David Bowie and Philosophy: Rebel Rebel

by Theodore G. Ammon (Editor)

Overview

The philosophically rich David Bowie is an artist of wide and continuing influence. The theatrical antics of Bowie ushered in a new rock aesthetic, but there is much more to Bowie than mere spectacle. The visual belies the increasing depths of his concerns, even at his lowest personal moments. We never know what lies in store in a Bowie song, for there is no point in his nearly 30 albums at which one can say, “That’s typical Bowie!” Who else has combined techno and hard rock, switched to R&B love songs (with accompanying gospel) to funk to jazz-rock fusion and back again?

Among the topics explored in David Bowie and Philosophy are the nature of Bowie as an institution and a cult; Bowie’s work in many platforms, including movies and TV; Bowie’s spanning of low and high art; his relation to Andy Warhol; the influence of Buddhism and Kabuki theater; the recurring theme of Bowie as a space alien; the dystopian element in Bowie’s thinking; the role of fashion in Bowie’s creativity; the aesthetics of theatrical rock and glam rock; and Bowie’s public identification with bisexuality and his influence within the LGBTQ community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780812699210
Publisher:	Open Court Publishing Company
Publication date:	09/06/2016
Series:	Popular Culture and Philosophy , #103
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	1,042,916
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Theodore G. Ammon is an associate professor of philosophy at Millsaps College in Jackson, MS. He is the editor of Conversations with William H. Gass and the author of Imagine U. He lives in Jackson, MS.

Table of Contents

A Farewell to David Bowie vii

I What David Bowie Was Up To 1

1 The Actor Tells the Truth George A. Reisch 3

2 You Don't Have to Be Stupid to Be Cool Thorsten Botz-Bornstein 9

3 The Flux of It All Theodore G. Ammon 19

4 Warm Impermanence Randall E. Auxier 31

II Soudings of Bowis 45

5 Squawking Like a Pink Monkey Bird-What? Greg Littmann 47

6 Bowie the Buddhist Martin Muchall 59

7 David Bowie, Political Philosopher? R. Kevin Hill 71

8 The Babe with the Power Nicolas Michaud 85

III The Bowie Identity 97

9 When Jumpin' Jack Flash Met Ziggy Stardust Randall E. Auxier 99

10 David Bowie and Death Michael Potter Cam Cobb 111

11 Meeting the Monstrous Self Jerry Piven 127

12 David Bowie's Sincerity Anneliese Cooper 139

IV Out of Bowie's Mind 149

13 The Madness of the Musician Mathew Lampert 151

14 David Bowie's Sadness Chris Ketcham 173

15 Aladdin Sane or Cracked Actor? Simon Riches Andrew Watson 187

References 197

Authors Who Fell to Earth 203

Index 209