Using the Force(s at Hand)

Classroom Philosophy

By: Stephen Garland

Photo courtesy of Goodreads.com

            In thinking about the problem of overteaching literature, I came to realize there’s a powerful educational tool that we tend to underteach and underutilize.  If you spend hours trolling for books in Borders like I do, then you have probably seen some the of the Pop Culture and Philosophy and Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture books.  Popular Culture, by nature, is readily accessible to our students.  These books cover tons of book, television, and film series (e.g. Harry Potter, Star Wars, House, 30 Rock) and give us ways to have literary circles about subjects with which they are already familiar.  Also, they’re simply compilations of several different essayists applying different philosophies to situations in the series (at some point, I’d like to discuss how to pluralize series when you’re discussing two different types of them…is it like moose?).  I’ll be the first to point out that not everyone is a Star Wars fan (even though I’ll never understand that fact).  Fortunately, there are enough options to be relevant to all of your students.

            Before this begins to sound like a commercial for these books, I want to point out that you really only need to read one to start thinking philosophically about popular culture.  Most of them overlap with theories.  For instance, I’ve read several and all of them have mentioned Plato’s Allegory of the Cave (a staple in our sophomore curriculum).  Also, if you find a specific book that you think most of the students could grasp, they could all read a specific essay from the book to discuss.  I would like to warn you that some of the essays are relatively dense, but others are great (Blackwell is the same company that makes the Dummies books, but I wouldn’t point that out to my students in order to preserve their precious psyches). 

Photo courtesy of Expressnightout.com

These books also have a great way of making the reader ask questions that the series and even the philosophy itself did not bring up.  For example, we can all agree that Dumbledore is a pretty altruistic character (despite his running around with Grindlewald as a youth).  His self-sacrifice in Half-Blood Prince is both devastating and noble.  However, he pleads for Snape to kill him.  Stay with me here.  If Dumbledore knew he was in control of the Elder wand, then he would know that eventually Voldemort would have to kill whoever kills him.  Therefore, by asking Snape to kill him (saving Draco from losing his last hope for innocence), Dumbledore ensured that Voldemort would kill Snape.  Deathly Hallows certainly addresses some of Dumbledore’s faults, but this is one that gets neglected.

A less deep issue that The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy brings up is Sirius and his dog alter-ego.  If Sirius is still a person while he’s a dog (going so far as to put his paws on Harry’s shoulders and look earnestly into his eyes to say goodbye as Harry gets on the train for Hogwarts), why does he also chase his tail at times?  I don’t want this to seem like I’m suggesting we talk about literature less and pop culture more.  Some students believe that they don’t have the ability to think about the books they’re reading on deeper levels.  Perhaps having discussions like these before beginning a book unit (or at the beginning of the year) will open them up to deeper thinking.  They will see that it is both possible and interesting to contribute to Socratic Circles.

Also, can you imagine having Star Wars as part of your sub plans?