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
Results 1-3 of 37
Page 40
... never for himself . His powers are always and only at the disposal of others . ' There's no time ' he thinks to himself as he flies off at super- speed to avert some disaster on the other side of the world ' There's never any time ...
... never for himself . His powers are always and only at the disposal of others . ' There's no time ' he thinks to himself as he flies off at super- speed to avert some disaster on the other side of the world ' There's never any time ...
Page 65
... never grew up to be a fighter pilot during the Second World War , and thus was never in a position to save a troop carrier , thousands perished . A young woman who should have been saved from a life of prostitution by George is now seen ...
... never grew up to be a fighter pilot during the Second World War , and thus was never in a position to save a troop carrier , thousands perished . A young woman who should have been saved from a life of prostitution by George is now seen ...
Page 72
... never ... ANGEL : We never win . BUFFY : Not completely . ANGEL : We never will . That's not why we fight . We do it ' cause there's things worth fighting for.14 The old adage ' all that is required for evil to flourish is for good ...
... never ... ANGEL : We never win . BUFFY : Not completely . ANGEL : We never will . That's not why we fight . We do it ' cause there's things worth fighting for.14 The old adage ' all that is required for evil to flourish is for good ...
Contents
Heroes and Otherness | 23 |
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility | 63 |
Villains Monsters and Evil Masterminds | 95 |
Copyright | |
1 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ability absolute alien Anakin Skywalker argues armour Batman beast become behaviour Boromir Buffy Summers Buffy the Vampire Campbell Chapter character Christian Clark Kent classic concerning confronts consider course culture Daleks dark side DAVROS DC Comics death DELENN Doctor Doctor Doom dominate encounter Enlightenment ethical evil example existence existential experience explored face Fantastic Four fear feel Fichte fight film force freedom friends Galactus George Hegel heroes and villains heroic Hyde ibid imagination individual issue Kant Kid Marvelman kill knowledge lives Lord Luke Skywalker Marvel Comics Matrix means moral nature never Nietzsche notion ourselves parents person philosopher Plato portrayed possess rational reason recognised responsibility Ring Saruman Sauron seen sense simply Skywalker social soul Spiderman Spike Stan Lee story stranger super hero super powered Superheroes Superman theme things thinkers transcendence truth Vampire Slayer