The Masculine Archetype: Male Objectification and Identity in Superhero Narratives

The Masculine Archetype: Male Objectification and Identity in Superhero Narratives

The popularity of the superhero is something that dates back far beyond the invention of the comic book. History is rife with examples of “supermen” of sorts—brave, strong men that, by their own power, will, and occasionally supernatural help have achieved great success in their endeavors and overcome adversity whenever encountered. The cultural backdrop of the Western world has a perception of the infallible, usually male superhero that is rooted in the psyche of everyone exposed to even minor amounts of comic book, film, or video game culture. I believe that this portrayal of male superheroes is based on antiquated beliefs regarding the role of men in society, and that the trope of the…