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Popular Culture and Philosophy #96

Hannibal Lecter and Philosophy: The Heart of the Matter

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Hannibal Lecter, the subject of best-selling novels, movies, and the acclaimed TV series Hannibal , is one of pop culture's most compelling characters. In Hannibal Lecter and Philosophy , 16 philosophers come at Hannibal the way he comes at his victims — from unexpected angles and with plenty of surprises.

What does the relationship between Hannibal and those who know him — particularly FBI investigator Will Graham — tell us about the nature of friendship? Does Hannibal confer benefits on society by eliminating people who don’t live up to his high aesthetic standards? Can upsetting experiences in early childhood turn you into a serial killer? Why are we enthralled by someone who exercises god-like control over situations and people? Does it make any difference morally that a killer eats his victims? Can a murder be a work of art?

Several chapters look at the mind of this proud and accomplished killer, psychiatrist, and gourmet cook. Is he a sociopath or a psychopath, or are these the same? Is he lacking in empathy? Does his moral blindness give him compensating abilities, the way literally blind people gain heightened senses? Does it harm us that we are drawn into Hannibal’s world by identifying with him?

288 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2015

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Joseph Westfall

8 books2 followers

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5 stars
51 (26%)
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71 (37%)
3 stars
56 (29%)
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11 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Buck Wilde.
1,054 reviews67 followers
October 19, 2016
By far, the best of the Pop Culture and Philosophy books. Now, granted, I'm biased, but this swerved into psychology a lot more, as one would expect, given the subject matter.

Every single essay was good, except the one by that dude who like Manhunter. It got me thinking a lot about aesthetics. I was a big fan of the distance required to appreciate art, and how with insufficient distance you don't get it, and with too much distance you clatter into the dry, tedious mechanics, like type of paint. That was the reason I didn't major in English or Creative Writing, contrary to what everyone seems to believe. I like writing, and reading, and didn't want it reduced to a set of technical specifications.

Hannilec's distance is so perfectly calibrated that the sublime and grotesque don't get their divider, and both are transcendent, both become art in their fashion, and anyone who challenges the Beauty of the Real must be dealt with. How to deal? Make 'em dinner! No, like, make 'EM dinner.

There were some other fun nuggets about ethical cannibalism and how Hannibal is basically both God and Dexter, in intervals. It was an excellent book. I made special trips to Barnes and Noble to marathon it in two days.

My next stop is some aesthetic-revisionary named Siegel. Reading philosophy is a real hassle, though, and I'm almost up to speed on my 2016 Book Challenge, so it'll have to wait.

Author 3 books1 follower
November 22, 2018
A rather tasty treat, Hannibal Lecter and Philosophy: The Heart of the Matter delves into the world of everyone’s favorite cannibalistic serial killer. Featuring 18 articles, a number of philosophy scholars sink their teeth into such issues as the morality of cannibalism, professional ethics, empathy, and aestheticism. Several of the articles are quite enlightening and make some interesting points. However, there are a few that ramble on endlessly. And, while the Hannibal novels and film adaptations are discussed, it’s the television series that seems to get most of the writers’ attention; which leaves those who aren’t familiar with it a little disoriented. Nevertheless, Hannibal Lecter and Philosophy: The Heart of the Matter is an entertaining and thought-provoking read. So have an old friend for dinner and enjoy.
Profile Image for Rudolph.
149 reviews4 followers
July 22, 2017
I can only properly judge this philosophical collection directed toward the Thomas Harris series of concerning Hannibal Lector as a Fannibal myself in saying that this is a well done addition to the popular culture and philosophy collection. Covering all of the films Manhunter-Hannibal Rising, the books, and the tv series, with more than fifteen different writers, philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, film experts, and more, placing their theories concerning the Hannibal Lector series to the chopping block (where Hannibal would likely place his 'rude' objectors) giving insights of each characters that we may or may not have heard, before finishing us off with a nice Chianti.
Profile Image for Kat Connors.
67 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2016
It was ok. Like most of the books in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series the essays are really hit or miss. Of the 18 selections I would say maybe 5 or 6 really stood out as well-researched, intelligently written and engaging. The rest are fluffy at best and downright obnoxious and unreadable at worst.

I know these books are curated with an eye towards for the entertainment more than the academic philosophy, but I'd like to think I'd be able to get through a collection of philosophical essays without reading the words "double omg!!" -_-
Profile Image for Nash Bridges.
185 reviews15 followers
September 4, 2024
If you love the idea of Hannibal Lecter

Definitely read this book....it dives into the 4 different Hannibal's in an amazing philosophical deep dive. I will definitely get the physical copy and reread it many times
7 reviews
January 1, 2023
Leans more into psychology than philosophy, although both are present, and explores several themes, argues philosophical virtues, through the collection of essays.

Because of this, be prepared for some repetition, though there is variety as writers focus on movie, novel and TV series Lecter portrayals in different weights.

