Game of Thrones: Dragons, Despots, and Just War
The TV show addresses a host of philosophical issues from the principle of proportionality to jus post bellum and realpolitik.
On Censorship, Same-Sex Marriage, and a Cartoon Rat
Recent censorship in Alabama and Arkansas of a cartoon same-sex marriage in a kids' show on public television raises questions about audience and inclusivity. Who is guilty of "having an agenda?"
Elevating the Elite in Music: El Sistema and Cultural Hegemony
What can El Sistema tell us about the politics of music education? What's the right way to promote inclusion?
Should We Mute Michael Jackson?
What obligations do those in the entertainment industry have to the public in the wake of criminal allegations? Is censorship ever appropriate prior to legal conviction? Must public use be a political act?
Game of Thrones, Avengers: Endgame, and the Ethics of Spoilers
Where does the wrong we feel in spoiled book and movie twists come from? What is spoiler etiquette based on?
Banned Books: Why the Restricted Section Is Where Learning Happens
How should we balance the social and educational benefits of controversial literature with the danger it might pose for impressionable young minds?
Santa Clarita Diet and Moral Imperfectionism
The show examines a host of philosophical issues in utilitarian and feminist terms, and even has something to say about non-ideal theory.
Lil Nas X vs. Billboard: The Charting Conundrum of “Old Town...
Are the boundaries of genre serving to create divides based on race in the music industry? And how might Billboard be complicit?
Cultural Value, Charitable Giving, and the Fire at Notre Dame
The fire at Notre Dame was a huge cultural event matched only by the outpouring of support from donations and social media posts in response. But shouldn't there be other things we support just as strongly?
The Ethics of Telling All: What’s at Stake in Memoir Writing?
In memoir writing, where's the line between tell-all and telling too much?