Marvel-themed stickers, straws, cupcakes and a popcorn cart welcomed Point Loma Nazarene University students and faculty to a conversation about the politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) last week.
On Jan. 26, in the Colt Forum, Lindsey Lupo, PLNU dean of the School of Humanities, Arts and Public Engagement, and Laine Moraes, a fourth-year political science major, led the event. They were in conversation with Nick Carnes, a political scientist at Duke University, who co-edited the two-volume book series “The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” and Linda Beail, PLNU professor of political science, who contributed chapters to the series.
Beail said she enjoyed sharing her work with students and colleagues at the event. According to her, the MCU isn’t something she would be able to teach in class, but it has the ability to get everyone thinking, “Maybe it’s a little more serious or worth attention,” she said.
Beail said she hopes that students become more aware of the shaping of cultural narratives and how they affect identity.
“Pay attention to what you respond to and resonate with and what you love, because that’s going to tell you something about what you value and what matters to you,” Beail said.
Beail said that the MCU has often overlooked its female superheroes, mentioning Black Widow’s death being largely ignored by the scriptwriters during Tony Stark’s funeral in “Avengers: Endgame.” However, she said shows like “Ms. Marvel” and “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” have given audiences a positive portrayal of women.
A self-proclaimed life-long Marvel fan, Carnes said that it’s important to study the politics of the MCU, because “You can’t understand any society unless you understand the culture, and that includes popular culture.”
Maddie Manley, a third-year education major, said the event opened her eyes to how important politics are to the MCU.
“I feel like when we’re consuming content like [Marvel], you’re really kind of looking at the surface level as entertainment and not really going on the political level and thinking about it that way — at least, that’s kind of how I look at it,” Manley said.
Michael Lodahl, PLNU professor of theology and world religions, said the event was fun and he felt a sense of community. His biggest takeaway was how the MCU can, at times, be ambiguous in how it portrays power and morality.
“Marvel was known for its attempts to speak to social issues, like of the … mid ‘60s to late ‘60s, and, you know, trying to be on the progressive side of things, and sometimes doing that pretty well,” Lodahl said. “Other times not as well.”
Carson Dillon 
Kailyn Collette