Pre-Order "Interpreting and Transmitting Kynicism in Joker" by Kyle A. Hammonds, PhD

Dr. Hammonds' book, Interpreting and Transmitting Kynicism in Joker: The Dark Side of Film Fandom, is now available for pre-order through Rowman & Littlefield (Lexington Books) and other major book distributors. Orders will be fulfilled when the book goes to press on June 15, 2024.

Where to pre-order

Pre-orders are open directly on the publisher's site: Interpreting and Transmitting Kynicism in Joker at Rowman & Littlefield.

What the book argues

The book expands on Dr. Hammonds' dissertation research into the dark side of fandom. In short, Interpreting and Transmitting Kynicism in Joker examines the ways malicious fans of major film franchises covertly code hurtful messages into everyday movie talk by fighting for control over the interpretation of their favorite texts. The term kynicism, borrowed from the German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk and the ancient Cynic thinkers before him, names the move where an audience strips a film of its earnest claims and turns the conversation into a vehicle for in-group performance — often ironic, often political.

Dr. Hammonds uses Batman fans' responses to the film Joker (2019) to illustrate how certain fan communities let bigoted speech flourish under the cover of “mere interpretation” of a movie. The book draws on research in communication, philosophy, narrative theory, fan studies, and American culture studies to build a method for spotting malicious rhetors — speakers who use persuasive skill to advance harmful ends — in the act. From there, Dr. Hammonds offers insights into what recent forms of ill-intentioned rhetoric reveal about civic tensions in contemporary American culture.

Save 30% with the launch code

Readers can save 30% on a pre-order by entering Dr. Hammonds' discount code at checkout on the Rowman & Littlefield site: LXFANDF30.