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Developing (super)citizenship: constituting idealized American citizenship in the Avengers: Earth's mightiest heroes

Date

2014

Authors

Luurs, Geoffrey, author
Anderson, Karrin, advisor
Diffrient, David Scott, committee member
Marx, Nicholas, committee member
Martey, Rosa, committee member

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Abstract

This thesis explores two elements of character design in select episodes from the animated series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Disney XD 2010-2012) that guide audiences towards dominant readings of idealized American citizenship utilizing both close textual analysis and ideographic criticism. I argue that select episodes of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes contain representations of hyper-patriotic Americanized superheroes and un-American super villains which work together to teach viewers about dominant ideologies of Americanness and un-Americanness. In doing so, the text directs viewers towards a specific understanding of how to become idealized American (super)citizens.

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Subject

media studies
constitutive rhetoric
The Avengers
Captain America
citizenship

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