Jamey Heit

Set in the future dystopia of Panem, The Hunger Games trilogy follows the rise of a provincial rebellion against the wealthy and tyrannical "Capitol." As narrator and heroine, Katniss Everdeen comes to embody the hope of the long oppressed for a new order. During her journey some of our most urgent political questions are addressed. What does it mean to be a leader? Can the oppressed recover a political identity that affirms individual values and freedoms? Do the media necessarily corrupt political discourse? This critical study of The Hunger Games explores novels in the context of how we think about the nature of politics, the value of the individual and the importance of political action. The author draws parallels between Panem and the Roman Empire, considering Herod's Massacre of the Innocents alongside Haymitch Abernathy's elusive political influence as mentor of tributes. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

From 1985 to 1995, the syndicated comic strip Calvin and Hobbes followed the antics of a precocious six-year-old boy and his sardonic stuffed tiger. At the height of its popularity, the strip ran in more than 2,400 newspapers and generated a fan base that continues to run in the millions. This critical analysis of Calvin and Hobbes explores Calvin's world and its deep reservoir of meanings. Close readings of individual strips highlight the profundity of Calvin's world with respect to a number of life's big questions, including the things that one values, friendship, God, death, and other struggles in life. By engaging with Calvin and Hobbes as more than "just" a comic strip, this work demonstrates how the imagination remains an invaluable resource for making sense of the world. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

This book explores the theological voice of The Simpsons. Initially shunned by many in the Christian community when it made its television debut almost twenty years ago, after four hundred (and counting) episodes, and a feature-length film, few can deny that The Simpsons exhibits an astute understanding of Christianity in American culture. Its critiques of that culture are worth studying in detail. Jamey Heit's "The Springfield Reformation" investigates how The Simpsons blends important elements of contemporary American religious culture with a clear critique of the institutions and individuals that participate in and uphold that culture. Though The Simpsons is clearly a product of American popular culture, its writers offer up a well-planned, theologically informed religious climate in the cartoon world of Springfield. This world mirrors America in a way that allows the show's viewers to recognize that Christianity can hold together a family and a town that is rife with "sin," while at the same time exposing these very shortcomings. Heit focuses on distinct topics such as: god, the soul/the afterlife, prayer, the Christian ethic, evangelism, science versus religion, and faith (particularly in response to the question of why bad things happen to good people). He also explores the connections between various episodes, discussing how these connections, manifest an honest critique of Christianity in America. Engagingly written and guaranteed to appeal to smart, religiously curious fans of the show, Heit maintains that The Simpsons is not only a legitimate theological voice, but also that this voice offers a valuable addition to discussions about Christianity in America.