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.

中文翻译：

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“我非常痛苦，请帮助我”：虚无主义、幽默和瑞克和莫蒂


作为卡通频道有史以来最成功的节目之一，瑞克和莫蒂（2013 年至今）因其融合了黑色幽默和存在主义主题而建立了一批狂热的追随者。然而，该节目不仅仅是流行虚无主义的代表;通过对虚无主义主题的持续参与，它还展示了虚无主义如何被接受、耗尽，并可能最终在流行的环境中被超越。借鉴理查德·霍格特 （Richard Hoggart） 的“社会解释学”模型，本文分析了关键事件，以此作为思考虚无主义作为 21 世纪流行文化有影响力元素的更广泛轨迹。