Flying. Extreme Speed. Super strength. Abilities like these make superheroes superhuman. Thanks to advancements in special effects, superheroes are more appealing than ever and comics are garnering more attention due to it. Films and comics are working to expand and diversify their audience, but ultimately what draws us to superheroes may not be superhuman at all.
Today we're talking about the enduring appeal of superheroes, why we love them and how companies are working to expand their popularity with different strategies, including diversity.
Guests:
- Robin S. Rosenberg, clinical psychologist, author, “Superhero Origins: What Makes Superheroes Tick and Why We Care”
- Matt Swift, program coordinator, Film Studies Program, Ohio State
- Jeffrey Brown, professor, Department of Popular Culture, Bowling Green State University
- Michael Watson, comics creator and entrepreneur, creator of Hotshot