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Superman: The Persistence of an American Icon
Contributor(s): Gordon, Ian (Author)
ISBN: 0813587514     ISBN-13: 9780813587516
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
OUR PRICE:   $37.00  
Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats
Published: February 2017
Qty:
Temporarily out of stock - Will ship within 2 to 5 weeks
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Social Science | Popular Culture
- Social Science | Media Studies
- Literary Criticism | Comics & Graphic Novels
Series: Comics Culture
Physical Information: 0.65" H x 6.03" W x 8.76" (0.74 lbs) 200 pages
Themes:
- Chronological Period - 20th Century
- Chronological Period - 21st Century
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:
After debuting in 1938, Superman soon became an American icon. But why has he maintained his iconic status for nearly 80 years? And how can he still be an American icon when the country itself has undergone so much change?

Superman: Persistence of an American Icon examines the many iterations of the character in comic books, comic strips, radio series, movie serials, feature films, television shows, animation, toys, and collectibles over the past eight decades. Demonstrating how Superman's iconic popularity cannot be attributed to any single creator or text, comics expert Ian Gordon embarks on a deeper consideration of cultural mythmaking as a collective and dynamic process. He also outlines the often contentious relationships between the various parties who have contributed to the Superman mythos, including corporate executives, comics writers, artists, nostalgic commentators, and collectors.

Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of Superman's appearances in comics and other media, Gordon also digs into comics archives to reveal the prominent role that fans have played in remembering, interpreting, and reimagining Superman's iconography. Gordon considers how comics, film, and TV producers have taken advantage of fan engagement and nostalgia when selling Superman products. Investigating a character who is equally an icon of American culture, fan culture, and consumer culture, Superman thus offers a provocative analysis of mythmaking in the modern era.