The 156 episodes of the original Twilight Zone series (1959.64) constitute by
far one of the most influential and enduringly popular of all dramatic series.
It has been revived twice, and has served as the basis for a feature film,
books of short stories, and a comic book. It has introduced many catch-phrases
and mythic images into our culture. All five seasons are available on DVD.

The episodes were often quite consciously intended to provoke thought and
argument about philosophical issues and ideas, and were very effective at
doing so. The issues it treated included, for instance, those of skepticism
in its various forms, the ethics of war and peace, the nature and value of
privacy and personal dignity, the nature and value of knowledge (and of
ignorance), the nature of love, the objectivity of judgments of value,
the nature of happiness, of freedom, and of justice. In addition, some
episodes just are, you might say, philosophical problems in themselves.
They often violated the conventions of classical narration. They often
committed spectacular violations of explanatory closure. As everyone knows,
story lines would often include impossible events. An airliner flies through
time. A man .overhears. the thoughts of others. A woman does not realize that
she is dead. In a great many cases, as everyone knows, the script makes no
attempt to explain why or how they happened. The series required a generation
of viewers to revise the expectations that guided them in interpreting and
appreciating narratives, and challenged them to think about fundamental issues.

This book is for people who want to take up this challenge and reflect on these
revised expectations. One.s thinking on any issue is apt to be most effective
if done together with a companion who can help one to identify and clarify issues.
It can also help, though of course in a different way, if they take provocative
positions on the issues involved, positions to which one might be inspired to
respond. The essays in this volume are meant to provide such help and stimulus.

Download File Size:1.81 MB

---