Shows about Nothing

American media is the subject of constant critique. The seeming exaltation of violence, sex, and illicit themes creates virulent opponents of the media and its content. But could it be that the American experiment--even the quest to fulfill the American Dream--actually encourages media to act in a way that deserves these critiques? Thomas Hibbs probes deep into the canon of all things screen to uncover the disturbing truths about the contemporary media landscape. Beneath the shallow faced of evil lies the Nietzschean framework of nihilism--a nothingness that simultaneously undermines notions of right and wrong and destroys any sense of meaning or purpose. And, as Hibbs reveals, the story lines that inhabit today's popular culture bring us dangerously close to Nietzsche's ideal, ruling out--as they often do--any possibility for their characters to make a "right decision." Surveying the blockbuster movie franchises Harry Potter, Avatar, and The Dark Knight, as well as the hit primetime television shows Seinfeld, Mad Men, and even Oprah, Shows about Nothing suggests how popular culture can move beyond nihilism.