Overview

Without question, few directors have had such a powerful influence on the film industry and the moviegoing public as Steven Spielberg. Often referred to as the most successful American filmmaker of all time, Spielberg has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director six times, winning twice -- for Schindler's List in 1994 and Saving Private Ryan in 1999. Seven of his films have received the Best Picture Oscar nomination. He has brought to life some of the most popular heroes of all time, such as Indiana Jones, as well as some of the most despised villains, including Amon Goeth from Schindler's List and the killer shark from Jaws. Whatever the subject -- dinosaurs, war, extra-terrestrials, slavery, the Holocaust, or terrorism -- one clear and consistent touchstone is present in all of Spielberg's films: an interest in the human condition. In Steven Spielberg and Philosophy, Dean A. Kowalski and some of the nation's most respected philosophers investigate Spielberg's art to illuminate the nature of humanity. The book explores rich themes such as cinematic realism, fictional belief, terrorism, family ethics, consciousness, virtue and moral character, human rights, and religion in Spielberg's work. Avid moviegoers and deep thinkers will discover plenty of common ground in this collection.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dean A. Kowalski
Publisher:   The University Press of Kentucky
Imprint:   The University Press of Kentucky
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.381kg
ISBN:  

9780813133898

ISBN 10:   0813133890
Pages:   288
Publication Date:   04 February 2011
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  General ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Reviews

In a sure sign that Steven Spielberg has finally been accepted into the academic canon after many years of being unfairly disparaged as a superficial entertainer, his films have now become the subject of passionate philosophical inquiry and debate. This lively collection of essays on the ideas underpinning his films enriches and enlarges our understanding of Spielberg''s complex body of work. --Joseph McBride, author of Steven Spielberg: A Biography

At its heart, <i>Steven Spielberg and Philosophy</i> is a work that questions how the reader views Spielberg as a director, his various films, and even life itself. For these reasons alone, it is deserving of a spot on your bookshelf. --Ryan McKnight, Film Matters -- </p>

Author Information

Dean A. Kowalski is associate professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha. He is editor of The Philosophy of The X-Files and author of Classic Questions and Contemporary Film: An Introduction to Philosophy.

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