PHI160 Philosophy in Pop Culture

Professor Kelly Perez

Note: This course assumes no prior knowledge of ethics or philosophical studies, making it suitable for students from various academic backgrounds interested in exploring the ethical dimensions of pop culture.

PHI160 Philosophy in Pop Culture engages students in recognizing and examining major philosophical themes, such as Value, Morality, Evil, Friendship, Beauty, God, Reality, and The Meaning Of Life. Students apply these themes to examine how they are represented in several sources of popular culture, including literature, film, art, music, media, and stage. The course is designed to be fully online with no in-person scheduling.

Students will have eight weeks of discussion broken up into multiple sections: 

• What is Pop Culture? 

  • History, Definition, & Sources of Culture 

• Values and Beauty in Pop Culture. 

  • Ethics, Beauty, & Normalcy 

• Good and Evil 

  • Representations of Good and Evil & Living in a World of Both 

• Friendship, Love, and the Aftermath 

  • Representations of Friendship and Love & What’s Love Got to Do with It? 

• Interpretations of God 

  • Fate, Destiny, and God’s Hand, Nihilism, & God’s Point of View 

• Making Sense of Reality 

  • Nature of the Reality & Time Travel and Wormholes 

• Meaning of Life 

  • Representations of the Meaning of Life, Is There Meaning, and Who Decides? & Virtues of Realism vs. Escapism

We will have three complimentary source materials: 

• An Introduction to Popular Culture in the US: People, Politics, and Power

• Introduction to Philosophy

• Ethics Goes to the Movies

Media (but not limited to)

• Back to the Future (1985). This is a time-travel adventure that became a cultural phenomenon and spawned sequels.

• The Matrix (1999) is a groundbreaking sci-fi film introducing new concepts of reality and technology.

• Black Panther (2018) is A milestone in superhero films, notable for its cultural significance and representation.

• The Simpsons (1989-present) is an animated series that satirizes American culture and politics, influencing countless other shows.

• Game of Thrones (2011-2019): A fantasy epic that gained massive popularity and influenced TV storytelling and production.

• Psycho (1960) is Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller that sets new standards for horror and suspense in cinema.

• I Love Lucy (1951-1957) was a pioneering sitcom that featured the iconic Lucille Ball and set the stage for future comedies.

• Breaking Bad (2008-2013) A critically acclaimed drama about a chemistry teacher turned meth manufacturer that redefined television storytelling.