Ethics in Culture

Professional sports has its own "fast fashion" problem, and its current "solution" is hardly a cure.

The backlash over American Dirt raises important questions about our ability to inhabit the space of the Other.

Netflix's recent adaptation delves into philosophical issues from the problem of dirty hands to questions of utilitarian calculus.

From Carrie Fisher in Star Wars to James Dean in Finding Jack, the use of CGI is expanding. What could be the harm in bringing back beloved icons to the screen?

Songs like Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas" attempt to harness holiday sentiment to support charitable causes. Should they?

Are black female artists fueling the jezebel stereotype or attempting to reclaim the narrative surrounding their sexuality?

Battle lines are being drawn, but what is the generational conflict really all about?

Reception to 'Joker' has tended to extremes. How do time and place define Joker's message? What responsibility do the creators and publishers share in the public's interpretation?

Literary criticism often encourages us to separate the art from the artist, but the Nobel Committee's recognition of Peter Handke makes the issue bigger than what's on the page.

Ellen has defended herself against recent public backlash by asserting a basic obligation to be kind to others. What might this duty entail? What might be its limits?

What might Kanye need absolution for, who might he need it from, and are they inclined to grant it?

The Carson King saga is just the latest chapter in the debate on the value of cancel culture. Is public shaming on social media about anything more than exposure?

Seeking out moral advice from, and offering moral advice to, strangers in a public forum is nothing new. What has changed are the qualifications to claim moral expertise.

Gillis's recent dismissal from SNL raises questions about free speech and the boundaries of offensive content.

The recent theft of a seven-million dollar golden toilet named America is chock-full of symbolism.

Brand-building is taking on the guise of genuine openness. What's the harm? How should we respond when vulnerability obscures more than it reveals?

Is morality to be found in abstracted and universalizable concepts and theories, or in the subjective, situatedness of characters rooted in their earthly contexts? What can literature tell us about our moral universe?

What responsibility, if any, does JAY-Z have with regards to Colin Kaepernick and his partnership with the NFL?

What, if any, obligation does Jay-Z, as a high-profile advocate for social justice and a recognizable brand, have to not condone or distract from the NFL's many public relation problems?

The miniseries takes up a number of philosophical themes (e.g., what it means to know, the nature of authority, the virtue of humility), but chief among these is our existential confrontation with the Absurd.