Constructivist analyses of Black Panther, Luke Cage, and Bishop help reveal some of the ways superheroes, despite their consistent motivations and frequent predictability (e.g., in terms of the motivations of many of their villains, use of violence, etc.), are both socially responsive to and adaptive within their differing social contexts. They are embedded in varied social interactions and relationships–an embeddedness that has implications for both pedagogy and scholarship.

Martin, J. (2023, October). Toward a Developmental Analysis of Superhero Media: Lessons from Wakanda. Guest lecturer for English 1105: Superheroes and Society at Centenary University, Hackettstown, NJ (Pre-Recorded on September 26th, 2023)

• Relevant publication(s): Black Panther (2021), Comics and Citizenship (2023), and Social Superheroes (2024)

Martin, J. (2023, April). Toward a Developmental Analysis of Superhero Media: Lessons from Wakanda. Guest lecturer for Public Philosophy Night at the Spokane Public Library, hosted by Eastern Washington University, Spokane, WA.

• Relevant publication(s): Black Panther (2021), Comics and Citizenship (2023), and Social Superheroes (2024)

These features are explored through analyses rooted in three distinct disciplines and applied to three superheroes whose narratives are often rooted in the communities in which they live: sociology (Daredevil and Hell’s Kitchen), psychology (Black Panther and Wakanda), and citizenship education (Batman and Gotham).

• Martin, J. (2019, April). Wakanda’s wisdom: Agreement, disagreement, and the complexities of social life.  Paper presented at the forty-ninth annual meeting of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, Washington, D.C.

  • Relevant publication(s): Black Panther and Development (2019), Black Panther and Civics (2021)

• Letizia, A., & Martin, J. (2021, June). From super to civil: What Marvel’s Civil War conflict can teach us about society and freedom.  Paper presented at the fiftieth annual meeting of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, Online.

• Martin, J. (2022, April). Cold-Hearted: An analysis of Mr. Freeze through the lens of moral development.  Paper presented at the fifty-first annual meeting of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, Online.

  • Relevant publication(s): Mr. Freeze and Moral Development (2023)

Martin, J. (2019, November). Superheroes, society, and…social studies?: Superhero narratives and their potential to facilitate socio-moral discourse.  Paper presented at the forty-fifth annual meeting of the Association for Moral Education, Seattle, WA.

• Relevant publication(s): Black Panther and Civics (2021), Comics and Citizenship (2023), and Luke Cage and Civil Discourse (In Progress)

Given the prevalence of superhero media and the general consistency between (1) increasing sociomoral capacities (as implicated in SDT-related findings)...and (2) the broadening of social life contexts inherent within the Washington State’s Grade Level Expectations for Social Studies…, films like Black Panther (2018) that readily portray characters expressing diverse viewpoints may assist educators in their goals of fostering the development of thoughtful, considerate, and respectful citizens.

Martin, J. (2021, February). The many ways of Wakanda: Viewpoint diversity and its implications for civics education.  Presentation for Spokane Public Library’s celebration of Black History Month, Online.

• Relevant publication(s): Black Panther (2021)

Unlike his American superhero counterparts (such as Iron Man, Captain America, and Spider-Man) who can operate solely as protectors and sometimes avengers of their e solely as protectors and sometimes avengers of their city, the country, or the world without also being responsible for addressing the various perspectives of its inhabitants, T'Challa does not have that luxury.

Either we attempt to understand our differences in a way that accounts for our similarities or we continue to over-emphasize our differences to the point where the prospect of solving pressing problems together becomes increasingly unlikely. If you are interested in the former, then you may want to take a(nother) trip to Wakanda.