THERE seems to be a new trend coming to your local bookstore. Somewhere in the corner behind the "New Age Medicine" section and next to all those boring reference books about tax codes lies the philosophy section. Usually, one will find a bearded academic sifting through this morass of "light reading" in order to do research for a thesis or any other high-minded intellectual pursuit. Lately, however, you might be surprised to find a younger audience in this section.
We have seen the advent of several book series that try and mix philosophy with certain strains of pop culture. The topics of these books delve into the philosophical foundations behind popular television, music, movies and even sports. As a result, the once impenetrable subject of philosophy, with its confusing jargon and often convoluted reasoning, is made slightly more accessible by relating complicated theory to well-known contemporary culture. Students having difficulty with the more labyrinthine strains of thought endemic in philosophy should try and see whether this approach to the subject can aid them in their understanding.
The great philosopher, Mary Poppins, once said, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." In other words, sometimes difficult subjects are made easier to understand by mixing them with more familiar material. Philosophy is a complex course of study, which, like others, is full of complicated parlance and includes writers whose works are apparently meant to be understood solely by them and their followers. Many argue that philosophy is an inapplicable subject matter that deals with topics that are impractical and have no relevance in the "real world."
Unfortunately, this view tends to ignore the fact that philosophy deals with the fundamental character of government and human society. Morevoer, the analytical thought processes required to master the subject are incredibly useful beyond academia. With its various forms of reasoning and often confounding logic, mastery of complex philosophical topics can be a great boon to anyone pursuing a career in law, politics or teaching. Due to the inaccessibility of the subject, however, many disregard the discipline wholesale.
To combat this, many publishers have mixed these complex ideas with topics to which people can easily relate. A book on the philosophy of Batman will hold the reader's interest while examining such topics as the duality of human nature (i.e., secret identities) and various topics on the morality of superheroes as a literary concept in general. Fans of music will find a bevy of philosophical insight into common musical themes present in the works of their favorite bands. Through this method of learning, one can see the intricate works of men such as Nietzsche and Kant examined through the lens of pop culture. This will have the dual effects of holding the reader's interest and presenting the philosophical content in such a way that it is absorbed and understood easily.
By studying philosophy in this manner, we also may be able to gain a better appreciation of our favorite pop culture pastimes. We might consider ourselves fans of certain types of media, but learning some of the fundamental philosophical concepts behind the development of a favorite character or movie might give us a better understanding of why we enjoy and relate to them. Such analysis might also convince us that we are not succumbing to the cultural and intellectual decay that many critics assign to this generation. Though some of our entertainment choices may come off as corporate money-grabs, it would be surprising to know that the characters and shows that many deem as flat or uninteresting actually have complex philosophical foundation to them. One can see this in the analysis of superheroes, pop bands and even cartoon characters where analysis of the appeal of absurdist humor abounds. While publishing companies most likely stand to make a handsome profit from producing this type of literature, that should not cheapen the benefits these works may impart. Though they often deal with "lighter" fare, the philosophical critiques presented are genuine and produced by authorities in academia who not only have an intricate knowledge of philosophy, but also show an obvious love for the source material being analyzed.
Overall, we should not be too critical of philosophy as a course of study merely because it can be convoluted at times. A clear presentation of philosophical principles cloaked in contemporary pop culture can go far in assuring that students both absorb the content and adopt the similar practices of analytical reasoning evident in many of the works.
Pietro Sanitate's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at p.sanitate@cavalierdaily.com.
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