Description
Book SynopsisVeronica Mars and Philosophy explores the philosophical issues that underpin this critically acclaimed neo-noir detective series featuring the crime-solving exploits of its title character, the smart and savvy teenage gumshoe Veronica Mars.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments x
Introduction: The PI and the Philosophers 1
Part I Veronica Mars Is Rich Dude Kryptonite: Investigating Politics and the Social Order 5
1 Getting Past the Velvet Ropes: Status Anxiety in Neptune 7
William Irwin
2 “That’s Really Criminal of You”: Why It May Be Okay for Veronica Mars to Break the Law 19
Paul Hammond
3 “Got Any Enemies You Know About?” … “Well, There’s the Klan”: Race, Rancor, and Riches in Neptune, California 32
Rejena Saulsberry
Part II Veronica Mars Is a Triple Threat—Girl, Teenager, and Private Detective: Investigating the World of noir 45
4 Breaking Bad in Neptune: How “Cool Guys” Become Psychopaths 47
George A. Dunn
5 Noir Neptune: Genre and Gender Bending in Veronica Mars 61
Daniel Wack
6 “Don’t Forget about Me, Veronica”: Time, Memory, and Mystery in Veronica Mars 72
Paul Hammond
Part III Veronica Mars Doesn’t Hang with the Evil and Morally Bankrupt: Investigating Vice and Virtue 81
7 “I’m Old School, an Eye for an Eye”: Veronica and Vengeance 83
George A. Dunn
8 “We Used to be Friends”: An Aristotelian Analysis of Veronica’s Friendships 96
Catlyn Origitano
9 Does Veronica Trust Anyone? 109
Jon Robson
Part IV Veronica Mars Is No Longer That Girl: Investigating Women in Society 123
10 Veronica’s Trip to the Dentist: Don’t Blame the Victim 125
James Rocha and Mona Rocha
11 “Grow a Sense of Humor, You Crazy Bitch”: Veronica Mars as a Feminist Icon 136
Kasey Butcher and Megan M. Peters
12 On Not Being a Slut (Even When Everyone Thinks You Are) 147
Jordan Pascoe
Part V Veronica Mars Is Smarter Than Me: Investigating How and Why We Investigate 157
13 “I Used to Think that Solving the Case Was the Key to Our Happiness”: The Value of Truth in Veronica Mars 159
Dereck Coatney
14 “Have You Ever Heard of Occam’s Razor?” Veronica’s Use of Inductive Reasoning 170
Andrew Zimmerman Jones
15 “Not Pictured”: What Veronica Knew but Didn’t See 184
Daniel A. Wilkenfeld
Part VI Veronica Mars Is a Marshmallow: Investigating Veronica’s Quest for Identity 199
16 Veronica Mars—She’s a Marshmallow 201
James B. South
Notes on Contributors: Under Investigation 215
Index 219
