30 Rock and Philosophy: We Want to Go to There

by J. Jeremy Wisnewski, William Irwin (Editor)

Overview

A fascinating exploration of the philosophy behind NBC’s hit TV series, 30 Rock

With edgy writing and a great cast, 30 Rock is one of the funniest television shows on the air—and where hilarity ensues, philosophical questions abound: Are Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy ethical heroes? Kenneth redefines "goody two shoes", but what does it really mean to be good? Dr. Leo Spaceman routinely demonstrates that medicine is not a science, so what is the role of the incompetent professional in America today?

In 30 Rock and Philosophy, Tina Fey and her fellow cast members are thrust onto the philosophical stage with Plato, Aristotle, Kantand other great thinkers to examine these key questions and many others that involve the characters and plotlines of 30 Rock and its fictional TGS with Tracy Jordan comedy show.

• Takes an entertaining, up-close look at the philosophical issues behind 30 Rock's characters and storylines, from post-feminist ideals to workaholism and the meaning of life
• Equips you with a new understanding of Liz Lemon, Jack Donaghy, Tracy Jordan, Jenna Maroney, Dr. Spaceman, and other characters
• Gives you deep and meaningful new reasons (who knew?) for watching Tina Fey and your other favorites on 30 Rock

Ideal for both casual and diehard fans, this book is the essential companion for every 30 Rock­-watcher.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470632857
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	06/24/2010
Series:	Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series , #19
Sold by:	JOHN WILEY & SONS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	509 KB

About the Author

J. JEREMY WISNEWSKI is an associate professor of philosophy at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. He coedited X-Men and Philosophy and Twilight and Philosophy and edited Family Guy and Philosophy and The Office and Philosophy.

WILLIAM IRWIN is a professor of philosophy at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestselling The Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles including Batman and Philosophy, House and Philosophy, and Mad Men and Philosophy.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments: Thanks for Helping Us Go to There ix

Introduction: Platonic Fantasies and Tina Fey-losophy 1

Part 1 What Would Oprah Do?: Ethics and the Good Life at 30 Rock

1 Being Kenneth: Some Moral Lessons P. Sue Dohnimm 7

2 Sour Lemon: Liz's Workaholism and the Meaning of Life Jeffrey A. Hinzmann 16

3 Friendship on 30 Rock: What a Greek Philosopher Can Teach Us about Companionship Dan Yim 28

4 A Confucian-Aristotelian Critique of 30 Rock's "Semi-Virtuous path" Adam Barkman 43

Part 2 The Girlie Show: Gender, Race, and Sexual Orientation at 30 Rock

5 Race at the Rock: Race Cards, White Myths, and Postracial America J. Jeremy Wisnewski 57

6 Getting Gay: How 30 Rock Helps Us Understand Sexuality J. Jeremy Wisnewski 75

7 And the Followship Award Goes to ... Third-Wave Feminism? Ashley Barkman 89

Part 3 Dealbreaker!: Corporations, Professions, and Politics

8 Medicine's Not a Science: Dr. Leo Spaceman and the Role of the Incompetent Professional in Today's America Kevin S. Decker 101

9 Is There a Difference between East Coast Television and Microwave Ovens?: Moral Questions about Corporate Management Andrew Terjesen 114

10 The Emancipation Corporation: Loving and Loathing the Shinehardt Wigs of the World Nicolas Michaud 130

11 Liz and Jack Can't Be Friends!: Communitarianism, Libertarianism, and Politics at 30 Rock Nicolas Michaud 138

Part 4 Mind Grapes (To Nourish Your Thinking)

12 "The Bubble," the Cave, and Samsara: Being Deluded at 30 Rock Adam Barkman 149

13 Of Cookie Jars and CEOs: Time and Self on 30 Rock Tyler Shores 161

14 One City's Cheese-Curl Addict Is Another City's Model: A Question of Taste Michael Da Silva Melina Found 174

15 "I'm Straight-Up Mentally Ill": Tracy Jordan and True, Justified Belief Robert Arp 186

16 Performing at 30 Rock (and Everywhere Else) Marc E. Shaw 195

Appendix 1 Frank's Hat Store 209

Appendix 2 The Wisdom of the Page: Meet Kenneth Ellen Parcell 211

Contributors: Cast Members of 30 Rock and Philosophy 217

Index: Shinehardt Wig Company Filing System 221

Editorial Reviews

Philosophically seen, the characters in NBC?s award-winning 30 Rock reside in separate universes: Jack Donaghy believes only "in things I can buy and deregulate"; workaholic Liz Lemon wants it all: job, love, and community spirit; Jenna Maroney casts herself as a 24-hour-a-day mega-star; Tracy Jordan requires a full entourage to support his delusions; and Kenneth the page loves only two things in this world: everybody and television. This brave new addition to Irwin's Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series places these wildly disparate characters under scrutiny that will increase your wisdom and deepen your comedy repertoire.