
Superhero Blockbusters
Seriality and Politics
Felix Brinker(Author)
Edinburgh University Press
92nd Edition
Published on 12. February 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-4744-8519-7 (ISBN)
Description
This is the first book-length study to examine the enduring popularity of block-buster films based on DC or Marvel superhero comics properties. It argues that the success of superhero movies is rooted in aesthetic practices unavailable to other types of film, and suggests that the multi-dimensional seriality of these movies, combining practices of serialisation, adaptation, and transmedia storytelling, endows them with an unmatched potential to engage audiences over time and to actively intervene in the discourses of online fandom. The book develops a critical theory of digital-era popular seriality, examining the narrative strategies of superhero movies and their evolution, from 1978's Superman to 2018's Avengers: Infinity War and beyond. It discusses textual and extra-textual practices of fan mobilisation, and considers the genre's shared political imaginary and its purchase on contemporary political debates.
Reviews / Votes
An absolutely essential new study of the unprecedented impact the superhero genre has had on culture, ideology, and the entertainment industry. Brinker's sharp, precise, and fiercely critical analysis combines a deep knowledge of the genre and its socio-cultural practices with an impressive theoretical framework. -- Dr. Dan Hassler-Forest, Utrecht University Superhero Blockbusters is about more than superhero movies. It is a clear-eyed assessment of the ideological functions of popular seriality and the political economy of digital capitalism more generally. Steering a course between celebratory naivete and excessive pessimism, Brinker shows that what's at stake in these big-budget spectacles is nothing less than a model for the management of time and of life today. -- Shane Denson, Stanford UniversityMore details
Series
Edition
92,942 edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Edition type
Bilingual edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
13 black and white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
348 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4744-8519-7 (9781474485197)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Felix Brinker is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the English Department at Leibniz University Hannover
Content
Introduction: Superhero Blockbusters, Seriality and the Politics of Audience Engagement
Part One: Seriality
1. Seriality, Culture Industry and Digital-Era Popular Culture
2. Superhero Narratives between Seriality and Political Meaning
Part Two: Politics of Audience Engagement
3. The Hyper-Referential Style of Storytelling
4. The Superhero Blockbuster as Fan Management
5. Cinematic Populism and the Political Superhero Blockbuster
Conclusion: Superhero Blockbusters as Entertainment for the Age of Cognitive Capitalism
Part One: Seriality
1. Seriality, Culture Industry and Digital-Era Popular Culture
2. Superhero Narratives between Seriality and Political Meaning
Part Two: Politics of Audience Engagement
3. The Hyper-Referential Style of Storytelling
4. The Superhero Blockbuster as Fan Management
5. Cinematic Populism and the Political Superhero Blockbuster
Conclusion: Superhero Blockbusters as Entertainment for the Age of Cognitive Capitalism