House of Cards and Philosophy

Is Democracy overrated? Does power corrupt? Or do corrupt people seek power? Do corporate puppet masters pull politicians’ strings? Why does Frank talk to the camera? Can politics deliver on the promise of justice? House of Cards depicts our worst fears about politics today. Love him or loathe him, Frank Underwood has charted an inimitable course through Washington politics. He and his cohorts depict the darkest dealings within the gleaming halls of our most revered political institutions. These 24 original essays examine key philosophical issues behind the critically-acclaimed series—questions of truth, justice, equality, opportunity, and privilege. The amoral machinations of Underwood, the ultimate anti-hero, serve as an ideal backdrop for a discussion of the political theories of philosophers as diverse as Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche, Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Marx. From political and corporate ethics, race relations, and ruthless paragmatism to mass media collusion and sexual politics, these essays tackle a range of issues important not only to the series but to our understanding of society today.

Introduction: Contemplating a House of Cards 1 Part I Socrates, Plato, and Frank 3 1 Of Sheep, Shepherds, and a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: The Cynical View of Politics in House of Cards and Plato’s Republic 5 James Ketchen and Michael Yeo 2 Being versus Seeming: Socrates and the Lessons of Francis Underwood’s Asides 16 John Scott Gray Part II Imagining Possibilities: American Ideals in House of Cards 29 3 Frank Underwood Gives the Ideal Society a Reality Check 31 Brian Kogelmann 4 “What Will We Leave Behind?” Claire Underwood’s American Dream 42 Sarah J. Palm and Kenneth W. Stikkers Part III Characterizing Frank: Übermensch or the Prince 53 5 Underwood as Übermensch: A Postmodern Play of Power 55 Leslie A. Aarons 6 Why Underwood Is Frankly Not an Overman 68 Matt Meyer 7 American Machiavelli 81 Greg Littmann 8 Machiavelli Would Not Be Impressed 92 Don Fallis 9 Is Frank the Man for the Job? House of Cards and the Problem of Dirty Hands 102 Tomer J. Perry Part IV Classical Liberalism and Democracy 113 10 Frank the Foole, Upon a House of Cards 115 Shane D. Courtland 11 Hobbes and Frank on Why Democracy Is Overrated 128 Steven Michels 12 “Democracy Is So Overrated”: The Shortcomings of Popular Rule 141 Brendan Shea 13 “Money Gives Power Well, a Run for Its Money”: Marx’s Observations on Why Capital and Not Frank Is Really in Charge of the White House 152 Chris Byron and Nathan Wood 14 Freedom and Democracy in a House of Fear 163 Roberto Sirvent and Ian Diorio Part V Intrapersonal Relationships, Sexuality, and Race in House of Cards 173 15 Under the Covers with the Underwoods: The Sexual Politics of the Underwood Marriage 175 Jason Southworth and Ruth Tallman 16 The Spice of White Life: Freddy and Racist Representations 187 Stephanie Rivera Berruz 17 Broken Friendships and the Pathology of Corporate Personhood in House of Cards 197 Myron Moses Jackson Part VI Existential Realities: Self-Love and Freedom 207 18 Praying to One’s Self, for One’s Self: Frank’s Ethics and Politics of Autoeroticism 209 Kody W. Cooper 19 Existential Freedom, Self-Interest, and Frank Underwood’s Underhandedness 219 J. Edward Hackett Part VII Let Me Be Frank with You: Agency, Aesthetics, and Intention 227 20 Rooting for the Villain: Frank Underwood and the Lack of Imaginative Resistance 229 László Kajtár 21 Frank Underwood’s Intentions 237 Angelica Kaufmann 22 Francis Underwood’s Magical Political Mystery Tour Is Dying to Take You Away; Dying to Take You Away, Take You Today 245 Austin Dressen and Charles Taliaferro Part VII Virtue and Character in House of Cards 255 23 Frank Underwood and the Virtue of Friendship 257 Katherine K. Johnson 24 Have You No Decency? Who Is Worse, Claire or Frank? 265 Randall Auxier President Frank Underwood’s White House Staff (Contributors) 282 Index 289