‘I am in Great Pain, Please Help Me’: Nihilism, Humour, and Rick and Morty
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Date
2024-11-20
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Rights
(c) The author/s
CC BY
CC BY
Abstract
One of Cartoon Network’s most successful shows ever, Rick and Morty (2013–present) has established a cult following for its blend of dark humour and existential themes. However, the show is more than just a representation of popular nihilism; through its sustained engagement with nihilistic themes, it also demonstrates how nihilism can be embraced, exhausted, and potentially eventually surpassed in a popular context. Drawing on Richard Hoggart’s model of “social hermeneutics,” this article analyses key episodes as a means to think through the broader trajectory of nihilism as an influential element of twenty-first century popular culture.
Description
Keywords
Absurdity, comedy, humour, nihilism, Rick and Morty
Citation
Holm N, Donian J. (2024). ‘I am in Great Pain, Please Help Me’: Nihilism, Humour, and Rick and Morty. Critical Studies in Television. Online First. (pp. 1-17).