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‘I am in Great Pain, Please Help Me’: Nihilism, Humour, and Rick and Morty

2024; SAGE Publishing; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/17496020241301585

1749-6039

Nicholas Holm, Jennalee Donian,

Narrative Theory and Analysis

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.