| This article is written from a real world point of view and is not considered to be part of the Mad Max canonical narrative. |
Mad Max and Philosophy: Thinking Through the Wasteland was a paperback book released in 2024 that examined the entire Mad Max Saga up to Fury Road through a philosophical lens.
Description[]
The Mad Max Saga is ripe for philosophical examination as the story is steeped in mythology and lore all its own. Mythology is psychology in narrative form and psychology has always been fertile ground for philosophy. So it was only natural that someone would eventually write a book about the philosophies -- the deep themes of Apocalypse, dystopia, life, and death -- behind Mad Max and its genius-creator, George Miller.
Enter Mad Max and Philosophy a collaboration between three individuals -- Matthew P. Meyer, David Koepsell, and William Irwin -- who endeavor to find deeper meaning behind one of the [quietly] greatest film franchises ever conceived and created.
Publisher's Summary[]
Explore the philosophy at the core of the apocalyptic future of Mad Max
Beneath the stylized violence and thrilling car crashes, the Mad Max films consider universal questions about the nature of human life, order and anarchy, justice and moral responsibility, society and technology, and ultimately, human redemption. In Mad Max and Philosophy, a diverse team of political scientists, historians, and philosophers investigates the underlying themes of the blockbuster movie franchise, following Max as he attempts to rebuild himself and the world around him.
Requiring no background in philosophy, this engaging and highly readable book guides you through the barren wastelands of a post-apocalyptic future as you explore ethics and politics in The Wasteland, the importance of costumes and music, humankind's relationship with nature, commerce, gender, religion, madness, and much more.
- Covers all of George Miller's Mad Max films, including Mad Max: Fury Road
- Discusses connections between Mad Max and Nietzsche, Malthus, Mill, Foucault, Sartre, and other major philosophers
- Follows Max's journey from policeman and family man to lost soul in search of redemption
- Examines the future of technology and possible impacts on society, the environment, and access to natural resources
- Delves into feminist themes of Mad Max, such as the reversal of heroic gender roles in Fury Road and relationships between power and procreation
Part of the bestselling Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series, Mad Max and Philosophy: Thinking Through the Wasteland is a must-read for anyone wanting to philosophically engage with Max, Furiosa, and their dystopian world.
External Links[]
- Find the book Mad Max and Philosophy on Amazon.com