The Modern Superhero in Film and Television: Popular Genre and American Culture (Routledge Advances in Comics Studies)

"Hollywood's live-action superhero films currently dominate the worldwide box-office, with the characters enjoying more notoriety through their feature film and television depictions than they have ever before. This book argues that this immense popularity reveals deep cultural concerns about politics, gender, ethnicity, patriotism, and consumerism after the events of 9/11. Superheroes have long been agents of hegemony, fighting for abstract ideals of justice while overall perpetuating the American status quo. Yet at the same time, the book explores how the genre has also been utilized to question and critique these dominant cultural assumptions"--Provided by publisher Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Introduction: The Live-Action Superhero Genre 1 Hollywood Superheroes: Commercial Economy, Spectacle, and the Universe 2 Supermen and Wonder Women: Gender Ideals and Live-Action Superheroes 3 Superheroes Rewriting 9/11 and Remasculinizing America 4 America, Nostalgia, and Exceptionalism 5 Diversity and Marginalization 6 Spoofs, Parody, and Camp Conclusion: Superhero Fatigue? References Index Introduction: The Live Action Superhero Genre -- Hollywood Superheroes: Commercial Economy, Spectacle And The Universe -- Supermen And Wonder Women: Gender Ideals And Live-action Superheroes -- Superheroes Rewriting 9/11 And Remasculinizing America -- America, Nostalgia And Exceptionalism -- Diversity And Marginalization -- Spoofs, Parody And Camp -- Conclusion: Superhero Fatigue?. Jeffrey A. Brown. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.