Superhero Rhetoric from Exceptionalism to Globalization - by Michael Arthur Soares (Hardcover)

About the Book

Superhero Rhetoric from Exceptionalism to Globalization: Up, Up and ...Abroad examines the link between American political culture and superhero narratives as well as the genre's global reach and transformations in various national and cultural contexts.

Book Synopsis

Superhero Rhetoric from Exceptionalism to Globalization: Up, Up and ...Abroad examines superhero narratives through the lens of American rhetoric and globalization. Michael Arthur Soares illustrates how deeply intertwined superhero narratives are with American political culture by analyzing, on the one hand, the rhetoric of American exceptionalism and the representation of American presidents in superhero narratives and, on the other, the prevalence of superhero rhetoric in speeches by American politicians. Turning toward the global mobility of the superhero genre, Soares then offers further insight into the ways in which cultural contexts inform transformations of superheroes and their narratives around the world and how American filmmakers have adjusted their narratives to guarantee their global reach and ability to place films in the global marketplace. Finally, the author considers real-life examples of licensed superhero iconography embodied by individuals around the world who seek to make change in their communities. Ultimately, the chapters examine the journey of superhero rhetoric and how it reaches out to global audiences, across cultural borders and back again.

Review Quotes

"Soares cleverly asks what happens when superhero rhetoric escapes from the confines of the comic book genre. His varied answers to that intriguing question--in arenas ranging from American politics to international relations--are creative, timely, and insightful."

--James Kimble, Seton Hall University

About the Author

Michael Arthur Soares, PhD, is an independent scholar and instructor of English.