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Wonder Woman and Philosophy: The Amazonian Mystique

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ISBN: 978-1-119-28080-4

March 2017

Wiley-Blackwell

240 pages

Description

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.
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.