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The contemporary superhero film : projections of power and identity / Terence McSweeney.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- McSweeney, Terence, 1974- author.
- Series:
- Short cuts (London, England)
- Short cuts: introductions to film studies
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Superhero films--History and criticism.
- Superhero films.
- Comic strip characters in motion pictures.
- Comic books, strips, etc--United States--Film adaptations.
- Comic books, strips, etc.
- United States.
- Genre:
- Film adaptations.
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (ix, 157 pages) : illustrations.
- Place of Publication:
- New York : Wallfower Press, [2020]
- System Details:
- text file
- Summary:
- Audiences around the globe continue to flock to see the latest releases from Marvel and DC studios, making it clear that superhero films resonate with the largest global audience that Hollywood has ever reached. Yet despite dominating theater screens like never before, the superhero genre remains critically marginalized?ignored at best and more often actively maligned. Terence McSweeney examines this global phenomenon, providing a concise and up-to-date overview of the superhero genre. He lays out its narrative codes and conventions, exploring why it appeals to diverse audiences and what it has to say about the world in the first two decades of the twenty-first century. Unpacking the social, ideological, and cultural content of superhero films, he argues that the genre should be considered a barometer of contemporary social anxieties and a reflection of cultural values. McSweeney scrutinizes representations of gender, race, and sexuality as well as how the genre's conventions relate to and comment on contemporary political debates. Beyond American contributions to the genre, the book also features extensive analysis of superhero films from all over the world, contrasting them with the dominant U.S. model. The book's presentation of a range of case studies and critical debates is accessible and engaging for students, scholars, and enthusiasts at all levels.
- Contents:
- 1 The Codes and Conventions of the Contemporary Superhero Film p. 17
- Case Study: Spider-Man p. 29
- Case Study: Deadpool p. 33
- 2 The Mythologies of the Contemporary Superhero Film p. 38
- Case Study: Superman p. 45
- Case Study: Batman p. 49
- 3 Gender and Sexuality in the Contemporary Superhero Film p. 55
- Case Study: Wonder Woman p. 65
- Case Study: The Incredibles p. 69
- 4 Ethnicity in the Contemporary Superhero Film p. 75
- Case Study Hancock p. 80
- Case Study: Black Panther p. 84
- 5 The Global Contemporary Superhero Film p. 88
- Case Study: SuperBob p. 99
- Case Study: Krrish p. 103
- Conclusion: "Is it me or is it getting crazier out there?" The Future of the Contemporary Superhero Film and the Genre"s "Impossible Solutions for Insoluble Problems" p. 109.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references, filmography and index.
- Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI Available via World Wide Web.
- Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on November 17, 2020).
- Other Format:
- Print version: McSweeney, Terence, 1974- The contemporary superhero film
- ISBN:
- 9780231549790
- 0231549792
- Publisher Number:
- 40030205141
- Access Restriction:
- Restricted for use by site license.
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