Adam Barkman | Redeemer University College (original) (raw)

Peer-Reviewed Books by Adam Barkman

A Critical Companion to Julie Taymor is the most updated and holistic volume on the director curr... more A Critical Companion to Julie Taymor is the most updated and holistic volume on the director currently published. Situating Taymor’s work within the intersections of story and spectacle, contributors to this collection examine various philosophical issues raised in her films.

Lexington Books, 2020

A Critical Companion to Robert Zemeckis offers a comprehensive, academic and detailed study of th... more A Critical Companion to Robert Zemeckis offers a comprehensive, academic and detailed study of the works of Robert Zemeckis, whose films include successful productions such as the Back to the Future trilogy (1985-90), Forrest Gump (1994), Contact (1997), Cast Away (2000) and The Polar Express (2004), but also lesser known films such as I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), Used Cars (1980), and Allied (2015). Most of Zemeckis’ major productions were not only successful when they were first released but continue to enjoy popularity—with critics and fans alike—even today. This volume investigates several distinct areas of Zemeckisʼ works and addresses the different approaches: the philosophical, the artistic, the socio-cultural, and the personal. The methodologies adopted by the contributors differ significantly from each other, thus offering the reader a variegated and compelling picture of Zemeckisʼ oeuvre, which includes nineteen films. Contrary to the few volumes published in the past on the subject, the chapters in this volume offer specific case studies that have been previously ignored (or only partially mentioned) by other scholars. A Critical Companion to Robert Zemeckis offers a great variety of interdisciplinary approaches to Zemeckis’ films, illuminating, re-reading and/or interpreting for the first time the entire career of the director, from his first films to the most recent ones.

Lexington Press, 2019

A Critical Companion to Steven Spielberg offers a comprehensive, detailed study of the works of S... more A Critical Companion to Steven Spielberg offers a comprehensive, detailed study of the works of Steven Spielberg. Spielbergʼs early productions stand as landmarks in contemporary cinema, and his involvement with film spans all cinematic genres. Today, Spielberg enjoys an immense and enduring popularity around the globe, and his productions have attracted (and continue to attract) both public and critical attention. This book investigates several distinct areas of Spielbergʼs works and addresses the different approaches and the range of topics invited by the multidimensionality of his oeuvre. The eighteen chapters in this book use different methodologies, offering a variegated and compelling picture of Spielbergʼs films, from his earliest works such as Duel (1971) and The Sugarland Express (1974) to his most recent productions, such as The BFG (2016), The Post (2017), and Ready Player One (2018).

Making Sense of Islamic Art & Architecture provides the means to interpret each painting, buildin... more Making Sense of Islamic Art & Architecture provides the means to interpret each painting, building, or artifact in terms of the iconography and symbolism of Islam. With reference to 100 clearly illustrated and diverse historical works, readers will learn to identify the telling details that mean so much to Muslims. The books layout is both visually striking and accessible. Each double-page spread features a full-page colour photograph of either a detail of the work or its context, depending on the subject, with a second photograph chosen to illustrate important aspects of the work. Alongside is a detailed exposition of the works significance in Islamic art history and philosophy, with key historical facts about the work, including where it may be seen today. By tracing the paths between Islamic belief and artistic intention, this book will deepen understanding not only of Islamic art and architecture but also of Islam itself.

Ang Lee (b. 1954) has emerged as one of cinema's most versatile, critically acclaimed, and popula... more Ang Lee (b. 1954) has emerged as one of cinema's most versatile, critically acclaimed, and popular directors. Known for his ability to transcend cultural and stylistic boundaries, Lee has built a diverse oeuvre that includes films about culture clashes and globalization (Eat Drink Man Woman, 1994, and The Wedding Banquet, 1993), a period drama (Sense and Sensibility, 1995), a martial arts epic (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000), a comic book action movie (Hulk, 2003), and an American western (Brokeback Mountain, 2005).

