好莱坞超级英雄电影浅析(英语论文)学位论文

西南交通大学本科毕业设计（论文) 好莱坞超级英雄电影浅析级号名业师 教 年学姓专指2005 级 20054407 SSS 英 语 龚 潇A Brief Study on Hollywood SuperheroMoviesStudent: Meng HuanSupervisor: Gong XiaoA Thesis Submitted to College of Foreign Languages In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Bachelor ofArtsCollege of Foreign Languages Southwest Jiao Tong UniversityJune 2009西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文） 第I 页 指导教师.评 语.指导教师 ___________________________________________ (签章) 评阅人 评 语评阅人 ____________________________________________ (签章）成 绩 __________________________________________________________________________________答辩委员会主任 ________________________________________ (签章) 年月曰院 系 外團语学院 专业英语 年 级 2005 级 姓名蒙还 题 百 奵莱坞超级英雄电影浅析A Brief Study on Hollywood Superhero Movies西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文）第n页毕业设计（论文）任务书班级：05级英语4班学生姓名:蒙还_____________ 学号：20054407发题日期：2009年3 J I 15 n 完成门期: ___________ 5 JJ 30门题目：好莱坞超级英雄电影浅析______________________________________________A Brief Study on Hollywood Superhero Movies ____________________1、木论文的目的、意义.•超级英雄电影已然成为美W文化的重耍组成部t超级英雄电影不仅仅足一种炎型的电影，其毕已衍少出超越银幕的意义。

人们对超级英雄电毖的钟爱代表石一种文化潮流，f e l示出一足的社会心理。

在3今屮美经济、文化、军事、政治各方面交流n益紧密的形势下，如果能够对美w 及美w人冇m个面、更淸晰的理解，必将对我w人冇婢益。

通过对好莱坞超级莢雄电影的细致研究，我们能够见好地了解美w社会、文化、价值观及美国民众的心理。

___________________________________________________2、学生应完成的任务_________1)确定论文方向:2)广泛查阅资料，做好卡片;3) _____________________ 确定主题:4)构思并撰写提纲；5)撰写论文，完成初稿；.6)修改，定稿 _______________1.1打印，装订__ :1.2准备矜辩____ 。

西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文）第III 页 摘 要超级英雄足这样--群异类，他们活跃在好莱坞大银幕上，天生拥有或者后天获 得超能力。

他们嫉恶如仇，同情贫苦人众，关注弱势群体，宽广强健的肩膀勇 敢地担负保地球、拯救悅界的重任。

如今描写这类人物的超级英雄电影已经 成为好莱坞和电影界不容忽视的潮流。

儿乎每次公映，超级英雄电影都能掀起 新的一轮观映狂潮。

超级英雄电影已然成为美闲文化的重要组成部分。

超级英雄电影不仅仅足一种类型的电影，其毕已衍生出超越银幕的意义。

人们对超级英雄电影的钟爱代表着一种文化潮流，揭示出一定的社会心理。

在 A 今中美经济、文化、军事、政治各方面n 益紧密的形势下，如果能够对美M 及美w 人有更全面、更淸晰的理解，必将对我w 大有裨益。

通过对奵莱坞超级 英雄电影的细致研究，我们能够更好地了解美m 社会、文化、价值观及美_民 众的心理。

木论文正文上要由四部分构成。

笫•部分为文章的总导rr ，包括研究背榮， 研究的意义以及文章结构。

自上世纪40年代诞生以来，超级英雄电影经历了超过六十载的风风雨雨。

在这段漫长的旅途中，随卷《超人》、《蝙蝠俠》、《蜘蛛侠》、《x-战警》、《钢铁 侠》等影片的先后丄映，超级英雄电影业已形成其独特的特征。

通过全方位的 对比研究，本文在第二部分将一一阐释超级英雄电影的五.个典型特征，分别是: 超级英雄的身份双重性；超级英雄们生活屮（特别足童年）所遭受的苦难、不 幸；超级英雄们身沿特制服装；单枪匹3地战斗；超级英雄屮的男权统治。

3、论文各部分内容及时间分配：（共12周） 第—部分 Introduction(2周) 笫二部分 Maior Common features of Hollywood Superhero Movies (3周）分 Reasons for and Backsround of the Doouhiritv of Superhero Movies (4周〉笫叫部分 The development Law of Populace in Superhero Movies (2周）第五部分Conclusion (周〉评阅及咎辩(1周）超级英雄的繁荣不是偶然，而是必然的结果。

木文第三部分将重点阐释促成其繁荣的四大w素，分别足：美w个人上义和个人英雄主义盛行的影响；美众的不安全感；宗教w素以及美w的霸权上义影响。

本文第四部分将致力于揭示超级英雄电影发展的••大发展规律：平k化规律最后，在木文第卩4部分即结论部分，作者将简中.地总结归纳研究的成果及不足之处，并针对研究的局限，指明进一步研究的方向建议。

