Superheroes: An Analysis of Popular Cultures Modern Myths

Editorial Reviews. About the Author. Dave Reynolds studied at the Memorial University of Newfoundland wherehe completed his BA in Philosophy and English.
Table of contents

• Review of The Gospel According to Superheroes: Religion and Popular Culture ed. B.J. Oropeza
• Recent Ramblings
• Superheroes Analysis Popular Cultures Modern

Oropeza's collection is not intended for only the devoted and faithful.

All of the essays in this collection show a genuine interest in exploring the theological and ideological implications of superhero comics from a decidedly scholarly perspective. Oropeza's thorough and stimulating introduction to the volume, "Superhero Myths and the Restoration of Paradise," carefully considers and justifies the relevance of the comparative study of superhero myths and theology.

While Oropeza states that the collection "instructs the inquirer on how biblical message. Oropeza insists that "while the characters themselves might not always speak outwardly about religion and the gospel, their stories make implicit and sometimes explicit, points about theology" for their "adventures portray what is latent in mythology, biblical narratives, and philosophical ponderings" 4. The theme of "restored paradise," as he contends, serves as "a prime example of how superhero stories cross over mythical, religious and ideological boundaries" 4.

Recent Ramblings

Oropeza argues that at the center of every human spiritual or intellectual journey is a quest for ever-lasting paradise, for, as a whole, "humanity has lost its original paradise and wants to be restored to it" 6. At the core of every superhero myth — from that of Batman and Superman to that of Spiderman and Spawn — is a tragic loss, be it a loss of homeland, life, love, or peace. Nearly every superhero is figured as a fallen soul, desperate for a reason to carry on in the wake of world- or psyche-altering traumas. But despite their losses, Oropeza contends that "superheroes normally come to an epiphany in which they are commissioned to help others and do battle against evil forces" 7.

Oropeza argues that superhero narratives frequently tap into the sense of a coming apocalypse that can be averted or at least abated through the slaying of some sort of monstrous form for the purpose of restoring an Eden-like paradise to Earth.

As cultural icons, superheroes ultimately serve as "secular agents" through which people can "alleviate some of their anxieties about the future of this planet" 9 by insisting that the forces of good will ultimately triumph over those of evil. Oropeza suggests that for Western society, superheroes function as immortal spirits and that, in their refusal to die or stay dead, "the superheroes echo humanity's latent desire for life everlasting, a benefit of unfettered communication with the giver of life in the new paradise" For Oropeza, superheroes serve an important cultural function; they allow readers to, in essence, vicariously fight injustice and evil and live on through reading or viewing the otherworldly exploits of their superheroes, a contention that is difficult for any comic reader to dispute.

Robertson's excellent and highly informative chapter "The True Ubermensch: Batman as Humanistic Myth" is an exceptionally strong critical reading of the Batman myth.

• When Sex Seems Impossible: Stories of Vaginismus & How You Can Achieve Intimacy?
• '+_.x(b)+"!
• Easily Read Documents Online.
• Race, Wrongs, and Remedies: Group Justice in the 21st Century (Hoover Studies in Politics, Economics?

Robertson argues that Batman, whom he positions as being among the most iconic figures in American popular culture, "can be understood as a prime example of Nietzsche's ubermensch" According to Nietzsche, the figure of ubermensch is that of a healthy, independent and strong individual who operates in the "real world" and "affirms life precisely because he understands suffering and 'the eternal recurrence' of events" When you click on a Sponsored Product ad, you will be taken to an Amazon detail page where you can learn more about the product and purchase it.

To learn more about Amazon Sponsored Products, click here. His graduate research focused on the cultural significance of superhero narratives and culminated in his dissertation Superheroes: His other research interests include moral philosophy, justice, philosophy of literature, semiotics, rhetorical persuasion, and various forms of popular culture.

Would you like to tell us about a lower price? If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support? Learn more about Amazon Prime. Since emerging in the late s, the superhero has become a pervasive figure in North American popular culture. As an extension of ideas presented by Friedrich Nietzsche, Joseph Campbell, and Umberto Eco, this dissertation argues that superhero tales must be regarded as modern mythology.

It follows that people observe and learn social norms of justice from such narratives, since these ideals are intrinsic to the tales. Read more Read less. Sponsored products related to this item What's this?

Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. From Girl to Goddess: Big Ideas Simply Explained. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: The inspiration for the films Blade Runner an The Science of Harry Potter: Set up a giveaway. Feedback If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us. Would you like to report poor quality or formatting in this book? Click here Would you like to report this content as inappropriate?

1. Living the Bucket List Lifestyle;
2. Editorial Reviews?
3. Battling Pornography.
4. Segregation and Apartheid in Twentieth Century South Africa (Rewriting Histories).
5. Running The World: Dublin, Ireland (Blaze Travel Guides).
6. Dorsality: Thinking Back through Technology and Politics (Posthumanities).
7. Comic book superheroes: the gods of modern mythology | Books | The Guardian.

Click here Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? There's a problem loading this menu right now. Get fast, free shipping with Amazon Prime. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. View or edit your browsing history. Get to Know Us. English Choose a language for shopping.



1. Related Video Shorts (0).
2. Superheroes Analysis Popular Cultures Modern – bridgechamberfestival.
3. Perspectives on Thinking, Learning, and Cognitive Styles (Educational Psychology Series)?
4. The World According to Luke Book I: My Life in Knots.
5. Super Heroes: A Modern Mythology.

Not Enabled Word Wise: Not Enabled Screen Reader: Enabled Amazon Best Sellers Rank: Would you like to report this content as inappropriate?