The Philosophy of Ang Lee draws from both Eastern and Western philosophical traditions to examine the director's works. The first section focuses on Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist themes in his Chinese-language films, and the second examines Western philosophies in his English-language films; but the volume ultimately explores how Lee negotiates all of these traditions, strategically selecting from each in order to creatively address key issues. With interest in this filmmaker and his work increasing around the release of his 3-D magical adventure The Life of Pi (2012), The Philosophy of Ang Lee serves as a timely investigation of the groundbreaking auteur and the many complex philosophical themes that he explores through the medium of motion pictures.

The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott, edited by Adam Barkman, Ashley Barkman, and Nancy Kan... more The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott, edited by Adam Barkman, Ashley Barkman, and Nancy Kang, brings together eighteen critical essays that illuminate a nearly comprehensive selection of the director’s feature films from cutting-edge multidisciplinary and comparative perspectives. Chapters examine such signature works as Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma and Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), Hannibal (2001), Black Hawk Down (2001), and American Gangster (2007).

This volume divides the chapters into three major thematic groups: responsibility, remembering, and revision; real, alienated, and ideal lives; and gender, identity, and selfhood. Each section features six discrete essays, each of which forwards an original thesis about the film or films chosen for analysis. Each chapter features close readings of scenes as well as broader discussions that will interest academics, as well as educated readers with an interest in films as visual texts. While recognizing Scott’s undeniable contributions to contemporary popular cinema, the volume does not shy away from honest and well-evidenced critique.

Each chapter’s approach correlates with philosophical, literary, or cultural studies perspectives. Using both combined and single-film discussions, the contributors examine such topics as gender roles and feminist theory; philosophical abstractions like ethics, honor, and personal responsibility; historical memory and the challenges of accurately rendering historical events on screen; literary archetypes and generic conventions; race relations and the effect of class difference on character construction; how religion shapes personal and collective values; the role of a constantly changing technological universe; and the schism between individual and group-based power structures.

The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott assembles the critical essays of scholars working in the fields of philosophy, literary studies, and cultural studies. An international group, they are based in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Italy, Greece, Korea, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The guiding assumption on the part of all the writers is that the filmmaker is the leading determiner of a motion picture’s ethos, artistic vision, and potential for audience engagement. While not discounting the production team (including screenwriters, actors, and cinematographers, among others), auteur theory recognizes the seminal role of the director as the nucleus of the meaning-making process. With Scott an active and prolific presence in the entertainment industry today, the timeliness of this volume is optimal.

C. S. Lewis, renowned Christian apologist and beloved author of children’s novels, is rarely thou... more C. S. Lewis, renowned Christian apologist and beloved author of children’s novels, is rarely thought of as a “philosopher” per se despite having both studied and taught philosophy for several years at Oxford. Moreover, Lewis’s long journey to Christianity was essentially philosophical — passing through seven different stages. This journey, as well as every philosophical topic Lewis discussed, including metaphysics, natural theology, epistemology, logic, psychology, ethics, socio-political philosophy, and aesthetics are explained here in detail. Barkman incorporates previously unexplored treasures from Lewis’s unpublished philosophy lecture notes, lost philosophical essays, and hand-written annotations from copies of his philosophical books, such as Aristotle’s Ethics and Augustine’s City of God

Popular Books by Adam Barkman

In Downton Abbey and Philosophy, twenty-two professional thinkers uncover the deeper significance... more In Downton Abbey and Philosophy, twenty-two professional thinkers uncover the deeper significance of this hugely popular TV saga. Millions of viewers throughout the world have been enthralled by this enactment of a vanished world of decorum and propriety, because it presents us with emotional and interpersonal problems that remain urgent for people in the twenty-first century.

Why do we attach such importance to our memories and to particular places? What do war and epidemics tell us about life in peacetime and in good health? Is it healthy or harmful for people to feel that they know their place? What does Downton Abbey teach us about the changes in women's roles since 1912? Do good manners always agree with good morals? How can everybody know what no one will talk about? What's the justification for a class of people who pride themselves on not having a job? Should we sometimes just accept the reality of social barriers to love, and abandon the pursuit? What happens when community reinforces oppression?

All of these and many other issues are discussed through a detailed examination of the actual characters and situations in Downton Abbey.