All in all, a good read if you’re a fan of the Hannibal Lecter universe.
Profile Image for Mariana.
131 reviews9 followers
December 26, 2022
Some essays are quite good and make interesting points whilst some could be scrapped altogether (specially the one defining Will and Hannibal’s relation on the tv adaptation as “homosocial” and going as far as saying Will and Hannibal are rivals in career and sexual prowess in one of the most outstanding lack of reading comprehension essays in the book).
Profile Image for Amanda.
577 reviews8 followers
September 24, 2016
I didn't expect to be blown away by this book, but I was hoping it would be slightly better than it is. So many of the essays are shallow or don't really prove their thesis that most of the time I felt like I would have been better off reading fan metas--at least the fans wouldn't have gotten characters' names wrong, unlike some of the contributors to this book!

There were a couple of standout essays: Andrew Pavelich's "The Light from Friendship," about Hannibal's and Will Graham's relationship in the TV series; Joseph Westfall's essay on Hannibal's sense of humor, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Dinner Party"; and "Doctor, Heal Thyself," Richard McClelland's explication/defense of the way Thomas Harris ended Hannibal, were all worthwhile reads, but there is little in this volume that anyone interested enough in Hannibal Lecter to pick up a book about him wouldn't have already thought of themselves.
Profile Image for Jason.
127 reviews28 followers
February 8, 2016
I have read many of the volumes in the Pop Culture and Philosophy series. This latest entry is one of the better ones to have appeared. There is much thoughtful and witty examination of the character of Hannibal Lecter such that even those like myself, who have little attraction to the horror genre or to the Lecter books/movies/television show, will find something worthwhile in this anthology. Particularly of interest to me were the essays on the humor of Hannibal Lecter, as well as his aestheticism.

Profile Image for Colby Denton.
47 reviews2 followers
May 1, 2016
This was one of the most insightful books that I have ever read. It not only utilizes viewpoints from Nietzsche, Kant and Carrol, it also goes over the morals of killing the unjust, the reason that Hannibal Lecter is not like textbook killers and also why the audience still paradoxically loves Hannibal while we are still disgusted with his actions at the same time.
Profile Image for Allison.
7 reviews
July 17, 2016
I am slightly obsessed with all things Hannibal Lecter so when I saw this book out of the corner of my eye I immediately grabbed it. There are many insightful aspects of this book. I love digging around the mind of Hannibal. The only reason I gave it three stars was because its not a book I would reread.
Profile Image for Gabriel.
24 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2016
Amusing, I'll likely rebinge the series a bit again to see these elements.
Profile Image for Rose Grey.
19 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2024
After recently binge watching all three seasons of the television series, I was eager to learn more about this fascinating character and stumbled upon this anthology, which explored the nuances of Hannibal in sixteen essays by philosophers.

As a whole, I enjoyed the collection. While some essays touched upon ideas that are self-evident to anyone familiar with the different versions of Hannibal, the majority are thought-provoking and made me look at Hannibal Lecter from a different perspective. The collection is organized into six sections that cover topics ranging from the aesthetics of killing to the influence of humor on the audience’s perception of characters. This broad scope kept me interested, although it took several days to finish the book in its entirety because I often found myself stopping after an essay or two to reflect upon the arguments the writers were making.

One of the highlights of the book is “The Light from Friendship” by Andrew Pavelich, which explores the effects of the opposing Nietzchen and Aristotlelian ideas of friendship. I found the essay to be particularly well-written, and although it does not incorporate anything from the third season of the show since this book was released prior to it, Pavelich utilizes the source material without over summarizing. Some of the other essays that stand out were “Psychopaths, Outlaws, and Us” by Richard McClelland, which analyzes the psychology behind Hannibal’s actions, and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Dinner Party” by Joseph Westfall, which discusses how incongruences create humor in the franchise.

However, this book fell victim to a flaw that anthologies are especially prone to: inconsistency in the level of writing. One example that stands out is “The Art of Killing” by Andrea Zanin, which started out by analyzing the unique presentation of aestheticism in Hannibal in a professional tone, but is punctuated by moments of informality that only serve to distract from her argument. Although these essays are not presented in a strictly academic setting, I was not impressed with the use of “Omg,” “Double omg,” and “Triple omg” (Zanin 193), especially since these interjections are used to validate her argument. Another essay that exhibits this progression from formal to informal was “A Little Empathy for Hannibal Is a Dangerous Thing” by Tim Jones, which includes a script between Hannibal and a theoretical empathetic therapist Tim near the end of the essay; rather than demonstrate the utility of empathy, the inclusion of details like “[In a tone of spontaneous dramatic breakdown]” and “[sobbing in an operatic fashion]” (Jones 155) makes it difficult to seriously consider the point Jones is trying to make and weakens his argument.

Repetition is another apparent issue within the book. This stems from the authors summarizing the same events that shaped Hannibal in their essays to support their arguments. While I at first found this beneficial since I am not as familiar with the rest of the Hannibal franchise as I am with the television series, the summarization felt unwarranted at certain points, which led me to only skim some pages. Furthermore, with so many sources within the Hannibal franchise to utilize, I was disappointed that certain quotes were used in excess. Although it is not used in the exact same way each time it appears, a variation of the infamous quote “A census taker tried to test me once. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti” is used approximately seven times.

