and metafiction. Breaking new ground by moving beyond the critical preoccupation with classification of historical types and generic determinants, contributors examine the effect of mystery on literary forms and on readers, who experience the provocative, complex process of coming to grips with the unknown and the unknowable. This volume opens up discussion on publically acclaimed, modern works of mystery and on classic pieces, addressing a variety of forms including novels, plays, graphic novels, television series, films, and ipad games. Re-examining the interpretive potential of a genre that seems easily defined yet has endless permutations, the book closely analyzes the cultural function of mystery, the way it intervenes in social and political problems, as well as the literary properties that give the genre its particular shape. The volume treats various texts as meaningful subjects for critical analysis and sheds new light on the interpretive potential for a genre that creates as much ambiguity as it does clarity. Scholars of mystery and detective fiction, crime fiction, genre studies, and cultural studies will find this volume invaluable.

A Critical Companion to Tim Burton

Author : Adam Barkman
Publisher : Lexington Books
ISBN 13 : 1498552730
Total Pages : 279 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (985 download)

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Book Synopsis A Critical Companion to Tim Burton by : Adam Barkman

Download or read book A Critical Companion to Tim Burton written by Adam Barkman and published by Lexington Books. This book was released on 2017-10-16 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unlike anything currently available, A Critical Companion to Tim Burton is a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of all the works of one of the world's most renowned directors and artists. Written by some of the top scholars working in fields as diverse as philosophy, film and media studies, and literature, all chapters of this book illuminate for both scholars and fans alike the entire artistic career of Burton, giving attention to both his early works and his global blockbusters.

Blade Runner 2049 and Philosophy

Author : Robin Bunce
Publisher : Open Court Publishing
ISBN 13 : 0812694759
Total Pages : 243 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (126 download)

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Book Synopsis Blade Runner 2049 and Philosophy by : Robin Bunce

Download or read book Blade Runner 2049 and Philosophy written by Robin Bunce and published by Open Court Publishing. This book was released on 2019-08-20 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Blade Runner 2049 is a 2017 sequel to the 1982 movie Blade Runner, about a world in which some human-looking replicants have become dangerous, so that other human-looking replicants, as well as humans, have the job of hunting down the dangerous models and “retiring” (destroying) them. Both films have been widely hailed as among the greatest science-fiction movies of all time, and Ridley Scott, director of the original Blade Runner, has announced that there will be a third Blade Runner movie. Blade Runner 2049 and Philosophy is a collection of entertaining articles on both Blade Runner movies (and on the spin-off short films and Blade Runner novels) by twenty philosophers representing diverse backgrounds and philosophical perspectives. Among the issues addressed in the book: What does Blade Runner 2049 tell us about the interactions of state power and corporate power? Can machines ever become truly conscious, or will they always lack some essential human qualities? The most popular theory of personhood says that a person is defined by their memories, so what happens when memories can be manufactured and inserted at will? We already interact with non-human decision-makers via the Internet. When embodied AI becomes reality, how can we know what is human and what is simulation? Does it matter? Do AI-endowed human-looking replicants have civil and political rights, or can they be destroyed whenever “real” humans decide they are inconvenient? The blade runner Deckard (Harrison Ford) appears in both movies, and is generally assumed to be human, but some claim he may be a replicant. What’s the evidence on both sides? Is Niander Wallace (the-mad-scientist-cum-evil-corporate-CEO in Blade Runner 2049) himself a replicant? What motivates him? What are the impacts of decision-making AI entities on the world of business? Both Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 have been praised for their hauntingly beautiful depictions of a bleak future, but the two futures are very different (and the 2019 future imagined in the original Blade Runner is considerably different from the actual world of 2019). How have our expectations and visions of the future changed between the two movies? The “dream maker” character Ana Stelline in Blade Runner 2049 has a small but pivotal role. What are the implications of a person whose dedicated mission and task is to invent and install false memories? What are the social and psychological implications of human-AI sexual relations?

