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Difference between revisions of "The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer"

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'''''The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer''''' is a book analyzing the philosophy and popular culture effects of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', published by Open Court. The title is a satirical allusion to the Chinese philosphical work, the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu. The book is edited by William Irwin, Mark T. Conard and Aeon J. Skoble, each of whom also wrote one of the eighteen essays in the book.<ref name="irwin">{{cite book
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{{Icons|RW}}
| last = Irwin | first = William (editor) | authorlink = | coauthors = Mark Conard, Aeon Skoble (co editors) | title = The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer | publisher = Blackwell Publishing (The Blackwell Philosophy & Pop Culture Series) | date = [[February 28]], [[2001]] | location = | pages =  | url = | doi = | id =  ISBN 0812694333}}</ref>
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'''''The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer''''' is a book analyzing the philosophy and popular culture effects of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', published by {{W|Open Court Publishing Company}}. The title is a satirical allusion to the Chinese philosophical work, the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu. The book is edited by William Irwin, Mark T. Conard and Aeon J. Skoble, each of whom also wrote one of the eighteen essays in the book.
  
The book was released on February 28, 2001, as the second volume of Open Court Publishing's Popular Culture and Philosophy series, which currently includes thirty-three books.<ref name="officialsite">[http://www.opencourtbooks.com/categories/pcp.htm "Popular Culture and Philosophy series"] www.opencourtbooks.com. Retrieved on November 28, 2007</ref> The book has gone on to be extremely successful, both in sales and critically, and is also used as a main text in various universities with philosophy courses.
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The book was released on February 28, [[2001]], as the second volume of Open Court Publishing's Popular Culture and Philosophy series, which currently includes thirty-three books.<ref name="officialsite">[http://www.opencourtbooks.com/categories/pcp.htm "Popular Culture and Philosophy series"] www.opencourtbooks.com. Retrieved on November 28, [[2007]]</ref> The book has gone on to be extremely successful, both in sales and critically, and is also used as a main text in various universities with philosophy courses.
  
 
== Contents ==
 
== Contents ==
The book includes contributions from eighteen academics in the field of philosophy. Topics included are comparisons of the characters in the show, such as [[Homer Simpson]] and Aristotle, or [[Bart Simpson]] and Nietzsche.<ref name="booklist">{{cite journal  | last =Green  | first =John  | title = The Simpsons and Philosophy: the D'oh of Homer. Review | journal =Booklist | volume =97 | issue =16 | pages = Page 1524 | publisher =American Library Association | date =April 15, 2001  | url =http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0812694333  | accessdate = 2007-11-28}}</ref>  The book brings up topics such as why Homer's appeal is universal by arguing that he speaks to fundamental conflicts about what gives human pleasure.<ref>{{cite news  | last =Burkeman  | first =Oliver  | coauthors =  | title =Weekend: EMBIGGENING THE SMALLEST MAN: There are few places on the planet where the influence of five bright yellow, boggle-eyed residents of Springfield has yet to be felt, and there will be fewer still with the long-awaited arrival of the first Simpsons movie  | work =The Guardian  | pages =Page 22  | language =  | publisher =Guardian Newspapers Limited  | date =June 30, 2007  | url =  | accessdate =  }}</ref> 
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The book includes contributions from eighteen academics in the field of philosophy. Topics included are comparisons of the characters in the show, such as [[Homer Simpson]] and Aristotle, or [[Bart Simpson]] and Nietzsche.
  
Other topics include the manner in which the show makes philosophical statements, and its opinions on sexuality in politics.<ref name="weekly">{{cite journal  | last =Staff | title =The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer, Review  | journal =[[Publishers Weekly]]  | volume =248  | issue =11  | pages =Page 72  | publisher =Cahners Business Information, Inc.  | date =[[March 12]], [[2001]]  | url =http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0812694333  | accessdate = 2007-11-28}}</ref>  Religion is also discussed in the book, such as the guilt Homer feels for not going to church, or [[Ned Flanders]] experiencing tragedies, despite following the Bible closely.<ref>{{cite news  | last =Justin  | first =Neal  | coauthors =  | title =Homer's odyssey; Can an 18-year-old sitcom still pack enough punch to be successful on the big screen? Doh!  | work =Star Tribune  | pages =Page 01F  | language =  | publisher =  | date =May 20, 2007 | url =  | accessdate =  }}</ref>
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Other topics include the manner in which the show makes philosophical statements, and its opinions on sexuality in politics. Religion is also discussed in the book, such as the guilt Homer feels for not going to church, or [[Ned Flanders]] experiencing tragedies, despite following the Bible closely.
  
==Reception==
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== Reception ==
The book was highly successful, selling over 203,000 copies, making it the best selling book in the Open Court Publishing's Popular Culture and Philosophy series.<ref name ="booklist">{{cite news  | last =Bernstein  | first =David  | coauthors =  | title = Philosophy Hitches a Ride With 'The Sopranos'  | work =The New York Times  | pages =  | language =  | publisher =The New York Times Company  | date =April 13, 2004  | url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E3DC1E38F930A25757C0A9629C8B63  | accessdate = 2007-11-28 }}</ref>  The book was also critically successful, highlighting the philosophical themes that the book was able to make with ''The Simpsons''<ref>{{cite news  | last =Logerfo  | first =Laura  | coauthors =  | title =Author mixes Simpsons, Brecht
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The book was highly successful, selling over 203,000 copies, making it the best selling book in the Open Court Publishing's Popular Culture and Philosophy series. such as ''Booklist'', who wrote, "[...]these pieces make erudite concepts accessible by viewing things through the lens of a great cartoon series," or ''Publishers Weekly'' who wrote, "Fans of The Simpsons are certain to find this book to be the perfect rebuttal for those who dismiss the show as a no-brainer."
  | work =The Michigan Daily  | pages =  | language =  | publisher =University of Michigan  | date = October 26, 2001  | url =http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2001/10/26/Arts/Author.Mixes.Simpsons.Brecht-1406674.shtml?sourcedomain=www.michigandaily.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
 