Manga have poured out from their Home Islands to occupy and colonize the Western world. Manga’s d... more Manga have poured out from their Home Islands to occupy and colonize the Western world. Manga’s devastating weapons include riveting storylines, inspired and not always whimsical illustrations, fantastic visions on an epic scale, remorseless realism that is neither sentimental nor cynical, and unexpected insights into the agonizing predicaments of the human situation.

Manga target defenseless readers of all ages, sexes, and demographic characteristics. They range from Sailor Moon to Spirited Away, from Astro Boy to Fullmetal Alchemist, from Cowboy Bebop to Neon Genesis Evangelion, from Fruits Basket to Naruto.

Manga and Philosophy: Fullmetal Metaphysician is a toolkit for understanding manga, helpful both to seasoned otaku and to the freshly addicted. While digging out the deeper meanings of manga, Manga and Philosophy also presents essential information on the history, impact, and specialized sub-varieties of this living, breathing, rapidly proliferating species of art.

Publisher: Open Court

Publication Date: Jul 13, 2010

Something really 'higher' is occasionally glimpsed in mythology: Divinity, the right to power, th... more Something really 'higher' is occasionally glimpsed in mythology: Divinity, the right to power, the due of worship; in fact 'religion.'" Inspired by these and other words of J. R. R. Tolkien and his great contemporary, C.S.Lewis, IMITATING THE SAINTS explores our greatest modern mythology-superheroes-from a rigorously philosophical, Christian perspective. Moving effortlessly through the pantheons of the DC and Marvel universes, this book has chapters on the major superheroes-from Superman to Spider-Man-and explores these mythical figures in ways that highlight their deep, lasting, and ever-growing appeal.

Through Common Things is a philosophical exploration of both western and eastern popular culture.... more Through Common Things is a philosophical exploration of both western and eastern popular culture.

"Barkman presents us with an amazingly wide-ranging collection of philosophical reflections grounded in the everyday things of popular culture - past and present, eastern and western, factual and fictional. ... This is an informative and entertaining book to read!" -- Doug Blomberg, Acting President, Institute for Christian Studies

" Expansive in scope, Barkman's analysis traverses eastern and western culture, canvassing an array of philosophical topics, using the language of the hoi polloi and icons of popular culture to direct our gaze first to and then through the flickering images of Plato's cave to deeper realities and questions that matter. Well argued, intriguing, engaging; highly recommended!" --- David Baggett, Professor of Philosophy, Liberty University

"Effortlessly bridging the gap between 'high' and 'low' culture, Through Common Things, thanks to its jargon-free, lucid language, is eminently readable and, what is more, worth reading." --- Dieter Petzold, Professor of English Literature, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

"This book is unique and brilliant. . . . Barkman plays the cracker-barrel world philosopher who draws the common people in conversation from pop culture to philosophy." --- Jung Soon Park, Professor of Philosophy, Yonsei University

In an ever-changing world, new situations arise demanding ethical re-sponses from Christian think... more In an ever-changing world, new situations arise demanding ethical re-sponses from Christian thinkers. This is particularly true in our modern context with hyper-changes in an area like popular culture. Through a series of essays, Barkman explores the contours of popular culture - from movies to comic books, from TV series to novels - attentive to new ideas, or old ideas made new, requiring Christian ethical reflection.

Peer-Reviewed Articles or Chapters by Adam Barkman

Religions, 2021

A number of years ago, renowned English biographer Andrew Lycett wrote a short piece about Sir Ar... more A number of years ago, renowned English biographer Andrew Lycett wrote a short piece about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that highlighted the seemingly irreconcilable tension between Doyle the creator of the “super-rational” detective Sherlock Holmes, and Doyle the passionate defender
of “Christian Spiritualism”. In this essay, I aim to explore this alleged tension, ultimately arguing that these two Doyles need not be in tension—the only true tension being between the two terms in Doyle’s preferred philosophy, “Christian Spiritualism”.

