Preface Theodore Gracyk, Minnesota State University, USA Introduction Stefano Marino, University of Bologna, Italy, and Andrea Schembari, Univesity of Szczecin, Poland 1. Contingency, (In)significance, and the All-Encompassing Trip: Pearl Jam and the Question of the Meaning of Life Stefano Marino, University of Bologna, Italy 2. “Just Like Innocence”: Pearl Jam and the (Re)Discovery of Hope Sam Morris, University of South Carolina Beaufort, USA 3. Who’s the Elderly Band Behind the Counter in a Small Town? Radu Uszkai, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania, and Mihail-Valentin Cernea, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania 4. Making a Choice When There Is No “Better Man” Laura M. Bernhardt, University of Southern Indiana, USA 5. That’s Where We’re Living: Determinism and Free Will in “Unthought Known” Enrico Terrone, University of Torino, Italy 6. No Code Aesthetics Alberto L. Siani, University of Pisa, Italy 7. Can Truth Be Found in the Wild? Paolo Stellino, Nova Institute of Philosophy, Portugal 8. “They Can Buy, But Can’t Put On My Clothes”: Pearl Jam, Grunge, and Subcultural Authenticity in a Postmodern Fashion Climate Stephanie Kramer, Independent Scholar 9. Pearl Jam’s Ghosts: The Ethical Claim Made From the Exiled Space(s) of Homelessness and War—An Aesthetic Response-Ability Jacqueline Moulton, Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts, USA 10. Pearl Jam: Responsible Music or the Tragedy of Culture? Cristina Parapar, Sorbonne University (Paris IV), France 11. Pearl Jam / Nirvana: A Dialectical Vortex that Revolves around the Void Alessandro Alfieri, Accademia Delle Belle Arti Di Roma, Italy 12. The Tide on the Shell: Pearl Jam and the Aquatic Allegories of Existence Andrea Schembari, Univesity of Szczecin, Poland Index

[The] volume has a very specific purpose, that is to investigate, interpret and decipher the contents and philosophical meanings (at various levels: existential, spiritual, ethical, political, purely aesthetic) that are present in the production of the band, combining passion for music with the deepening and rigor of philosophy and literary criticism of the songs.