The Red Scare in the US after WWII led to McCarthyism and censorship. Loyalty oaths were required from teachers and works such as The Grapes of Wrath were censored. The rise of McCarthyism after World War II coincided with America’s new fear of Communism, often called the Red Scare. Fueled by events such as the […]
Superman’s origins began with a telepathic hobo in “The Reign of the Superman” by Jerry Siegel in 1932. Siegel and Joe Shuster later reworked the character into a superhero, but received no royalties for their creation. It turns out Superman wasn’t always the hunk of superhero we now know and love. A character called “Superman” […]
Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard for seven summers, credited with rescuing 77 people from drowning. He later became an actor and served as US president, and is the only president to have been divorced. He was also honored for his efforts to tear down the Berlin Wall. Whether or not you agree with his policies, […]
The hero archetype is a character who saves people, does the right thing, and fights monsters. It originated in ancient Greece and has evolved over time. Heroes are strong in physical and moral character, with special skills to aid their good works. Variants include action heroes, superheroes, would-be heroes, and anti-heroes. Examples range from Achilles […]
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell outlines the monomyth, or hero’s journey, which is a structure shared by myths and stories worldwide. Campbell dissects the journey into three major sections and multiple subsections, showing how it has been used in storytelling from Greek mythology to present day, including inspiring the Star Wars […]
Tragic protagonists are characters in stories who have an unhappy ending, often due to a tragic flaw. They are the main characters in tragedies and are drawn into events they cannot control. Examples include Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. Aristotle believed tragic protagonists must have nobility, hamartia, peripetia, and anagnorisis. Examples can be found in […]
Mythological heroes, both immortal and mortal, have common traits and flaws that make them archetypes for modern hero stories. Mortal heroes are often kings or sages who are aided by others, while immortals perform legendary deeds. Tragic flaws, such as arrogance, enhance their heroism but can lead to downfall. Different types of heroes in mythology […]
