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American auteur Jeffrey Jacob “J. J.” Abrams’s genius for creating densely plotted scripts has won him broad commercial and critical success in TV shows such as Felicity (1998–2002), Emmy-nominated Alias (2001–2006), Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Lost (2004–2010), and the critically acclaimed Fringe (2008–2013). In addition, his direction in films such as Cloverfield (2008), Super 8 (2011), and the new Mission Impossible and Star Trek films has left fans eagerly awaiting his revival of the Star Wars franchise. As a writer, director, producer, and composer, Abrams seamlessly combines geek appeal with blockbuster intuition, leaving a distinctive stamp on all of his work and establishing him as one of Tinsel Town’s most influential visionaries.

In The Philosophy of J.J. Abrams, editors Patricia L. Brace and Robert Arp assemble the first collection of essays to highlight the philosophical insights of the Hollywood giant’s successful career. The filmmaker addresses a diverse range of themes in his onscreen pursuits, including such issues as personal identity in an increasingly impersonal digitized world, the morality of terrorism, bioethics, friendship, family obligation, and free will.

Utilizing Abrams’s scope of work as a touchstone, this comprehensive volume is a guide for fans as well as students of film, media, and culture. The Philosophy of J.J. Abrams is a significant contribution to popular culture scholarship, drawing attention to the mind behind some of the most provocative television and movie plots of our day.

Patricia L. Brace is professor of art history at Southwest Minnesota State University. She has contributed to many philosophy and popular culture volumes, including Lost and Philosophy: The Island Has its Reasons, The Philosophy of Joss Whedon, and The Philosophy of David Lynch.

Robert Arp is the editor of a number of books, including The Philosophy of Ang Lee and South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today, and coeditor of Philosophy of Biology: An Anthology.

“This work is a significant contribution to pop culture scholarship that draws attention to the mind behind some of the most provocative television and movie plots of our day.” – Sharon Kaye, author of Philosophy, A Complete Introduction

“This well designed book opens up the works of J.J. Abrams like a Lamborghini on beautiful boundless freeway. With essays ranging from the metaphysics of time and self, to emerging issues in ethics as technology advances, this book is great for any class in Introductory Philosophy. Students will encounter essays that focus on everything from existential dread in the vast infinity of Star Trek space (Piven & Stephenson) to the nature of love in Super 8 (Auxier). Abrams forces us to shift our understanding out of automatic when we view his many creative works; he drives us in many philosophical directions. This book is a V6 thrill-ride that makes thinking in high gear fun.”-- Sara Waller, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Montana State University

Publication Date

4-18-2014

Publisher

The University Press of Kentucky

Place of Publication

Lexington, KY

ISBN

9780813145303

eISBN

9780813145341

Keywords

J. J. Abrams, Jeffrey Jacob Abrams, Motion picture, Popular culture

Disciplines

American Popular Culture

The Philosophy of J. J. Abrams
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