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Why We Love Sociopaths - A Guide To Late Capitalist Television Adam Kotsko

Why We Love Sociopaths - A Guide To Late Capitalist Television By Adam Kotsko

Why We Love Sociopaths - A Guide To Late Capitalist Television by Adam Kotsko


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Summary

Argues that our fascination with cold and ruthless television characters reflects a broken social contract.

Why We Love Sociopaths - A Guide To Late Capitalist Television Summary

Why We Love Sociopaths - A Guide To Late Capitalist Television by Adam Kotsko

Sociopaths are pervasive in contemporary television, from high-brow drama all the way down to cartoons - and of course the news as well. From the scheming Eric Cartman of South Park to the seductive imposter Don Draper of Mad Men, cold and ruthless characters captivate us, making us wish that we could be so effective and successful. Yet why should we admire characters who get ahead by being amoral and uncaring? In his follow-up to Awkwardness, Adam Kotsko argues that the popularity of the ruthless sociopath reflects our dissatisfaction with a failed social contract, showing that we believe that the world rewards the evil and uncaring rather than the good. By analyzing characters like the serial killer star of Dexter and the cynical Dr. House, Kotsko shows that the fantasy of the sociopath distracts us from our real problems - but that we still might benefit from being a little more sociopathic.

Why We Love Sociopaths - A Guide To Late Capitalist Television Reviews

What is it about our society which makes sociopaths, i.e., the kind of ruthless individuals who make their own rules, so appealing? With his usual acuity, Adam Kotsko gives an analysis of contemporary TV shows (South Park, Mad Men, The Wire, etc.) to make the case that depictions of social disconnection are especially seductive at a time when our own society has become ever more destructive and amoral. Kotsko provokes us in suggesting how we might combine and reshape several features of the television sociopath, so that we might break the hold of the societal norms prevalent in late capitalism. (Lars Iye, Author of the novel Spurious)

About Adam Kotsko

Adam Kotsko is Assistant Professor of Humanities at Shimer College, Chicago. He is the author of Zizek and Theology (2008), Politics of Redemption (2010), and Why We Love Sociopaths: A Guide to Late Capitalist Television (2012). He is the translator of Agamben's The Sacrament of Language (2010), The Highest Poverty (2013), Opus Dei (2013), Pilate and Jesus (forthcoming) and The Use of Bodies (forthcoming). He blogs at An und fur sich (itself.wordpress.com).

Additional information

GOR004864100
9781780990910
178099091X
Why We Love Sociopaths - A Guide To Late Capitalist Television by Adam Kotsko
Used - Very Good
Paperback
John Hunt Publishing
20120427
108
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Why We Love Sociopaths - A Guide To Late Capitalist Television