Description
Book SynopsisSupernatural and superhuman elements have been prominent in American culture from the time of the New England Puritans.
Superpower surveys the appearance of supernatural and superhuman elements in American culture, focusing on the American fascination with narratives involving supernatural adventure, superhuman heroes, and conspiracies driven by supernatural evil.
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Culture of Longing--The Supernatural in American CultureChapter One: Not Just a Job: The Longing for Adventure in American History and American Culture Voyages of Discovery: American Adventure from Columbus to Jean-Luc Picard The British Invasion:
Lord of the Rings and
Harry Potter Make It Big in America Cool Magic: The American Postmodern Epic FantasyChapter Two: Heroism in America: The Longing for Heroes in American History and American Culture American Heroes and Antiheroes: Kings of the Wild Frontier Hard-boiled Magic: The Vampire Detective Girls Kick Butt: The Female Action Hero Buffy Keeps It Cool Teenagers from Outer Space: Teen Angst and the Superhero Narrative Our Others, Our Selves: The Mutant SuperheroChapter Three: U.S. vs. Them: American Paranoia and the Longing for Evil in American History and American Culture
Rosemary's Baby and the Horror Boom of the 1970s
The X-Files and the Postmodern Conspiracy Narrative: Mapping the Apocalypse Apocalyptic Television at the Turn of the Millennium Finding that Special Place: The Strange Enclave Narrative from
Twin Peaks to
LostConclusion: The Contradictory Compensations of Popular CultureNotesWorks CitedFilms CitedTelevision Series CitedIndex