Over the course of history, darkness and creatures associated with the dark have long been vilifi... more Over the course of history, darkness and creatures associated with the dark have long been vilified. Yet according to Adam Barkman, this vilification has often resulted in both aesthetic and ethical injustice. At the root of these injustices is humanity’s constant failure both to keep the literal and the metaphorical separate and to remember that all creation – both in its individual parts and as a whole – was created and declared good. Thus, in this paper, Barkman considers how we should understand, speak about and act in regard to darkness and creatures
associated with the dark.

Revisiting Aquinas’ Proofs for the Existence of God, 2016

Revisiting Aquinas’ Proofs for the Existence of God., 2016

After probing issues of chronology closer, I feel more strongly than ever that Professor Van Leeu... more After probing issues of chronology closer, I feel more strongly than ever that Professor Van Leeuwen errs when she claims in her central thesis that Lewis came to change his mind about gender hierarchy and gender essentialism after he met his wife, Joy Davidman. Furthermore, I believe she gets this wrong not only because she fails to look at all the evidence, but also because she shockingly ignores Lewis’ biblical reasons for believing in gender hierarchy and gender essentialism. My claim, therefore, is (1) Lewis did not change his mind after he got married, and (2) he did not do so firstly because the Bible supports hierarchy and only secondly because of other authorities.

Lexington Books, 2020

Lexington Press, 2019

All of these and many other issues are discussed through a detailed examination of the actual characters and situations in Downton Abbey.

Publisher: Open Court

Publication Date: Jul 13, 2010

Religions, 2021

Revisiting Aquinas’ Proofs for the Existence of God, 2016

Revisiting Aquinas’ Proofs for the Existence of God., 2016

C. S. Lewis’s Christian Apologetics: Pro and Con , 2015

C. S. Lewis’s Christian Apologetics: Pro and Con, 2015

University Press of Kentucky , 2014

Regarding Henry, J. J. Abrams’ first solo attempt at writing a screenplay, is one of the most und... more Regarding Henry, J. J. Abrams’ first solo attempt at writing a screenplay, is one of the most underrated films of the ‘90s. Not only does it feature Harrison Ford at his best (which already makes it worth the price of admission), but also – more importantly – it has a clear, powerful storyline concerning one of the most important philosophical topics of all: ethical transformation. Consequently, what I’d like to do in this chapter is to examine ethical transformation – especially the ethical transformation of Henry Turner, Regarding Henry’s protagonist – vis-à-vis philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff’s theory of justice. Ultimately my goal is to answer the question poised in this chapter’s title: “Do we all need to get shot in the head (in order to become better, happier people)?”

The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott , 2013

Comparisons between western and eastern philosophies are uncommon and this, among other things, h... more Comparisons between western and eastern philosophies are uncommon and this, among other things, hinders global philosophical discourse. Thus, in this essay I want to compare the philosophies of the Buddha and Epicurus for similarities, particularly in regard to what I call “negative happiness,” or the belief that happiness is intimately connected with non-suffering. Ultimately, I will maintain that while this understanding of happiness is helpful, it remains inadequate.

University Press of Kentucky , 2014

Electricity is the source upon which our modern technologized society is dependent. Many technolo... more Electricity is the source upon which our modern technologized society is dependent. Many technologies that we take for granted every day, such as cellphones and computers, rely upon this source of power. But what would happen if one day everything just shut off? How would human beings survive in a world without electricity? Such a world is realized in J. J. Abrams’ Revolution.

C. S. Lewis’s List: The Ten Books That Influenced Him Most, 2015

Philosophy and Breaking Bad, 2016

While C. S. Lewis and his theology are loved by Christians as diverse as Anglicans and Eastern Or... more While C. S. Lewis and his theology are loved by Christians as diverse as Anglicans and Eastern Orthodox, Pentacostals and Catholics, he remains unread, and at times even reviled, by many Calvinists. This is partly due to Lewis's uncharacteristic hostility to the major figures in Calvinism, and partly due to the quick-to-judge spirit that has often characterized zealous Calvinists. In neither case, however, is Lewis's actual theology and Christian world view deeply antithetical to Calvinism. Emotion more than reason has caused this sad divide. Thus, this paper endeavors to show how Lewis is actually very close to Calvinism, and why both need to pay more attention to this.

