Description
Book SynopsisAs Deep as It Gets: Movies and Metaphysics is a witty and light-hearted introduction to philosophy through a deep study of some well-known movies and TV shows: Pulp Fiction, South Park, The Princess Bride, The Wizard of Oz, Super 8, The Twilight Zone, House of Cards, Inception, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, His Dark Materials, Sergio Leone’s westerns, and Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat.
All the major branches of philosophy are covered, including aesthetics, political philosophy, metaphysics, and the theory of knowledge. The author’s approach is “Continental,” with some American idealism and process philosophy in support. The emphasis is on the primacy of time as a key to interpreting human experience. In that regard, existentialism, phenomenology, and process philosophy are better guides to thinking about time than the more popular approaches that depend on language analysis.
Professor Randall E. Auxier says: “Philosophizing involves telling stories about life that are art, and making up stories that aren’t life but provide a contrast to it. I want readers to add to what I see, and to take up interpretations contrary to mine. A healthy discussion is good for everybody.”
Trade Review"As Deep As It Gets is as good as it gets. Few find the philosophy in movies and television as well as Randy Auxier does, and even fewer do it in such a delightful way. These essays are loads of fun, and per-fect for the classroom. Hell, even movie critics are likely to enjoy this fine read!"
-RICHARD GREENE, author of Spoiler Alert! (It's A Book About the Philosophy of Spoilers) (2019)
"Reading As Deep As It Gets is like having a brunch conversation with your favorite cool professor, always engaging and never pedantic. Whether you're looking for Hitchcock or Heidigger, Plato's Forms or
The Princess Bride,
Auxier's personal twilight zones are sure to both edify and amuse."
-MEGAN VOLPERT, co-editor of Ru Paul's Drag Race and Philosophy: Sissy That Thought (2020)
"In our media culture where people tend to prefer watching to reading, movies have become a beloved focus for discussions about what matters in life. In this refreshingly honest and invitingly accessible book,
Randy Auxier demonstrates his love of watching and discussing movies in a way that radiates contagion and philosophical interest."
-RICHARD SHUSTERMAN, author of Philosophy and the Art of Writing (2022)
"As Deep As It Gets: Movies and Metaphysics belongs not just in media studies libraries and classrooms, but in collections strong in modern philosophy, using popular current movies and TV shows to explore philosophical insights. Auxier's discussion of movies goes beyond plot and character outlines to consider the deeper meanings and inspections in essays which go beyond education to invite discussion and debate. From political metaphors in movies to enlightening surveys of ethics, religion, and connections between modern media and ancient philosophers, Auxier draws seemingly disparate subjects together in a moving survey that is surprisingly lively for its title and subject. This will make As Deep As It Gets attractive to much more than a singular audience of modern-day philosophy students."
-The Bookwatch: September 2022: Midwest Book Review
Table of ContentsNote to the Reader iv
From the Alamo Draft House to the Livingroom
Couch (Or There and Back Again) xiii
Part I Rated G: General Audiences 1
1. I Know Something You Don’t Know-THE PRINCESS BRIDE 3
2. Lions and Tigers and Bears-SCARY STUFF IN THE WIZARD OF OZ 17
3. The Monster and the Mensch-A CHILD’S EYE VIEW OF SUPER 8 37
4. Chef, Socrates, and the Sage of Love-FINDING LOVE IN SOUTH PARK 59
5. Killing Kenny-DEATH THERAPY IN SOUTH PARK 77
Part II Rated PG: Parental Guidance Suggested 89
6. The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful-SERGIO LEONE’S ANIMALS, ACTORS, AND AESTHETICS 91
7. Democracy Adrift-HITCHCOCK’S LIFEBOAT 109
8. Cuts Like a Knife-CUTTING TO THE CORE OF HIS DARK MATERIALS 125
9. Mrs. Coulter—Overwoman?-HER DARK MATERIALS 153
Part III Rated R: Restricted Audiences Only 179
10. A Very Naughty Boy-GETTING RIGHT WITH BRIAN AND MONTY PYTHON 181
11. Have You No Decency?-CLAIRE, FRANK, AND THEIR HOUSE OF CARDS 199
12. Vinnie’s Very Bad Day-TWISTING THE TALE OF TIME IN PULP FICTION 221
13. Once upon a Time-INCEPTION 241
14. Dream Time-INCEPTION 263
Part IV Director’s Cut 289
15. To Serve Man-A Visit to The Twilight Zone 291
Bibliography 315
Suggestions for Reading 319
Index 327
