As Deep as It Gets

Randall E. Auxier is a professor of philosophy and communication studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is a musician, an environmental activist, a union advocate, and a 2018 candidate for the United States House of Representatives in the 12th Congressional District of Illinois. He is a co-founder and co-director of the American Institute for Philosophical and Cultural Thought.

• Note to the Reader ivFrom the Alamo Draft House to the LivingroomCouch (Or There and Back Again) xiiiPart I Rated G: General Audiences 11. I Know Something You Don’t Know-THE PRINCESS BRIDE 32. Lions and Tigers and Bears-SCARY STUFF IN THE WIZARD OF OZ 173. The Monster and the Mensch-A CHILD’S EYE VIEW OF SUPER 8 374. Chef, Socrates, and the Sage of Love-FINDING LOVE IN SOUTH PARK 595. Killing Kenny-DEATH THERAPY IN SOUTH PARK 77Part II Rated PG: Parental Guidance Suggested 896. The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful-SERGIO LEONE’S ANIMALS, ACTORS, AND AESTHETICS 917. Democracy Adrift-HITCHCOCK’S LIFEBOAT 1098. Cuts Like a Knife-CUTTING TO THE CORE OF HIS DARK MATERIALS 1259. Mrs. Coulter—Overwoman?-HER DARK MATERIALS 153Part III Rated R: Restricted Audiences Only 17910. A Very Naughty Boy-GETTING RIGHT WITH BRIAN AND MONTY PYTHON 18111. Have You No Decency?-CLAIRE, FRANK, AND THEIR HOUSE OF CARDS 19912. Vinnie’s Very Bad Day-TWISTING THE TALE OF TIME IN PULP FICTION 22113. Once upon a Time-INCEPTION 24114. Dream Time-INCEPTION 263Part IV Director’s Cut 28915. To Serve Man-A Visit to The Twilight Zone 291Bibliography 315Suggestions for Reading 319Index 327

"As Deep As It Gets is as good as it gets. Few find the philosophy in movies and television as well as Randy Auxier does, and even fewer do it in such a delightful way. These essays are loads of fun, and per-fect for the classroom. Hell, even movie critics are likely to enjoy this fine read!"  -RICHARD GREENE, author of Spoiler Alert! (It's A Book About the Philosophy of Spoilers) (2019)