Yogyakarta, 27/3/2025 – The Master of American Studies program presents a new course that attracts the attention of many students, namely “Superheroes and Cultural Identity.” This course is taught by Dr. Ashika Prajnya Paramita, M.A., and aims to explore the meaning of superheroes in the social, political, and cultural context of the United States.
In the first meeting, Dr. Ashika invited the students to introduce themselves and tell about their favorite superhero. From Superman to X-Men, each superhero has its own place in the students’ hearts. This activity not only built an interactive class atmosphere but also initiated a discussion on the role of superheroes in shaping cultural identity.
Dr. Ashika explained that in American studies, superheroes are not just fictional characters, but also symbols that reflect social and political dynamics in the United States. One of the concepts discussed was how superheroes represent the American Dream-the idea that anyone can achieve success through hard work and perseverance.
For example, Superman is portrayed as an immigrant from the planet Krypton who grew up in Kansas, USA. This character reflects the hopes of immigrants who want to be part of the American nation. His dual identity as Clark Kent, a journalist, also emphasizes the importance of press freedom as a fundamental value in American democracy.
This course discusses “Primary Conventions” in the world of superheroes, which are distinctive elements that often appear in various media. Dr. Ashika outlined some of the primary conventions, such as dual identity, where a superhero has two personas, for example Clark Kent as Superman. Their superpowers can come from mutations, technology, magic, or extreme training. Each superhero also has an iconic costume, such as the spider logo on Spider-Man’s costume. Their main mission is to fight evil for justice and protect society. In addition, many superheroes have a signature city setting, such as Gotham City for Batman, as well as sidekicks or support teams, such as Robin who helps Batman.
The students showed great enthusiasm in this lecture. Discussions on the relevance of superheroes in real life became an interesting part that made the class more lively. The participants actively expressed their opinions on how superhero characters reflect current social issues, including gender, politics, and cultural diversity.
With this course, students are expected to have a deeper understanding of the role of popular culture in shaping people’s identities and values, especially in the context of the United States. The “Superheroes and Cultural Identity” course is a step forward in modern cultural studies and enriches the academic horizons of Master of American Studies students.
[Public Relations of American Studies UGM, Gilang Hardian]
