Universität Wien

124070 VO Culture, Society and the Media (2023W)

Are we living in a Marvel Timeline? Investigating the Disney/Marvel Franchise as impactful pop cultural production machine

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Moodle

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Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
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Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

A bit of important info:

This lecture series is planned as an on-site and in-person lecture.

However, every lecture session will be recorded via u:stream - but not live-streamed - and will be uploaded to Moodle after every session.

Please keep in mind that it may take up to 48 hrs or more until the recorded sessions are available via Moodle.

  • Friday 13.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Digital
  • Friday 20.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 27.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 03.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 10.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 17.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 24.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 01.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Wednesday 13.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 15.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 12.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 19.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03
  • Friday 26.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal C1 UniCampus Hof 2 2G-O1-03

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This lecture course takes aim at cultural production taking the Marvel franchise as its cultural artifact of study. How has what started out as a comic book publishing business has had an impact of very recent pop-cultural trends?

This lecture starts by providing an introduction into how the media analyzed can be discussed and analyzed

Followed by an overview into what cultural studies regard as investigating and analyzing the cultures of the popular.
It will look at popular cultures as culture of consumption as well as sit for the production of identity and the possibility of popular cultures turning into an arena which does not just serve as space for hegemonic voices but for powerful and positive representation of traditionally marginalized and disenfranchised voices.

In the context of Marvel Comics: what is the importance of adaptation studies?
What is the impact and importance fandom cultures and participatory culture?
We will be looking into the history of Marvel Comics by examining some of its founding voices: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, John Romita Sr. and Roy Thomas.
The lecture further investigates the superhero-genre in term of its national, gender, sexual and racial politics by pointing out how Marvel Comics turned into a multimedia franchise that now shapes fandom cultures, film release schedules as well as culture industry business plans.

Assessment and permitted materials

Written Exam (25% Multiple Choice, 25% concept questions, 50% essay, ca. 500 words)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The benchmark for passing the written exam is at 60%
Grades in %: 1 (very good): 90-100%, 2 (good): 80-89.99%, 3 (satisfactory): 70-79.99%, 4 (pass): 60-69.99%, 5 (fail): 0-59.99%

Examination topics

Slides from Lecture Course. Available via Moodle.

Semi Weekly Readings.
Readings will be uploaded to and available via MOODLE.

Reading list

McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics. The Invisible Art. New York: Harper Perennial, 1994.
Hatfield, Charles. Alternative Comics: An Emerging Literature. Jackson, Mississippi UP, 2005.
---. Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby. Jackson, Mississippi UP, 2011.
Kukkonen, Karin. Studying Comics and Graphic Novels. Chichester, Wiley Blackwell, 2013.
Jones, Gerard. Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters and the Birth of the Comic Book. NY, Basic, 2004.
Howe, Sean. Marvel Comics: The Untold Story. New York, Harper Perennial, 2012.

Association in the course directory

Studium: BA 612, EC 125, EC 126; BEd 046
Code/Modul: BA07.1, EC Cultural and Regional Studies 1; BEd Modul 10
Lehrinhalt: 12-4070

Last modified: Tu 05.03.2024 13:46