Marvel's (Deceptively) Empty Politics, Explained | A Video Essay

Alternate title: Catharsis, Coercion, and Marvel's Conservative Cinema

The MCU could actually be influencing our society, politics, and ideology, more than we realise. This video delves into the normative politics of the MCU and the way it dilutes ideology and radical sentiment through the theories of Augusto Boal, Aristotle, and Machiavelli. Join me in a journey from the ancient Greek roots of modern drama to the present day, as we figure out just how and why Marvel films support the status quo.

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Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
2:47 Chapter One, Aristotle and Drama's Social Function
9:02 Chapter Two, Catharsis and Coercion
15:30 Chapter Three, Marvel's Centrist Catharsis
25:35 Chapter Four, Machiavellian Virtù and Bourgeois Myths
32:01 Chapter Five, Marvel's 'Great Men' and Establishment Values
36:08 Chapter Six, Alternative Viewpoints
39:13 Conclusion

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe that is centred on a series of superhero films, independently produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The franchise has expanded to include comic books, short films, television series, and digital series.

#marvel #mcu #politics