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(Captain) America in crisis : popular digital culture and the negotiation of Americanness
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Schmid, Julian (2020) (Captain) America in crisis : popular digital culture and the negotiation of Americanness. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 33 (5). pp. 690-712. doi:10.1080/09557571.2019.1708864 ISSN 0955-7571.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/09557571.2019.1708864
Abstract
This article engages with the contemporary crisis of American identity and how the narratives of the Trump presidency are visually negotiated in the digital world. The Marvel Comics character Captain America has accompanied American identity constructions, crises, and discourses on US foreign policy for almost 80 years. Thus, it is no surprise that Captain America is again popular at a time of increased national crisis, made ever more present as a core character in the major feature film productions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the digital space, Captain America occupies a crucial political position as an easily identifiable visual carrier of identities and values that correspond with the public’s concerns. This article interrogates how the circulation of visual narratives of Captain America on Twitter and other digital platforms contributes to a broader discourse about the essence of American identity, values and true ‘Americanness’ against the backdrop of a fragmented and polarised nation. While (Captain) America’s search for the truthful narrative remains futile, understanding this futility can help to discover the discursive reasons for the contemporary crisis.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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Subjects: | E History America > E151 United States (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform J Political Science > JC Political theory J Political Science > JK Political institutions (United States) J Political Science > JZ International relations |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies | ||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Captain America (Fictitious character), International relations and culture -- United States, Popular culture -- Political aspects -- United States , Group identity -- United States, National characteristics, American -- 21st century, Nationalism -- United States, Mass media -- Technological innovations -- Social aspects | ||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Cambridge Review of International Affairs | ||||||
Publisher: | Routledge | ||||||
ISSN: | 0955-7571 | ||||||
Official Date: | 10 February 2020 | ||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 33 | ||||||
Number: | 5 | ||||||
Page Range: | pp. 690-712 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1080/09557571.2019.1708864 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Reuse Statement (publisher, data, author rights): | This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Cambridge Review of International Affairs on 10 Feb 2020, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09557571.2019.1708864. | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 14 January 2020 | ||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 10 August 2021 | ||||||
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