Modern Myth:Studies On The Images Of Superhero Films

Since 1978 when Superman,the first superhero film adapted from comics,was released on the screen,there have been a series of Superhero films including Batman,Spider-Man,Iron Man and “whatever man” in Hollywood.Particularly in the decades of the 21 st century,the prosperity and boom of the superhero films have even brought in a new film genre worthy of attention.The core culture of superhero films has become a modern myth influencing the cultural values and social lives of the United States.This thesis has summarized altogether 48 superhero films released from 1978 to 2016 and taken the Superman,Captain America and Iron Man serials as the object of study.Combined with the characteristics of the times and psychoanalysis,this thesis has studied the image evolution,image elements and narrative structure to explore the psychological characteristics and mythic properties of the superhero films.This thesis introduces mythology to trace the historical origins of hero and superhero,and the superhero films are listed to sort out to demonstrate the developmental stages.Combined with Jung's archetype and collective unconsciousness theories,this thesis explores mythological origins and divides the evolution of the images and archetypes of superheroes into four stages: demi-god hero,biological & chemical hero,science & technology hero and hero league.Then,it combines Freud's psychoanalysis in the exploration of the unconscious and sexual connotations behind superhero films to demonstrate the mythic elements and daydreaming essence of the superhero films.It attempts to demonstrate the same narrative structure of superhero films as mythological stories from the binary relations of the film characters and narrative patterns.This thesis sets the tune of modern myth for superhero films,affirms the positive attitude and rational return,and concludes the guiding significance of superhero films to the contemporary society.