from: University Press of Kentucky
List Price: $32.50You Pay Only: $26.00 You Save: $6.50 (20%)Prices subject to change.
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 320.973
EAN: 9780813125121
ISBN: 081312512X
Label: University Press of Kentucky
Manufacturer: University Press of Kentucky
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 280
Publication Date: August 22, 2008
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Release Date: July 15, 2008
Sales Rank: 777635
Studio: University Press of Kentucky
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Product Description:
The modern landscape of American entertainment is filled with commentary on the state of the union. Many people now get their news from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report instead of Fox or CNN, and satirical political films such as Bulworth and Wag the Dog resonate with audiences and reviewers alike. The cartoon sitcom The Simpsons has used American politics to shape its plotlines since its debut in 1989, and many Americans view the current war on terror through the eyes of Jack Bauer, the fictional hero of the controversial action show 24. Politics has always influenced entertainment, and Americans increasingly use popular culture to make sense of the U.S. political system and current debates.
There is, however, another facet to the relationship between politics and popular culture: education. Exposure to political ideas through television, film, and music generates interest and increases knowledge among viewers and listeners. The presentation of political ideas in popular media often begins a dialogue through which citizens develop opinions about and interest in political ideas. The resulting discussions of politics and civic life have a significant value as a means to educate Americans about their government.
In Homer Simpson Goes to Washington: American Politics through Popular Culture, Joseph J. Foy and other contributing scholars offer a variety of perspectives on politics through the framework of popular culture. From the classic film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington to the cutting-edge television program Chappelle’s Show, the authors use a wide spectrum of entertainment media to explain the complexities of U.S. politics and how audiences engage them.
The authors not only explain fundamental concepts such as civil rights, democracy, and ethics but also examine common assumptions about government and explore the use of controversial ideas in entertainment. Jennifer J. Hora uses The West Wing to introduce the heroic-president model of executive leadership, and Dean A. Kowalski presents V for Vendetta as a vehicle for understanding American political thought. Other essays test the impact of entertainment news on political knowledge and investigate the presentation of broadcast news in film to determine how well the media serves the people. The book also looks at folk music’s ability to popularize protest and offers an insightful commentary on social movements in U.S. history.
Popular culture and politics have never been so intertwined in the American consciousness as they are today, with films, television shows, and songs contributing to the debate over the promises versus the realities of democracy. As political knowledge becomes increasingly valuable, Homer Simpson Goes to Washington explains how popular culture can actually help connect people to their government.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Something fun for everyone
As a person about to re-enter the world of academia in the pursuit of a masters degree in political sociology, I picked up this book as a means of refreshing the basics. The title intrigued me as a fan of Jimmy Stewart and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I hold a BA in both political science and sociology, and loved every minute of it!
I find that this collection of works would be well suited to many disciplines; be it political science, sociology, communications, or journalism. Each element of the political process is covered, from the offical institutions (executive, legislative, & judicairy) to the unoffical (media, lobbyists, and interest groups). Sources are as diverse as Democracy in America, The Federalist Papers, The Colbert Report, and of course, The Simpsons. As the first reviewer also noted, there is no need to be familiar with any or all of the "pop culture" references, because each author uses simple explanations and day-to-day analogies.
Homer Simpson Goes to Washington is a perfect example of its own thesis; a combination of education and entertainment!
Rating: - Fun Way to Learn More About Entertainment & Government
I purchased "Homer Simpson Goes To Washington" on the recommendation of a friend and I am very pleased that I did so. While I studied politics in college it has been a few years so the book was like a fun refresher course on media and government. There is no denying the two topics are linked and the goal of this book is to show that the connection has a positive place in our democratic society.
The book is written in essay form by multiple authors which makes you feel as if you are receiving the highlights of each author's knowledge. As with all books, some sections really stand out though the book as a whole reads very well. It of course makes liberal use of references to popular television shows, news shows, music and movies. I would be lying if I said I recognized all the references made to `pop culture' however the many authors did a great job of always getting their point across. Not once did I feel I missed the knowledge they were trying to share just because I had never watched the TV show or movie.
All and all this is a great book that covers an interesting and timely topic. It is not so overly intellectual that it talks down to the reader or makes you feel as if you are missing the point of the author's arguments. While the majority of people will talk about the melting of politics and entertainment (for good and bad depending on your view) this book provides actual, documented proof of how the general population is exposed everyday to this phenomenon. ... Read More
Rating: - An Entertaining Primer on American Politics
This book contains an interesting and entertaining collection of essays that attempt to explore core concepts and questions in American government and politics through popular culture artifacts like "The Simpsons", "Chappelle's Show", "V for Vendetta", "Thank You for Smoking", "24", "The Daily Show" and more. Each chapter focuses on a particular element of politics ranging from political thought and culture to the presidency and Congress to ethical questions surrounding "enhanced interrogation techniques," and explains that using familiar examples from politically relevant shows, movies and music. The book got a good review from Publisher's Weekly and The New York Post, so I thought I would check it out. I was not disappointed. Although written by scholars in political science, philosophy, music, English, the law, history and cultural studies, this book is designed to be accessible to a casual observer of politics (or fans who are looking to thinking about their favorites tv shows or movies in a different light). Each author is mostly successful at achieving this goal, which makes this a good entrance into the study of American government and politics. Some of the more interesting issues raised were competing versions of the American dream as shown in The Simpsons, foundations for American political thought and the Declaration of Independence through "V for Vendetta," heroic images of the presidency in "The West Wing," racial and economic biases in the legal system using "Chappelle's Show," ... Read More
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