Although it has its flaws, I thought the anthology was a fascinating read. In particular, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Hannibal. While having some background in the different versions of Hannibal is not required due to the summarizations, some familiarity would give better context for a few of the essays. If you are looking to learn more about the multifaceted nature and presentation of Hannibal Lecter, this anthology satisfies that hunger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Zara.
22 reviews
December 4, 2022
Read this for my research paper on Hannibal Lecter's cannibalistic philosophy in the TV series. The book started out very strong (the first three essays were very useful), but it lost its point during the remainder. The essays became repeatitive (try taking a shot every time Übermensch is mentioned), tiresome even. Nevertheless, the first couple of chapters were very entertaining and I'd recommend you give them a shot.
Just take everything with a grain of salt, especially if the essayist describes Hannibal and Will's relationship as purely platonic (in the TV series, of course).
Profile Image for Josh.
110 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2024
Despite its repulsive and often disturbing themes, I found this book enjoyable. Exploring the nature of good and evil, and the paradox of horror, I gained much insight into why we might sometimes be curious about the monsters that could potentially be real; understanding ourselves a bit better in the process. Perhaps the common refrain “having a friend for dinner” will never mean the same thing again.
Profile Image for LiA.
19 reviews
October 4, 2024
Best. Book. I've EVER read. Loved the connections, the attention to details, narration... if you are a Fannibal, this book combines philosophy and aesthetic in one, big juicy masterpiece. Will never get tired of reading this.
Profile Image for L.E. Daniels.
Author 12 books34 followers
November 5, 2021
I wanted to love this more, but it's a tad repetitive. Still, there are wonderful ideas at the start.
Profile Image for Kara Mincy.
4 reviews
March 21, 2022
I’m not very loquacious about reviews. It’s fine. It’s not great. Meh? I think that sums this one up.
21 reviews16 followers
February 20, 2024
Interesting look at Hannibal and his character through philosophical lenses.
Profile Image for Layla.
30 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2024
read this forever ago. 4 stars, would be higher if it wasn't for that random Chuck Klosterman wannabe who just name-dropped obscure references the whole time.
48 reviews
November 30, 2024
Interesting read but repetitive.

I enjoyed the book overall but it is extremely repetitive and could have been shorter. A good read for an avid Hannibal fan.
Profile Image for Maddie Brymner.
14 reviews
January 26, 2025
Amusing, quite silly, and occasionally insightful. Andrew Pavelich’s essay “The Light from Friendship” was particularly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Mickey.
220 reviews49 followers
May 21, 2019
I’ve been a fan of this series of books for several years and have read over a dozen of them. This particular book is one of the best that I’ve read. I’m not entirely sure what it is that makes this so. I don’t think that it’s due to love of the subject: I was disappointed in Breaking Bad and Philosophy, and Breaking Bad is my favorite tv show of all time. Furthermore, I’m not even sure I would qualify as a fan of Hannibal Lector. I saw the movie The Silence of the Lambs and didn’t understand the hoopla surrounding it. I also read the paperback once on vacation when there were no other books to be had. I wasn’t impressed with it. I do love the second movie Hannibal, though. The recent television series has been in my queue for years now-still unwatched. Oddly enough, there seems to be an inverse relationship between how well I know (and love) a subject and how interesting I find the commentary on it. Come to think of it, I can remember how much I enjoyed Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy, and I have never heard most of his songs. Perhaps it helps to read about things that I don’t know much about so that I’m not constantly disagreeing with the authors. Shoot, I really have become that cantankerous.

There are several things that make this book stand out from the others that I’ve read in the series. There was a very high amount of clever, cheeky word play, such as this excerpt which discusses Lecter’s popular dinner parties:

And this, perhaps, is Hannibal Lecter’s ultimate goal: he would, were he given the opportunity, make cannibals-or canapes-of us all. (page 30)

Get it? Cannibals or canapes! So cheeky and fun! There is also a pronounced playfulness in the many essays.

As you can imagine, most of the essays dealt with variations on the theme of cannibalism. There is also a real struggle with the idea of a cultured person being so depraved. The essays are written by philosophy professors, and you can imagine that their particular outlook predisposes them kindly to a man who is so cultured. So the Talmudic hairsplitting becomes a big part of the entertainment.

Some standouts:
“Hello, Dr. Lecter” by Joseph Westfall: Excellent and comprehensive overview and introduction

“Cosmopolitan Cannibal” by Mandy-Suzanne Wong: Imagined conversation between essayist and Hannibal on cannibalism, human dignity, and human worth.

“What’s So Bad about Eating People?” by Benjamin McCraw: Examination into various ethical theories and rationalizations for Hannibal.

“Consuming Homicidal Art” by John McAteer: Surprisingly meaty look at the ability to appreciate (or make) art aesthetically.

“Not Knowing Serial Killers with Hannibal Lecktor” by Jason Davis: Explains concepts of known-knowns, known-unknowns, and unknown-unknowns. Also compares movies with realities of serial killers. Very engaging.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Dinner Party” by Joseph Wes: A look at the different portrayals of H.L.

“Doctor, Heal Thyself” by Richard McClelland: Psychological Trauma and the healing relationship between Starling and Lector.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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