Research Catalog

Title

Indiana Jones and philosophy : why did it have to be Socrates? / edited by Dean A. Kowalski.

Publication

• Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2023.
• ©2023

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Kowalski, Dean A.

Description

xvi, 256 pages; 23 cm.

Summary

"We cannot escape Indiana Jones! (Not that we would want to, of course.) Harrison Ford deserves credit for the character's popularity. His ability to subtly play up Indy's foibles while playing down the character's heroism, makes Indiana Jones relatable. Of course, Lucas and the screenwriters are also responsible, as they magnificently depict Indy battling antagonists seeking to possess mystical objects for world domination. But Indy is no mere action hero. He also struggles with unrequited love that lingers for decades, an estrangement from his over-bearing father that lasts just as long, and a life-long obsession with regaining an important object unfairly taken from him. As we know, Indy doesn't always choose wisely, and if the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles are to be trusted, he made many missteps in his youth on the way to becoming the hero we know and love. Indy loses a fight as often as he wins, and when he wins, he doesn't always fight fairly. In fact, he stumbles so often, one might wonder why he persists decade after decade toward his goals. He's not getting any younger. What's the point? And, as he inexplicably trudges on, he-in the four films and various graphic novels-has many alleged encounters with the supernatural. He's not a religious person (at all), so what should he make of those? Should he take the leap of faith and become a believer? While we often see him conducting his highly unconventional fieldwork, spending an unusual amount of time in caves, he cannot completely ignore his "day job" teaching undergraduates and aiding their pursuit of knowledge. But why should archaeologists strive to put artifacts in a museum, or search for "fact," but not "truth" (and who is Dr. Tyree, anyway)? The Indiana Jones character is expressive of the human condition, vividly illuminating our struggles and issues on the big screen. True, we don't have John Williams's orchestra filling us with pride when we manage to do the right thing or play the part of the hero. Still, no one would blame you if you imagined Indy's theme blaring in the background while rising to meet a challenge!"--

Series Statement

The Blackwell philosophy and pop culture series

Uniform Title

Blackwell philosophy and popculture series.

Subject

• Jones, Indiana (Fictitious character)
• Indiana Jones films > History and criticism
• Indiana Jones films

Genre/Form

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Call Number

MFLP (Indiana Jones) 23-4264

ISBN

• 9781119740155
• 1119740150
• 9781119740162 (canceled/invalid)
• 9781119740179 (canceled/invalid)
• 9781119740186 (canceled/invalid)

LCCN

2021045276

OCLC

1302335494

Title

Indiana Jones and philosophy : why did it have to be Socrates? / edited by Dean A. Kowalski.

Publisher

Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2023.

Copyright Date

©2023

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

The Blackwell philosophy and pop culture series

Blackwell philosophy and popculture series.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Added Author

Kowalski, Dean A., editor.

Other Form:

Online version: Kowalski, Dean A. Indiana Jones and philosophy. Hoboken : John Wiley & Sons, 2022 9781119740162 (DLC) 2021045277

Research Call Number

MFLP (Indiana Jones) 23-4264