Superheroes, Principles, and Policies (2018)

Martin, J. (2018, August 28). Of Principles and policies: How superheroes can inform our thinking about social life.

• Highlights parallels between the complexities of everyday social life and that of superheroes.

• Focuses on the roles of moral principles and social regulatory features in understanding these complexities.

“...take some of the superhero media I have enjoyed this summer, and the kinds of questions I ponder while watching them. What does the isolationist vs. interventionist debate in Black Panther (2018) say about our understandings of harm/welfare considerations as they pertain to those within and outside of our families, ‘groups’, and/or nations? What are the implications of the outcome of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) for our understanding of pride, purpose, and cooperation? Finally, how do the depictions of Harlem and Luke Cage’s relationship with Harlem in Luke Cage (2016–) relate to our everyday notions of criminality and civilian life?”