HUM 340Philosophy and Popular Culture

This course is designed to teach students that there is more to philosophy than the study of dusty, old philosophical texts. Philosophy is about life—about living an examined life and adopting a critical, reflective stance toward one’s social and cultural environment. Rather than simply learn about philosophy and philosophers, in this class students will learn to think philosophically themselves by reflecting on the ideas that exist within familiar forms of contemporary culture, including films, television, music, art and politics. Students will read contemporary thinkers writing about the philosophy behind recent films, rap music and hip-hop culture, MTV and the cult of personality, pop art and the leveling of the divide between mass culture and avant-garde art, and the role of today’s youth in politics. After reading contemporary articles on each of these topics, students will view or listen to the films or music or art and undertake reflections of their own.