OVERVIEW of THE TAO OF JACK BAUER:
24 is one of the most popular television shows of all time – and for good reason. While 24 is an edge-of-your-seat thriller, it also tackles the most pressing issues of our day. 24 provides a springboard for examining cutting edge legal, social, and political issues. And we focus on these issues as our hearts race each Monday night.
The Tao of Jack Bauer is a fascinating look at the ways in which Jack Bauer views the world. The book examines all of the critical issues that the TV series 24 tackles each week. The book will be written largely from an objective perspective, and Steven Keslowitz plans to address the ways in which the show has addressed controversial issues. The book is an important read because it delves deep into some of the most important issues facing our world today: terrorism, the use of torture, globalization, foreign policy, and explores these issues from ethical perspectives. It will explore the actions of Jack Bauer in a fun manner, and will be highly accessible to the broad range of age groups that constitutes the prodigious 24 fan base throughout the entire world.
INTRODUCTION: Long Days (and No Lunch) for Jack Bauer:
The introduction will explore the heroics of Jack Bauer and the rest of the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU). This section will discuss the tremendous popularity of the show (including its global appeal). The introduction will also discuss what the show’s popularity says about America and the perception that other nations have of America. The chapter will discuss 24’s popularity with politicians, its frequent appearances in the news, and its general influence on the world. This chapter will discuss the recent shift in television from the popularity of the 30 minute sitcom to more complex shows such as 24. This chapter will also discuss Steven Johnson’s “Sleeper Curve,” as it applies to complex television shows such as 24. Other “smart” television shows will be compared and contrasted with 24.
CHAPTER 1: Jack Bauer: Lawbreaker or Lawmaker?
This fun chapter discusses the interplay between law and popular culture. Jack Bauer’s influence in the political and judicial arenas is evidenced by frequent references to 24 by judges and politicians. Here, I also argue that Jack Bauer serves as a primary frame of reference for the viewing audience with respect to understanding issues such as torture and civil liberties. This, in turn, affects the expectations of jurors in cases involving national security. This chapter briefly discusses the “CSI Effect,” and argues that the “Jack Bauer Effect” is relevant to an analysis of the reasonableness of the assumptions and expectations of jurors.
This chapter also discusses the role of Jack Bauer in the fictional world of 24, specifically addressing his frequent violations of the law and whether such actions can ever be morally or legally justified.
CHAPTER 2: 24 And Torture: “Where are the Bombs?”
Jack Bauer has tortured dozens of suspected terrorists. This chapter discusses Jack’s decisions to employ torture in specific scenarios.
This chapter will analyze the justifications for the use of torture as well as the relevant counter-arguments. The chapter will also discuss different types of torture. The chapter will use many of the 57 scenes from 24, as well as torture scenes in other TV shows and movies (such as Syriana) as a template for a discussion of torture methods. The chapter will also include discussions of: Alan Dershowitz’s views on torture; the “ticking time bomb” scenario; Israel; the degree of efficacy of torture; Department of Justice memo written to Alberto Gonzalez on the use of torture outside of the United States; human rights; as well as analyses of self-defense and necessity defenses with a look toward contemporary American criminal law and foreign policy considerations. 24 provides its vast audience with a new perspective on torture: prior to 24, the general public did not often have the opportunity to watch torture on television. This crucial visual element has changed the face of the torture debate in American society.
CHAPTER 3: Moral and Ethical Dilemmas: “Don’t do this, Jack!”
This large chapter is devoted to all of the moral dilemmas that characters on 24 have faced at various points. An analysis of CTU agent Tony Almeida’s decision to allow a terrorist to go free in order to save his wife Michelle Dessler, for example, will serve as a template for a discussion of Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism vs. Immanuel Kant’s categorical approach. Powerful and emotional scenes from 24 will be discussed in this chapter, with a critical eye towards the ethical dilemmas that the characters are forced to face. Examples include: Jack Bauer’s extremely controversial decision to force a surgeon to operate on a terrorist in order to save him – but at the expense of preventing the surgeon from operating on Paul Raines, a man who had saved Jack’s life hours earlier; President David Palmer’s order for Jack Bauer to shoot CTU agent Ryan Chappelle; Jack’s numerous decisions to risk the lives of innocent persons in order to save a greater number of people (with a look toward utilitarianism); President Charles Logan’s decision to kill some Americans in order to further his foreign policy agenda; President David Palmer’s decision to cover up scandals; Sherry Palmer’s controversial actions during seasons 1, 2, and 3; examples of deterrence and retribution on the show (such as Jack’s decision to shoot Nina Meyers); dishonesty, finding “the mole,” racial profiling (such as singling out persons of the Muslim faith during season 6 because of their background, as well as placing security restrictions on CTU agent Nadia’s computer); and many other controversial and critical decisions that characters on the series have made.
CHAPTER 4: Jack Bauer and Heroism: A New Type of Hero
This chapter discusses the ways in which Jack Bauer encompasses the modern conception of the hero. This chapter will address the reasons that the world loves Jack Bauer, his faults and imperfections, and how Jack would fare under conceptions of the heroic code. Issues such as Jack’s selflessness, his bravery, and unyielding patriotism will be analyzed.
CHAPTER 5: The Jack Bauer Effect: Civil Liberties, National Security, Jack Bauer, and Senator Russ Feingold
This chapter will be devoted to the tension between sustaining civil liberties and protecting the United States from harm. Constitutional issues will be addressed here. This chapter will largely be based on material from season 6 of 24. The chapter will explore the prodigious influence of Jack Bauer in this hotly contested area. Jack Bauer’s views on national security and civil liberties will be juxtaposed to those of policymakers and philosophers.
CHAPTER 6: Media, Technology, and Terrorism on 24: A discussion of the show’s reliance on technology, as well as commentary on the use of technology by terrorists. A discussion of the politics of technology as seen through the eyes of theorists such as Benjamin Barber, author of Jihad v. McWorld.
CONCLUSION: Additional perspectives on 24, terrorism, torture, and the use of 24 by politicians and leaders in the real world.
Do You Know Jack? – A fun quiz that scores readers based on how closely they identify with super-agent Jack Bauer.
Other Themes and Issues:
The reasons for the show’s immense global popularity will be addressed. Other issues addressed in the book will be globalization, oil (season 5), extremism, modern technology, facets of terrorism (including an analysis of terrorism’s influence on the world, with an eye toward civil libertarian and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz’s views on the matter), biological warfare (season 3), nuclear warfare, the show’s unique structure (each season consists of a single day), the frequent twists and surprises on the show, the upcoming movie, and the frequent killing off of important characters. The book will also discuss the unique way in which the show is written and will quote from interviews by the show’s writers, producers, and cast. I hope to also speak to members of the cast and crew and incorporate this information into the book. The book will contain a number of quotes from the fictional characters on the show, and these quotes will be analyzed from a fun and critical perspective.