Heroes and VillainsHercules, Jesus, James Bond, Luke Skywalker, Gandalf, Frodo, Harry Potter, Buffy Summers, Spiderman, Batman, Captain Kirk, Dr Who, Darth Vader, Sauron, Voldemort, Lex Luther, Dr Doom, the Daleks, the Borg.Almost anybody living within the developed West would be able to group these individuals into two camps: the heroes and the villains. However, what criteria they might use to do this is less clear.Mike Alsford introduces us to a whole range of heroic and villainous archetypes on a journey through film, television, comic books and literature. On the way, he addresses questions such as What is a true hero? What is a true villain? Have we misunderstood these terms? What kind of societal values do our mythical heroes and villains represent? In trying to understand the extremes of hero and villain we are made more aware of our own ethical standards, and given a space in which to explore contemporary concerns over notions of right and wrong, good and bad. |
From inside the book
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Page 67
Throughout much of the story the forces of evil , symbolised in the demonic
unseen figure of the dark lord Sauron , are portrayed as overwhelming . The
plight of the good and the noble of Middle Earth – be they great elven lords or
ordinary ...
Throughout much of the story the forces of evil , symbolised in the demonic
unseen figure of the dark lord Sauron , are portrayed as overwhelming . The
plight of the good and the noble of Middle Earth – be they great elven lords or
ordinary ...
Page 82
In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy one of the central characters , Lord
Asriel , requires the release of a large amount of energy in order to open a portal
to another world . His daughter , the hero of the series , Lyra , finally comes to the
...
In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy one of the central characters , Lord
Asriel , requires the release of a large amount of energy in order to open a portal
to another world . His daughter , the hero of the series , Lyra , finally comes to the
...
Page 101
In Tolkien's Lord of the Rings we are told that , in nothing is the power of the Dark
Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still
oppose him . 10 In C. S. Lewis's The Lion , The Witch and the Wardrobe we are ...
In Tolkien's Lord of the Rings we are told that , in nothing is the power of the Dark
Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still
oppose him . 10 In C. S. Lewis's The Lion , The Witch and the Wardrobe we are ...
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Contents
Heroes and Otherness | 23 |
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility | 63 |
Villains Monsters and Evil Masterminds | 95 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
ability action actually Adolf Hitler appear argues Batman become believe Buffy called Chapter character Christian classic clearly comes comic concerning confronts consider course culture dark death DELENN desire develop Doctor dominate encounter establish ethical evil example existence experience face fact fear feel fight figure finally force freedom friends George give hand hero heroic human imagination important individual issue Kant kill knowledge less lives look Lord Marvel Comics matter means mind moral nature never notion observation ourselves parents particular person philosopher political possess question rational reason regarded relating responsibility rest Ring seems seen sense side significant simply social speak Spiderman stand story stranger super Superman things tradition true truth understand villain whole
Bibliographic information
| Title | Heroes and Villains |
| Author | Mike Alsford |
| Publisher | Darton, Longman & Todd, 2006 |
| ISBN | 0232525730, 9780232525731 |
| Length | 158 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |