The Popular anti-Geopolitics of the MCU Phase 4 Superheroes

Abstract

Popular culture plays a significant role in shaping and framing our understandings of geopolitics. Popular geopolitics encompasses the complex interplay between media representations, popular culture, and political narratives. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offers several instances where popular geopolitics can be observed. The MCU features superheroes with extraordinary abilities and power, often representing different nations or cultures. These characters reflect geopolitical ideologies and national identities, showcasing how popular culture can portray geopolitical power dynamics and nationalistic narratives. This paper will specifically look at the MCU products that are a part of Phase 4, particularly the Disney+ series. I investigate if the MCU’s storylines of identity and difference within the Multiverse Saga question the dominant power structures, ideologies, and strategies that shape global politics and international relations. By analyzing the ways in which the MCU addresses how identities, such as race, gender, class, and nationality, intersect and influence geopolitical power dynamics, this paper will explore the ways in which popular culture can reinforce or challenge dominant narratives and ideologies that perpetuate inequality and injustice.