Wä hrend so unterschiedliche Christen wie Anglikaner, Orthodoxe, Anhän-ger der Pfingstbewegung und Katholiken C. S. Lewis und seine Theologie schä tzen, wird er von vielen Kalvinisten nicht gelesen, ja manchmal sogar geschmä ht. Zum Teil ist das zurü ckzufü hren auf Lewis' untypische Feind-seligkeit gegenü ber herausragenden Vertretern des Kalvinismus, zum Teil auch auf die Neigung zu vorschnellen Verurteilungen, die einige eifrige Kal-vinisten an den Tag gelegt haben. Auf keinen Fall aber stehen Lewis' tat-sä chliche Theologie und sein christliches Weltbild in einem tiefen Gegensatz zum Kalvinismus. Der Antagonismus grü ndet eher auf Gefü hlen als auf rationalen Urteilen. Dieser Aufsatz versucht daher zu zeigen, dass Lewis eigentlich dem Kalvinismus sehr nahe steht, und weshalb beide Seiten stä r-ker auf diese Gemeinsamkeiten achten sollten.

Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies 9, no. 27 , Dec 1, 2010

In this paper Barkman begins by arguing that anime and manga are important windows into the world... more In this paper Barkman begins by arguing that anime and manga are important windows into the worldviews of many people and as such should be taken seriously by religious experts and philosophers interested in cultural criticism. With particular focus on how Christianity is represented in anime and manga, Barkman first identifies major themes in anime and manga having to do with Christianity (such as pluralism, gender and so on) and second critiques this from a traditional Christian perspective.

Recently, I was in North Korea seeing the sights and engaging in some general research into the p... more Recently, I was in North Korea seeing the sights and engaging in some general research into the philosophical mood of its people. After exploring the desolate, zombie-like town of Kaesong, I happened upon a small shop selling such things as the North’s own brand of Coca-Cola, stamps with Kim Jung Il’s face on them, a myriad of different types of Chinese medicine and, of all things, a manhwa – the Korean name for manga – containing some of the most impressive art I had ever seen; indeed, to my utter surprise, the images in the North Korean manhwa filled me with a deep yearning for something quite inexplicable. Naturally, as a professor of philosophy, I felt obliged to investigate this phenomenon further.

30 Rock and Philosophy , 2010

There is a need for comedy to be analyzed by philosophers and rational people in general to see j... more There is a need for comedy to be analyzed by philosophers and rational people in general to see just what kinds of beliefs they are being exposed to and, on some level, endorsing through their laughter. Consequently, in this chapter I want to examine the morality presented in 30 Rock – the morality, to take a phrase from Jack Donaghy, of “the semi-virtuous” (3.1) – and then critique this in light of a combined Confucian-Aristotelian virtue ethic. The reason for combining Confucian and Aristotelian ethics together is to increase the credibility of the critique, for the Confucian theory of virtue is arguably the most influential ethical theory in the East, while Aristotelian theory is its equivalent in the West and together their shared global insight should help us to better contextualize the morality and representations of virtue we encounter in 30 Rock.

Comment , 2012

Summer 2011 saw the release of the HBO documentary Superheroes, which filmed the exploits of fift... more Summer 2011 saw the release of the HBO documentary Superheroes, which filmed the exploits of fifty real-life, self-styled superheroes across North America. One such superhero, Thanatos, has patrolled Vancouver for four years, mostly handing out bottled water and blankets to the homeless, but, of course, always doing so while wearing his green skull mask to hide his true identity. Another, Benjamin Foder, a.k.a. Phoenix Jones, was recently forced to unmask after being arrested for using pepper spray to help break up a fight outside a Seattle nightclub. What is clear from the documentary is while most, if not all, of these real-life superheroes have strong individual desires to promote public justice, they tend to see the political system, especially the police force, as broken, corrupt or compromised, and so, for the sake of moral integrity and symbolic purity, choose to work outside of it. This, I shall argue, is the political legacy of their fictitious forefathers, the greatest superheroes of the DC and Marvel universes.

Tattoos: Philosophy for Everyone, 2012