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
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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 the Author
Adam Kotsko is Assistant Professor of Humanities at Shimer College in Chicago (USA). He is the author of Awkwardness and blogs at An und fur sich.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
having been caught myself wondering why i love Dr House, or Dexter - this book goes toward investigating just why - and, yet, it does not make me feel either bad about myself or that i am being brownbeaten. i have a hunch that it is all a bit too easy, but, then, even formulating the question about why such 'evil' figures who really, he contends, are just rebellious people with hearts of gold (and so, they are outsiders society requires to let off steam and to right systemic or intractable wrongs) and their ideological fit into a commodified culture - is refreshing.sorry for that mouthful, but it is a tiny taste of how some of the qualifiers in this packed book read. thoroughly mind-boggling and greatly entertaining.
By Victor Cova
Format:Paperback
This book by theologian Adam Kotsko, much like its companion Awkwardness, is a great analysis of the utopian desires that hide in some of our favorite TV shows. Highly readable, and highly recommended.
By holden
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Not Dan Brown and not suitable for use as toilet paper, which is a difficult thing to say these days. Excellent book, I found myself wishing for another 100 pages.
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