The Cinematic Superhero as Social Practice

Zusatztext

<p>This book analyzes the cinematic superhero as social practice. The studys critical context brings together psychoanalysis and restorative and reflective nostalgia as a way of understanding the ideological function of superhero fantasy. It explores the origins of cinematic superhero fantasy from antecedents in myth and religion, to twentieth-century comic book, to the cinematic breakthrough with Superman (1978). The authors then focus on Spider-Man as reflective response to Supermans restorative nostalgia, and read MCUs overarching narrative from Iron Man to End Game in terms of the concurrent social, political, and environmental conditions as a world in crisis. Zornado and Reilly take up Wonder Woman and Black Panther as self-conscious attempts to reflect on gender and race in restorative superhero fantasy, and explore Christopher Nolans Dark Knight trilogy as a meditation on the need for authoritarian fascism. The book concludes with Logan, Wonder Woman 1984, and Amazon PrimesThe Boys as distinctly reflective fantasy narratives critical of the superhero fantasy phenomenon.<br></p>

Autorenportrait

<p>Joseph Zornado is Professor of English at Rhode Island College, USA, and author of numerous essays and books, including Disney and the Dialectic of Desire: Fantasy as Social Practice (Palgrave MacMillan, 2017) and Critical Thinking: Developing the Intellectual Tools for Social Justice (2019).</p><p>Sara Reilly is Adjunct Instructor and Academic Advisor at Rhode Island College, USA. She teaches first-year writing and college success.</p>

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