{"product_id":"finding-ourselves-at-the-movies-9780231164399","title":"Finding Ourselves at the Movies","description":"\u003cp\u003eAcademic philosophy may have lost its audience, but the traditional subjects of philosophy—love, death, justice, knowledge, and faith—remain as compelling as ever. To reach a new generation, Paul W. Kahn argues that philosophy must take up these fundamental concerns as we find them in contemporary culture. He demonstrates how this can be achieved through a turn to popular film.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDiscussing such well-known movies as \u003ci\u003eForrest Gump\u003c\/i\u003e (1994), \u003ci\u003eThe American President\u003c\/i\u003e (1995), \u003ci\u003eThe Matrix\u003c\/i\u003e (1999), \u003ci\u003eMemento\u003c\/i\u003e (2000), \u003ci\u003eThe History of Violence\u003c\/i\u003e (2005), \u003ci\u003eGran Torino\u003c\/i\u003e (2008), \u003ci\u003eThe Dark Knight\u003c\/i\u003e (2008), \u003ci\u003eThe Road\u003c\/i\u003e (2009), and \u003ci\u003eAvatar\u003c\/i\u003e (2009), Kahn explores powerful archetypes and their hold on us. His inquiry proceeds in two parts. First, he uses film to explore the nature of action and interpretation, arguing that narrative is the critical concept for understanding both. Second, he explores the narratives of politics, family, and faith as they appear in popular films. Engaging with genres as diverse as romantic comedy, slasher film, and pornography, Kahn explores the social imaginary through which we create and maintain a meaningful world. He finds in popular films a new setting for a philosophical inquiry into the timeless themes of sacrifice, innocence, rebirth, law, and love.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paul W. Kahn","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42980618174582,"sku":"9780231164399","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0671\/1374\/6550\/files\/CoreSourceHub_6e93963d-3842-4171-811e-5a414309959a.jpg?v=1768554989","url":"https:\/\/ingramacademic.com\/products\/finding-ourselves-at-the-movies-9780231164399","provider":"Ingram Academic \u0026 Professional","version":"1.0","type":"link"}