Wonder Woman and Philosophy - Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture by Jacob M Held & William Irwin Paperback

Book Synopsis

Wonder Woman and Philosophy: The Amazonian Mystique explores a wide range of philosophical questions surrounding the most popular female superhero of all time, from her creation as feminist propaganda during World War II up to the first female lead in the blockbuster DC movie-franchise.

• The first book dedicated to the philosophical questions raised by the complex and enduringly iconic super-heroine
• Fighting fascism with feminism since 1941, considers the power of Wonder Woman as an exploration of gender identity and also that of the human condition - what limits us and what we can overcome
• Confronts the ambiguities of Wonder Woman, from her roles as a feminist cause and fully empowered woman, to her objectification as sexual fantasy
• Topics explored include origin stories and identity, propaganda and art, altruism and the ethics of care, Amazonians as transhumanists, eroticism and graphic novels, the crafting of a heroine, domination, relationships, the ethics of killing and torture, and many more.

From the Back Cover

Sexy woman and superhero, fully empowered human and at times even a god, Wonder Woman is as appealing as she is ambiguous. From her origins as feminist propaganda at the height of World War II to the first female lead in the blockbuster DC movie franchise, she is a reflection of, and challenge to, our norms, our values, our society. She exemplifies our ideals, while posing serious challenges to the place of those ideals in modern society.

The first book dedicated to the philosophical questions raised by this complex and enduringly iconic figure, Wonder Woman and Philosophy: The Amazonian Mystique brings together philosophers and scholars to uncover fascinating aspects of our favourite Amazonian princess and deep philosophical insights about ourselves.

Topics explored include origin stories and identity, propaganda and art, altruism and the ethics of care, Amazonians as transhumanists, eroticism and graphic novels, the crafting of a heroine, domination, relationships, the ethics of killing and torture, and many more.

Timely and provocative, Wonder Woman and Philosophy offers wonder-filled insights into the myriad philosophical issues surrounding the most popular female superhero of all time.

Review Quotes

"This collection provides an engaging set of arguments about the meaning of Wonder Woman in a philosophical, feminist and cultural context. Accessible both to academic and general readers, it offers a useful introduction to an array of philosophical theories ranging from Aristotle to Foucault."
--Rachel Harris, Australian Women's History Network

"The authors approach [Wonder Woman] as a serious work of fiction, worthy of study and debate, and with relevance for the questions of our own world. Whether a Wonder Woman fan who wants to dive deeper into Dianalysis, or a philosophy buff who is interested in how this pop culture phenomenon relate to the larger questions of philosophy and ethics, this is a book worth opening up."
--Matthew Westfox - Creator, Superhero Ethics Podcast

About the Author

Jacob M. Held is Associate Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and Director of the UCA Core at the University of Central Arkansas. He is editor of Stephen King and Philosophy [2016], Roald Dahl and Philosophy: A Little Nonsense Now and Then ... [2014], Dr. Seuss and Philosophy: Oh, the Thinks you can Think! [2011] and co-editor of The Philosophy of Pornography: Contemporary Perspectives [2014], Terry Pratchett and Philosophy (2014), and James Bond and Philosophy [2006].

William Irwin (series editor) is Herve A. LeBlanc Distinguished Service Professor and Chair of Philosophy at King's College in Pennsylvania and is the author of The Free Market Existentialist. Irwin originated the philosophy and popular culture genre of books with Seinfeld and Philosophy in 1999 and has overseen recent titles including House of Cards and Philosophy, Game of Thrones and Philosophy, and Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy.