superheroes and philosophy

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goldenboy

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Feb 17, 2005
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Just wanted to share. Some of you folks have read the Buffy and Philosophy book I assume. I haven't. But I just started the latest in the series, Superheroes and Philosophy. It's got tons of good stuff. I'm about a third of the way through. Talks about myth, memes, archetypes, morality, comic book revisionism, vigilantism, relationships. The one about Daredevil and Catholicism is really interesting. And there's one that comes up on these boards once in awhile: power and responsibility. I think almost every essay can relate to Buffy/Angel in a pretty direct way:


SUPERHEROES AND PHILOSOPHY

The chapters of the book are:

Part One: The Image of the Superhero

1. The Real Truth about Superman: And the Rest of Us, Too
MARK WAID

2. Heroes and Superheroes
JEPH LOEB AND TOM MORRIS

3. The Crimson Viper vs. The Maniacal Morphing Meme
DENNIS O'NEIL

4. Superhero Revisionism in Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns
AEON SKOBLE

Part Two: The Existential World of the Superhero

5. God, the Devil, and Matt Murdock
TOM MORRIS

6. The Power and the Glory
CHARLES TALIAFERRO AND CRAIG LINDAHL-URBEN

7. Myth, Morality, and the Women of the X-Men
REBECCA HOUSEL

8. Batgirl and Moral Perfectionism
JAMES SOUTH

9. Batman and Friends: Aristotle and The Dark Knight's Inner Circle
MATT MORRIS

10. The Fantastic Four as a Family
CHRIS RYALL AND SCOTT TIPTON

11. Comic-Book Wisdom
MIKE THAU

Part Three: Superheroes and Moral Duty

12. Why Are Superheroes Good? Comics and The Ring of Gyges.
JEFF BRENZEL

13. Why Should Superheroes Be Good? Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Kierkegaard's "Double Danger"
C. STEPHEN EVANS

14. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: On the Moral Duties of the Super-Powerful and the Super-Heroic.
CHRISTOPHER ROBICHAUD

15. Why Be a Superhero? Why Be Moral?
C. STEPHEN LAYMAN

16. Superman and Kingdom Come: The Surprise of Philosophical Theology
PHILIP TALLON AND JERRY WALLS

Part Four: Identity and Superhero Metaphysics

17. Who Exactly Is the Hulk? Transformation and Personal Identity
KEVIN KINGHORN

18. Identity Crisis: Time Travel and Metaphysics in the DC Multiverse
RICHARD HANLEY

19. What's Behind the Mask? The Secret of Secret Identities
TOM MORRIS


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-9155681-5586313?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
 
Well this is in Inside Out, so I assume you're interested in philosophy such as appears in that book, as it applies to B/A.

I haven't read that book so I can't really comment on it, but there's this site that deals specifically with Buffy and philosophy. I forget where it is, but I know it's often linked to. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
 
Hmm. That site sounds interesting. Hope someone knows the address. Seems like it would be a more daunting task to analyze the 'verse in philosophical terms than your average superhero because Joss was trying to be intentionally non-committal in a way. Things are left complex, unresolved (though the protagonists seem to resolve ideas about morality, purpose to their own satisfaction by the end). Plus, there are all the supernatural, metaphysical mysteries left unanswered. Lots of comics don't even bring that kinda stuff up.

On the other hand, seems like most mainstream comics have become more complex since the 80's revisionism. Lots of room for analysis all around.
 
Well here's one called All Things Philosophical on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I'm not sure it's the one I thinking of, unless they changed the look of it. That one was one big red and white page with links to essays.

http://www.atpobtvs.com/

Edit:

Oh yeah, that's the one. I just went back and scanned. It's the site that had that essay I linked you to once before about Illyria, and Postmodernism.
 
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