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- Title
Prekäre Erinnerung. Retcon und Verschwörungstheorien im Superheldencomic Captain America.
- Authors
Stein, Daniel
- Abstract
The article "Precarious Memory. Retcon and Conspiracy Theories in the Superhero Comic Captain America" deals with the revival of the superhero Captain America and the subsequent reinterpretation of events in the series' history. The revival allows for the adaptation of the series' history and appeals to new readers. The article argues that such changes influence readers' understanding of history and can create a breeding ground for conspiracy theories. The popularity of conspiracy theories in the age of social media has its roots in 20th-century print culture. There is a connection between superhero comics and the emergence, dissemination, and popularization of conspiracy theories. The text also deals with the connection between conspiracy theories and the internet, especially social media. It is pointed out that conspiracy theories, when spread through social media, have a potentially global reach and are no longer controlled by established gatekeepers. The text also examines the use of superhero symbols and iconography during the storming of the Capitol in the USA. It is noted that some of the participants in the uprising wore t-shirts with the Punisher logo, a character from Marvel Comics. Neal Kirby, the son of the creator of Captain America, criticizes the use of the Captain America symbol during the protests and emphasizes that the character's values are in contradiction to Donald Trump.
- Subjects
SUPERHERO comic books, strips, etc.; UNITED States Capitol Insurrection, 2021; MARVEL Universe; PRINT culture; SOCIAL media; TRUMP, Donald, 1946-; UNITED States Capitol (Washington, D.C.); CONSPIRACY theories; SUPERHEROES
- Publication
Zeitschrift für Kulturwissenschaft, 2022, Vol 17, Issue 1, p39
- ISSN
2197-9103
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.14361/zfk-2022-170104