Heaven and the Popular Imagination

Author : T. M. Allen
Publisher : Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1498243142
Total Pages : 249 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (982 download)

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Book Synopsis Heaven and the Popular Imagination by : T. M. Allen

Download or read book Heaven and the Popular Imagination written by T. M. Allen and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2018-11-15 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Popular culture continues to search the depths of the poetic imagination concerning heaven. It seems to be a constant theme in literature, film, and music, spanning genres throughout the Western world. Yet, some contemporary scholars suggest that all of these narratives are somewhat misguided and remain, at best, only partial constructions of a proper eschatology. The creative imagination in popular culture, especially in relation to the arts has often carried a less-than-trustworthy role in theology and philosophy. Heaven and the Popular Imagination analyzes a number of approaches within the theology of culture conversation to suggest that a hermeneutic of popular imagery can open up new horizons for understanding and challenging the role heaven plays in Christian theology. From ancient literature to popular music and films, heaven is part of the framework of our ecumenical imagining about beginnings and endings. Such a hermeneutic must encompass an interdisciplinary approach to theology.

Science Fiction, Ethics and the Human Condition

Author : Christian Baron
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 331956577X
Total Pages : 244 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (195 download)

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Book Synopsis Science Fiction, Ethics and the Human Condition by : Christian Baron

Download or read book Science Fiction, Ethics and the Human Condition written by Christian Baron and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-07-10 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores what science fiction can tell us about the human condition in a technological world, with the ethical dilemmas and consequences that this entails. This book is the result of the joint efforts of scholars and scientists from various disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach sets an example for those who, like us, have been busy assessing the ways in which fictional attempts to fathom the possibilities of science and technology speak to central concerns about what it means to be human in a contemporary world of technology and which ethical dilemmas it brings along. One of the aims of this book is to demonstrate what can be achieved in approaching science fiction as a kind of imaginary laboratory for experimentation, where visions of human (or even post-human) life under various scientific, technological or natural conditions that differ from our own situation can be thought through and commented upon. Although a scholarly work, this book is also designed to be accessible to a general audience that has an interest in science fiction, as well as to a broader academic audience interested in ethical questions.

1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think

Author : Robert Arp
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1667201743
Total Pages : 960 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (672 download)

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Book Synopsis 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think by : Robert Arp

Download or read book 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think written by Robert Arp and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2022-06-07 with total page 960 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Trace the progress of humanity—from prehistoric times to the present day—through 1,001 ideas that changed how we connect to each other and the world around us. From the ability to control fire to augmented reality, the power of humanity’s ideas has revolutionized how we live and experience the world around us. 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think looks at the innovations and concepts that have played a key role in our progress since before recorded history. Covering a wide range of topics—from political and religious ideas to modern innovations such as social media and clean energy—this captivating volume offers a comprehensive look at how human ideas have evolved over the millennia.

Alien and Philosophy

Author : Jeffrey A. Ewing
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 1119280850
Total Pages : 243 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (192 download)

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Book Synopsis Alien and Philosophy by : Jeffrey A. Ewing

Download or read book Alien and Philosophy written by Jeffrey A. Ewing and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2017-03-27 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alien and Philosophy: I Infest, Therefore I Am presents a philosophical exploration of the world of Alien, the simultaneously horrifying and thought-provoking sci-fi horror masterpiece, and the film franchise it spawned. The first book dedicated to exploring the philosophy raised by one of the most successful and influential sci-fi franchises of modern times Features contributions from an acclaimed team of scholars of philosophy and pop culture, led by highly experienced volume editors Explores a huge range of topics that include the philosophy of fear, Just Wars, bio-weaponry, feminism and matriarchs, perfect killers, contagion, violation, employee rights and Artificial Intelligence Includes coverage of H.R. Giger’s aesthetics, the literary influences of H.P. Lovecraft, sci-fi and the legacy of Vietnam, and much more!