<어벤져스>에 나타난 미국적 이데올로기의 양상들

Abstract

This article aims to discuss how the ideological implications are embedded in American superheroes by analyzing the narrative of The Avengers(2012), one of superhero films adapted from the Marvel Comics book with the same title. Especially, it focuses on how the ideological aspects of superhero characters in the film show difference from the actual ideological effects of our life. In this film, the state ideology is represented by the World Security Council and its division S.H.I.E.L.D., while the individual ideological aspects are reflected in the superhero characters. These two ideological values can be understood as two poles of traditional American myth which typically features the thematic paradigm of the Classical Hollywood films, that is, the conflict and reconciliation between outlaw hero and official hero. This arguing point leads to discussion of the ideological effect of the film, which functions as reappropriating two seemingly incompatible values of the individual and the state into what we can call American ideology. Through the detailed analysis of the superhero characters and Nick Fury (director of S.H.I.E.L.D.), the article reaches the final arguing point that the ambivalence of American ideology can covertly interpellate the audience through the detour of the spectacular actions of superheroes on the screen.