William Irwin 
30 Rock and Philosophy 
We Want to Go to There

A fascinating exploration of the philosophy behind NBC’s
hit TV series, 30 Rock

With edgy writing and a great cast, 30 Rock is one of the
funniest television shows on the air–and where hilarity
ensues, philosophical questions abound: Are Liz Lemon and Jack
Donaghy ethical heroes? Kenneth redefines ‚goody two shoes‘, but
what does it really mean to be good? Dr. Leo Spaceman routinely
demonstrates that medicine is not a science, so what is the
role of the incompetent professional in America today?

In 30 Rock and Philosophy, Tina Fey and her fellow cast
members are thrust onto the philosophical stage with Plato,
Aristotle, Kantand other great thinkers to examine these key
questions and many others that involve the characters and plotlines
of 30 Rock and its fictional TGS with Tracy Jordan
comedy show.

* Takes an entertaining, up-close look at the philosophical
issues behind 30 Rock’s characters and storylines, from
post-feminist ideals to workaholism and the meaning of life

* Equips you with a new understanding of Liz Lemon, Jack Donaghy,
Tracy Jordan, Jenna Maroney, Dr. Spaceman, and other
characters

* Gives you deep and meaningful new reasons (who knew?) for
watching Tina Fey and your other favorites on 30 Rock

Ideal for both casual and diehard fans, this book is the
essential companion for every 30 Rock–watcher.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Thanks for Helping Us

Go to There ix

Introduction: Platonic Fantasies and Tina Fey-losophy 1

PART ONE WHAT WOULD OPRAH DO?: ETHICS AND THE GOOD
LIFE AT 30 ROCK

1 Being Kenneth: Some Moral Lessons 7

P. Sue Dohnimm

2 Sour Lemon: Liz’s Workaholism and the Meaning of Life
16

Jeffrey A. Hinzmann

3 Friendship on 30 Rock: What a Greek Philosopher Can Teach Us
about Companionship 28

Dan Yim

4 A Confucian-Aristotelian Critique of 30 Rock’s
‚Semi-Virtuous Path‘ 43

Adam Barkman

PART TWO THE GIRLIE SHOW: GENDER, RACE, AND SEXUAL
ORIENTATION AT 30 ROCK

5 Race at the Rock: Race Cards, White Myths, and Postracial
America 57

J. Jeremy Wisnewski

6 Getting Gay: How 30 Rock Helps Us Understand Sexuality
75

J. Jeremy Wisnewski

7 And the Followship Award Goes to . . . Third-Wave Feminism?
89

Ashley Barkman

PART THREE DEALBREAKER!: CORPORATIONS, PROFESSIONS,
AND POLITICS

8 Medicine’s Not a Science: Dr. Leo Spaceman and the Role
of the Incompetent Professional in Today’s America 101

Kevin S. Decker

9 Is There a Difference between East Coast Television and
Microwave Ovens?: Moral Questions about Corporate Management
114

Andrew Terjesen

10 The Emancipation Corporation: Loving and Loathing the
Shinehardt Wigs of the World 130

Nicolas Michaud

11 Liz and Jack Can’t Be Friends!: Communitarianism,
Libertarianism, and Politics at 30 Rock 138

Nicolas Michaud

PART FOUR MIND GRAPES (TO NOURISH YOUR
THINKING)

12 ‚The Bubble, ‚ the Cave, and Samsara: Being
Deluded at 30 Rock 149

Adam Barkman

13 Of Cookie Jars and CEOs: Time and Self on 30 Rock 161

Tyler Shores

14 One City’s Cheese-Curl Addict Is Another City’s
Model: A Question of Taste 174

Michael Da Silva and Melina Found

15 ‚I’m Straight-Up Mentally Ill‘: Tracy
Jordan and True, Justified Belief 186

Robert Arp

16 Performing at 30 Rock (and Everywhere Else) 195

Marc E. Shaw

APPENDIX 1 : Frank’s Hat Store 209

APPENDIX 2 : The Wisdom of the Page: Meet Kenneth Ellen Parcell
211

CONTRIBUTORS: Cast Members of 30 Rock and Philosophy 217

INDEX: Shinehardt Wig Company Filing System 221

Über den Autor

J. JEREMY WISNEWSKI is an associate professor of philosophy
at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. He coedited X-Men and
Philosophy and Twilight and Philosophy and edited
Family Guy and Philosophy and The Office and
Philosophy.

WILLIAM IRWIN is a professor of philosophy at King’s
College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He originated the philosophy
and popular culture genre of books as coeditor of the bestselling
The Simpsons and Philosophy and has overseen recent titles
including Batman and Philosophy, House and Philosophy, and
Mad Men and Philosophy.