Assembling the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Essays on the Social, Cultural and Geopolitical Domains

Assembling the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Essays on the Social, Cultural and Geopolitical Domains

The Marvel Cinematic Universe--comprised of films, broadcast television and streaming series and digital shorts--has generated considerable fan engagement with its emphasis on socially relevant characters and plots. Beyond considerable box office achievements, the success of Marvel's movie studios has opened up dialogue on social, economic and political concerns that challenge established values and beliefs. This collection of new essays examines those controversial themes and the ways they represent, construct and distort American culture. “Intellectually stimulating and rewarding anthology...intelligent, engaging, insightful, academic without being inaccessible, accessible without being overly simplistic”― Fantasy Literature ; “fascinating”― Against the Grain ; “erudite and informative...impressive...invaluable”― Midwest Book Review . Julian C. Chambliss is a professor of United States history at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. His research examines race, identity, and community in real and imagined spaces. William L. Svitavsky is an associate professor and emerging services librarian at the Olin Library of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. His research includes American comic book history and geek culture. Daniel Fandino is a history graduate student at Michigan State University. His academic interests include American and Asian popular culture, video games, nationalism, and technology. He lives in East Lansing, Michigan.