| accessdate = 2007-11-28 }}</ref>, such as ''Booklist'', who wrote, "[...]these pieces make erudite concepts accessible by viewing things through the lens of a great cartoon series,"<ref name="booklist"/> or ''Publishers Weekly'' who wrote, "Fans of The Simpsons are certain to find this book to be the perfect rebuttal for those who dismiss the show as a no-brainer."<ref name="weekly"/>
 
  
The book has been used as an aid in many universities to help teach philosophy, with some having the book as the main text book for the course.<ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | first = | coauthors = | title ='Simpsons' Philosophy Prof Turns 'Toon Raider | work =New York Post | pages =Page 09 | language = | publisher = | date =December 17, 2001 | url = | accessdate = }}</ref><ref name="sienaheights">{{cite news  | last =Staff  | first =  | coauthors =  | title =D'oh! University offers 'Simpsons' studies  | work =[[Associated Press]]  | pages =  | language =  | publisher =  | date =December 15 2001  | url =http://www.snpp.com/other/articles/simpsonsstudies.html  | accessdate =  2007-11-28}}</ref><ref name="guardian">{{cite news  | last =Burkeman  | first =Oliver  | coauthors =  | title =Homer's last stand  | work =The Guardian  | pages =  | language =  | publisher =Guardian News and Media Limited  | date =May 1, 2002  | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/may/01/broadcasting.comment  | accessdate = 2007-11-28 }}</ref>  The book has been praised for being able to make connections to philosophical studies and to youth, by using popular culture<ref>{{cite news  | last =Staff  | first =  | coauthors =  | title =Books ponder the world according to Homer and Jerry  | work =[[St. Petersburg Times]]  | pages =Page 7D  | language =  | publisher =  | date =[[September 17]], [[2001]]  | url =  | accessdate =  }}</ref>.  The professors who use the book as the main text say the book "helps draw people to philosophy."<ref>{{cite news  | last =  | first =  | coauthors =  | title =Bart joins Homer on philosophy course  | work =[[The News Letter]]  | pages =Page 3  | language =  | publisher =  | date =[[December 18]], [[2001]]  | url =  | accessdate =  }}</ref>  At the University of California, Berkeley, a class titled "Simpsons and Philosophy" is devoted entirely to the show and philosophy.<ref name="berkeley">{{cite news  | last =McManis  | first =Sam  | coauthors =  | title =Homer's odyssey: Berkeley course uses 'The Simpsons' to discuss philosophy  | work =[[San Francisco Chronicle]]  | pages =  | language =  | publisher =Hearst Newspapers  | date =[[March 16]], [[2003]]  | url =http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/03/16/LV242838.DTL  | accessdate =  2007-11-28}}</ref>
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The book has been used as an aid in many universities to help teach philosophy, with some having the book as the main text book for the course.
  
==See also==
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== References ==
*[[List of The Simpsons publications]]
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{{Reflist}}
*'' [[The World According to The Simpsons: What Our Favorite TV Family Says About Life, Love, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Donut]]''
 
*''[[Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation]]''
 
*''[[The Psychology of The Simpsons]]''
 
  
==References==
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{{Real world books|other=yes}}
<references/>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpsons and Philosophy, the D'oh! of Homer}}
  
[[Category:Books]]
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[[Category:2001]]

Latest revision as of 11:48, April 14, 2024


The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D'oh! of Homer is a book analyzing the philosophy and popular culture effects of The Simpsons, published by Open Court Publishing Company. The title is a satirical allusion to the Chinese philosophical work, the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu. The book is edited by William Irwin, Mark T. Conard and Aeon J. Skoble, each of whom also wrote one of the eighteen essays in the book.

The book was released on February 28, 2001, as the second volume of Open Court Publishing's Popular Culture and Philosophy series, which currently includes thirty-three books.[1] The book has gone on to be extremely successful, both in sales and critically, and is also used as a main text in various universities with philosophy courses.

Contents[edit]

The book includes contributions from eighteen academics in the field of philosophy. Topics included are comparisons of the characters in the show, such as Homer Simpson and Aristotle, or Bart Simpson and Nietzsche.

Other topics include the manner in which the show makes philosophical statements, and its opinions on sexuality in politics. Religion is also discussed in the book, such as the guilt Homer feels for not going to church, or Ned Flanders experiencing tragedies, despite following the Bible closely.

Reception[edit]

The book was highly successful, selling over 203,000 copies, making it the best selling book in the Open Court Publishing's Popular Culture and Philosophy series. such as Booklist, who wrote, "[...]these pieces make erudite concepts accessible by viewing things through the lens of a great cartoon series," or Publishers Weekly who wrote, "Fans of The Simpsons are certain to find this book to be the perfect rebuttal for those who dismiss the show as a no-brainer."

The book has been used as an aid in many universities to help teach philosophy, with some having the book as the main text book for the course.

References[edit]

  1. "Popular Culture and Philosophy series" www.opencourtbooks.com. Retrieved on November 28, 2007