Jim Henson and Philosophy: Imagination and the Magic of Mayhem

by Timothy Dale (Editor), Joseph Foy (Editor), Craig Yoe (Foreword by)

Overview

Jim Henson’s creations have inspired generations with characters that are among the world’s most recognizable cultural icons. From Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and their Muppet friends to the legendary Sesame Street and Children’s Television Workshop, Henson revolutionized children’s educational entertainment. Combining live action and puppeteering into fantastical narratives like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, as well as the whimsical Fraggle Rock and The Storyteller, Henson transformed imagination into reality, weaving together powerful philosophical messages on identity, community, diversity, love, death, and friendship. Henson never shied away from exploring deep questions, nor did he underestimate the ability of children (or adults) to grapple with profound philosophical questions. Jim Henson and Philosophy explores the entertaining and educational world of the genius’s creations, revealing what it is about Henson’s world that has touched us so deeply and improved our lives in such meaningful ways.


Contributions by: Lauren Ashwell, Kimberly Baltzer-Jaray, David R. Burns, Samantha Brennan, Amanda Cawston, Brooke Covington, Christopher M. Culp, Ryan Cox, Natalie M. Fletcher, Victoria Hubbell, Dena Hurst, Christopher Ketcham, S. Evan Kreider, Shaun Leonard, Jennifer Marra, Michael J. Muniz, Laurel Ralston, Rhona Trauvitch, and Sheryl Tuttle Ross

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442246645
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/15/2015
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	949,598
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Timothy M. Dale is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he teaches courses on political philosophy. He is coeditor of the collections Homer Simpson Ponders Politics: Popular Culture as Political Theory (2013) and Homer Simpson Marches on Washington: Dissent in American Popular Culture (2010).
Joseph J. Foy is associate campus dean at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. He edited the award-winning Homer Simpson Goes to Washington: Politics as Popular Culture (2008) and SpongeBob Square Pants and Philosophy (2011), and co-edited Homer Simpson Ponders Politics: Popular Culture as Political Theory (2013) and Homer Simpson Marches on Washington: Dissent in American Popular Culture (2010).

Editorial Reviews

02/22/2016
This collection of philosophical essays about Jim Henson is as entertaining—and enlightening—as the best episodes of the Muppet Show. Academics Dale and Foy feel that "if the belief that ideas can change the world is what makes a person a philosopher, then Jim Henson has to be counted as one of the great philosophers of our time." By exploring the entertaining, educational, and "profound" world of Henson's creations in television and film, the essays, by a range of noted scholars, also examine the many ways in which puppets "are distinctively philosophical beings." Essays include Henson's social and philosophical lessons ("Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?: The Importance of Community on Sesame Street" by Foy), knowledge and logic ("Finding Fallacies Funny: How Sesame Street's Playing with Mistakes in Reasoning Makes Learning Fun" by Sheryl Tuttle Ross), ethical themes (Natalie M. Fletcher's "My (Un)Fair Lady: Power, Fairness and Moral Imagination in Labyrinth"), and his approach to the meaning of existence ("The Passion, Will, and Freedom of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Animal" by Shaun Leonard). One of the best essays—and one that embodies the book's combination of insight, intelligence, and fun—concerns Samantha Brennan's "Miss Piggy's Feminism: Redefining Human Relationships through Martial Arts," which shows how Miss Piggy was a third-wave feminist in second-wave times, "a body-confident role model for women and swine of all shapes and sizes." (July)

Publishers Weekly

I was privileged to work alongside Jim Henson and experience his philosophy in practice. To be there was to be in an ever deepening, ever more connective family that embraced the whole world. There are very few true visionaries, but Jim Henson stood alongside the greatest of them.

Jim Henson and Philosophy is a perfect guide to the mind of a man who celebrated the fragmentary uniqueness of us all, and showed how we, fragmented as we are, could be reconciled into a world that is whole and connected. The authors explore the philosophical soul of Jim Henson, revealing his complex vision with words both eloquent and funny, and revealing insights into his world both poignant and absurd.

Of the many philosophical ideas of Jim, the one I appreciated the most was when in the middle of a long, creative meeting he would say, ”let’s go eat!” Well, this book is as good a philosophical feast as could be wished for, so bon appetit!

Brian Froud

Whenever I think about the nature of humor, Jim Henson's Muppets come to mind. All of the elements of a philosophy of humor are present: irony, cognitive dissonance, hyperbole, and, of course, catharsis. This book contains chapters that take a serious look at humor and other ideas worthy of philosophical analysis found in Henson's works.

Robert Arp

I was always struck by how Jim would give me, and anyone and everyone, from leaders of the world to the janitor at the Muppets, his undivided and complete attention when they had a thought or idea they wanted to share… ‘Let’s think of an idea that will bring peace to the world in our lifetime.’ Maybe that was Jim’s philosophy boiled down to the essence. Totally unrealistic. Naive. Foolish... A valiant attempt toward world peace! (From the Foreword)

Craig Yoe

I was always struck by how Jim would give me, and anyone and everyone, from leaders of the world to the janitor at the Muppets, his undivided and complete attention when they had a thought or idea they wanted to share... 'Let's think of an idea that will bring peace to the world in our lifetime.' Maybe that was Jim's philosophy boiled down to the essence. Totally unrealistic. Naive. Foolish... A valiant attempt toward world peace! (From the Foreword)


I was privileged to work alongside Jim Henson and experience his philosophy in practice. To be there was to be in an ever deepening, ever more connective family that embraced the whole world. There are very few true visionaries, but Jim Henson stood alongside the greatest of them.

Jim Henson and Philosophy is a perfect guide to the mind of a man who celebrated the fragmentary uniqueness of us all, and showed how we, fragmented as we are, could be reconciled into a world that is whole and connected. The authors explore the philosophical soul of Jim Henson, revealing his complex vision with words both eloquent and funny, and revealing insights into his world both poignant and absurd.

Of the many philosophical ideas of Jim, the one I appreciated the most was when in the middle of a long, creative meeting he would say, "let's go eat!" Well, this book is as good a philosophical feast as could be wished for, so bon appetit!

Whenever I think about the nature of humor, Jim Henson's Muppets come to mind. All of the elements of a philosophy of humor are present: irony, cognitive dissonance, hyperbole, and, of course, catharsis. This book contains chapters that take a serious look at humor and other ideas worthy of philosophical analysis found in Henson's works.

From the Publisher