media essay
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SMC229EssayOutlineTemplate.docxEssay Outline Template
SMC 229
Research Paper Topic: How Marvel Comic embodies and strengthens the integration of the American readership in the 20th century
I.
INTRODUCTION
A.Background Information
1. General background information that grabs attention but is related to your topic.
The Marvel comic book born at the beginning of 20th century, during the World War II. At that time, people suffer from wars and instability. The Germany Nazi ran amok all over the world. The Pearl Harbour of America was attacked by Japan and German, which leads to heavy casualties. The occurrence of marvel universe seems like the moral support for American people. The creation of these characters attempts to bring a glimmer of hope to people, while emphasis American unique spirit and inspire citizens’ courage.
B. Thesis statement
1. Topic
In this paper, I would like to demonstrate how Marvel Comic embodies and strengthens the cohesiveness of the American readership in the context of the World War II. The inspiration comes from the reality. I will connect different characters in the Marvel Comic Universe and their stories with the real background of the world during the 1940s.
2. Outline your key points through which you will prove/show your thesis
· P1: X-man series are created based on the background of Jewish people suffer invaded by Germany Nazism. The X-man embodies the desire to peace and detestation on Nazism.
· P2: The character of “Captain Marvel” reflects an ideal of American innocence, which satisfies Americans citizens’ imagination in the 1940s.
· P3: The Black Panther was created as the American Civil Rights Movement broke out. As the first black superhero in Marvel Comic, the Black Panther reveals that the problem of racial discrimination has been paid attention as the first step.
II. BODY
A. Support Paragraph
1. Topic Sentence
X-man series are created based on the background of Jewish people suffer invaded by Germany Nazism. The X-man embodies the desire to peace and detestation on Nazism.
2. Supporting Ideas
a. Reason/Detail/Fact and transition (reference)
b. More information and transition (reference)
c. Maybe even more information (reference)
The encounter with the Holocaust is shown in the X-man’s story and the struggle against bigotry is chosen as the key themes. The X-man’s story is about a mutated man who supports acculturation and tends to save the world through his superpower. The cartoonist of X-man was a Jewish American, who oppose assimilation and ethnocentrism inexorably. The X-man reveals the American’s ideal of equality before the law.
B. Support Paragraph 2
1. Topic Sentence
The character of “Captain Marvel” reflects an ideal of American innocence, which satisfies Americans citizens’ imagination in the 1940s.
2. Supporting Ideas
a. Reason/Detail/Fact and transition (reference)
b. More information and transition (reference)
c. Maybe even more information (reference)
Captain Marvel is a character who is good at neutralize the adult world through laughter, gesture language, and that is his own innocent but still strong power, which seems appealing to American readers who are with anxiety and uncertainty at the beginning of World War II.
In Cremins’s (2013) article, he states that “the Captain Marvel stories of the 1940s and early 1950s represent a largely unexamined resource for critics and historians fascinated with American popular culture during World War II and its immediate aftermath”.
C. Support Paragraph 3
1. Topic Sentence
The Black Panther was created as the American Civil Rights Movement broke out. As the first black superhero in Marvel Comic, the Black Panther reveals that the problem of racial discrimination has been paid attention in the U.S.A.
2. Supporting Ideas
a. Reason/Detail/Fact and transition (reference)
b. More information and transition (reference)
c. Maybe even more information (reference)
The movement mentioned above is combined with black power, anti-war, women’s liberation. And the creation of Black Panther supports the black to fight for their rights. Marvel’s main contributor cartoonist Stan Lee says that bigotry and racism are the deadliest social ills in the world in 1968. One scholar points out that Marvel is selling a participatory world for readers, a way of life for its true believers.
III. CONCLUSION
A. Summarize/Review Key Points
To sum up, the Marvel Comic embodies and strengthens the integration of the American readership at the beginning of the World War II to a large extent. Marvel not only brings hope for anxious citizens who are afraid and confused about the wars, but also considers the negative social phenomenon which fights for black races, women such disadvantaged groups.
B. Concluding thought such as a direction for future research
The Marvel Comic represents the most progressive book at the beginning of the World War II and bring readers an expectation for culture, society and politics.
IV. References: APA format
Include: 3 Annotated Scholarly Sources on the ESSAY OUTLINE
1. Baron, L. 2003. X-Men as J Men: The Jewish Subtext of a Comic Book Movie. Retrieved from: https://www.jstor.org/stable/42944606
This source is a moderate-length scholar article. The article depicts the background of X-men character in Marvel Comic, which is based on the invasion of Germany Nazi on Jewish people. The author tells the general plot of X-men and hence states that “it is an allegory about the continuing debate over whether the United States should promote ethnic, racial, and religious equality and diversity or whether it should become a more homogenous and less multicultural society.” Baron extends the X-man to the American society at the beginning of the World War II which Marvel’s movie bring hope to anxious American citizens at that time. This helps my first paragraph of the body section.
2. Cremins, B. 2013. "What Manner of Man Is He?": Humor and Masculine Identity in Captain Marvel's World War II Adventures. Retrieved from: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23823979
This is a scholar article which the author makes connection between the Captain Marvel with the social phenomenon during the World War II. This article helps my second paragraph of the body section, which “Captain Marvel” reflects an ideal of American innocence and further satisfies Americans citizens’ imagination in the 1940s. The author also refers to some comic pictures to highlight his viewpoints.
3. Terry, D, T. 2014. Imagining a Strange New World: Racial Integration and Social Justice Advocacy in Marvel Comics, 1966–1980. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057%2F9781137071392_9
This scholar article helps me to identify my third point of the paper. This source investigates the creation of Black Panther, and demonstrates the relationship between Marvel and national cohesiveness (racial, women right…). The author refers to Stan Lee’s words to solidifies his point. He also points out the importance of Marvel’s position for Americans especially the youth at the beginning of the World War II, which caters to another two sources as well.
