 |   Number of Pages : 288 Publisher : Open Court List Price: Our Price: $8.79 You Save: $9.16 (52%) Used Price : $1.57 |
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Customer reviews
I Kill Kenny, Therefore I Am 
by .. Andrew Bockelman ()
I love all the books in the Pop Culture and Philosophy series, and the "South Park" installment was no disappointment! Making the subject of philosophy applicable to those of us who were raised by an electronic box, the book is a spectacularly intellectual look at one of the most provocative shows in TV history!
A pick for high school contemporary philosophy collections by .. Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
SOUTH PARK AND PHILOSOPHY: BIGGER, LONGER, AND MORE PENETRATING pairs the long-running and controversial Comedy Central cartoon hit with ideas gained from philosophy, applying a classical philosophical analysis to a show which offends many and which would seem to defy classical interpretation. In drawing connections between the popular show and classic philosophy, readers gain not only a better understanding of the show's controversies and approaches, but will find the entire approach and contentions of philosophy more appealing as it links well to contemporary experience. A pick for high school contemporary philosophy collections as well as for general-interest and college-level fans of South Park.
Hmmm 
by .. Jay M. Hohmann (Baghdad, Iraq (temporary))
While it is true that the book concentrates heavily on one person's perspective, some aspects of that perspective aren't exactly outlandish opinions. While Hanley's views about hybrid cars seem a little contrived, his opinions about homosexuality and religion seem fairly well thought out.
If you bought this book to giggle at references from the show, you are probably better off just owning the seasons and watching them, and if the "South Park" in the title was what brought you to become interested in philosophy in the first place, then you have a long way to go.
Highly unreadable by .. Joseph C. Thomas (Suffolk, VA United States)
Most of the essays in this book are written by the editor Richard Hanley, with a few miscellaneous essays contributed by other professors of philosophy and some PhD candidates.
I found Hanley's contributions hardly readable. He uses his articles less to discuss philosophic themes unintentionally explored by the show and more to espouse his philosophic and political beliefs. As someone who is fairly familiar with the show and most of its more controversial/thought provoking episodes, Hanley's interpretation is often off-the-mark, or warped to fit his perspective. I personally got the impression that Hanley was mostly interested in making South Park (which is highly libertarian in message) fit with his (economically socialist / socially liberal) perspective.
That being said, Hanley makes the occasional fair point, but he's essentially only using the broad themes of specific South Park episodes as a launching pad for his own diatribes on the subject matter.
I found his prose condescending and dumbed down with profanity, in pale imitation of South Park. It works for South Park, because every character is a grossly exaggerated satirical figure, but not necessarily for an academic who wants you to take him seriously.
The other essays in the book seem much more on point, but I have to admit that I was so put-off by the quality of the majority of the essays that I really have only skimmed the remainder.
A Complete Misrepresentation of South Park 
by .. Jonathan Nacionales ()
This book was very disappointing.
First, I don't even think this book belongs in the 'popular culture and philosophy' series to begin with. Out of 22 chapters within the book 14 chapters were written by the editor, Richard Hanley. I think that the editor was simply trying to monopolize on an existing market and piggyback on its success.
Second, these articles have very little to do with the Philosophy of South Park and more to do with the editor's personal biases against (a) God, (b) religion, (c) guns, (d) smokers, (e) republicans and (f) all other evil entities that are destroying the world. The worst part of the whole book is that he also goes to great lengths to attack libertarianism itself. He even uses the South Park episodes as examples of left-wing liberalism, which is very ironic since the creators of South Park have stated on record that they hate liberals more than conservatives. And how does the editor/author justify such misrepresentation of the South Park material. Well on page 57 of the book he tells us: "I don't think ... that authors have any special authority over the interpretation of their fictions, once the production is over." In other words, it doesn't matter what the author's original intent actually was because my interpretation of the episode is just as valid as their interpretation. This has to be the absolute height to arrogance.
Third, I find his anger towards God and theists particularly disturbing. While South Park is no friend of religion, at the same time it isn't openly hostile toward it. There is a stark distinction between ridicule of religion and open hostility toward religion. Honestly, angry people scare me and this guys rage practically spills through every page. Also, why would a person who doesn't even believe in God be so angry at Him?
Lastly, I found the books material severely lacking in any real philosophical discussion. Rather than providing an analysis of different philosophical viewpoints, Richard Hanley goes to the point of simply stating why he is right and all those other conservative/libertarian people are wrong. In fact, the best articles within the book were written by people other than the editor himself.
In conclusion, this book is hardly worth reading. If you are looking for a more fair and balanced analysis of South Park I recommend "South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today."