关键词:好莱坞电影;超级英雄•，并同特征;流行原因；发展规律ABSTRACTSuperheroes are a group of heterogeneous figures living on Hollywood big screen; they usually possess or acquire certain super power and have deep sympathy for the poor and the weak and bear the responsibility of safeguarding the earth and saving human beings on their broad and robust shoulders. Nowadays, Superhero movies have become an inneglecdble force in Hollywood and the whole movie circle. Almost every presentation of Superhero movies would be a big hit in global movie market and provoke a new round of watching upsurge. Superhero movies have now constituted an indispensable part of American culture.Superhero movies have developed meanings beyond big screen. People’s favor for Superhero movies represents a cultural trend and conveys certain social psychology. With the ever-closing communication with the US in economy, politics，culture and military, a better understanding of America and American people will be of great value to put us in a favorable position. Through detailed study of Hollywood superhero movies, we can get a deeper insight of American culture; this thesis endeavors to have a better understanding on contemporary American social psychology, American values, American culture and the American society as a whole.The main text of this thesis consists of four parts. Part one serves as a general introduction, which includes the background of the study, thesignificance of the study and thesis structure.Superhero movies, since its birth in 1940s, have been through over three decades. In this long journey, with the constant springing-up of movies such as Superman, Spiderman, Batman and X-man,Superhero movies have developed particular common features. In part two, through a comprehensive analysis of these movies, this thesis will expound five typical common features of superhero movies, namely, the dual role played by superheroes, that is the duality of superheroes'identification, miseries, misfortunes superheroes suffered, especially inchildhood,special costume worn by superheroes, superheroes’ fighting single-handedly and the masculine domination of superheroes.The popularity of superhero movies in America is not an accident but an inevitable outcome. And the thesis, in part three, will focus on illustrating four major reasons that contribute to the flourish of Superhero Movies: the impact of individualism and individual heroism, American people’s sense of insecurity, religious factors and hegemonism in American culture.And part four of the thesis will be given to demonstrate a major development law of Superhero Movies: populace.In part five the thesis comes into a conclusion, which summarizes main findings of the study and some limitations, together with the prospect of further study in this field.Key Words: Hollywood movies; superheroes; common features; reasons forpopularity; development law西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文）第vn页ContentsPart One Introduction2.32.42.5Background of the Study (1)1.2Significance of the Study (2)1.3Thesis Structure (2)Part Two Major Common Features of Hollywood Superhero Movies1.11.21.3The Duality of Superheroes’Identification (4)2.2Miseries，Misfortunes SuperheroesSuffered, especially inChildhood (5)3.1Superheroes’ Special Costumes (5)3.23.33.4Superheroes’ Fighting Single-handedly (6)西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文) 第vm页3.53.63.7Masculine Dominance (7)Part Three Reasons For and Background of the popularity of Superhero Movies:The Impact of Individualism and individualistic Heroism (11)American People’ Sense of Insecurity (13)Hegemonism in American Culture (14)Religious background (16)Part Four The Development Law of Populace in Superhero Movies (18)202.6Part Five Conclusion西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文）第vn页Notes (21)西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文) 第vm页Bibliography (22)Acknowledgements (23)西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文) 第5页西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文）第vn页Part One IntroductionBackground of the StudyIt seems as if Hollywood, as well as the whole world, has incurably been西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文) 第vm页infected with “superhero fever”. Superheroes movies of variety spring out and sparkle like shining stars in the endless velvet evening sky of Hollywood movies, among the best known being supermcm, Spiderman and Batman, Iron man. Millions of fans are obsessed with them; they have cheered up the西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文）第vn页ever-depressing movie industry. The following form from professional box -office statistics web will show how popular superhero movies are. The highlighted belong to superhero movies.西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文) 第vm页LifetimeRank Title (click to view) StudiYearoGross1 Titanic Par. S600,788,I88 19972 The Dark Knight WB $533,345^58 20083 Star Wars Fox $460,998,007 19774 Shrek 2 DW S441,226,247 20045 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Uni. $435,110,554 1982 6Fox S431,088,301 1999 Star Wars: Episode I - The PhantomMenace7BV S423,3I5,8I2 2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’sChest8 Spider-Man Sony $403,706,375 2002Fox $380,270,577 2005 9Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of theSith10NL S377,027,325 2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of theKing西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文）第vn页西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文) 第vm页11 Spider-Man 2 Sony $373,585,825 200412 The Passion of the Christ NM $370,782,930 200413 Jurassic Park Uni. $357,067,947 199314 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers NL $341,786,758 200215 Finding Nemo BV $339,714,978 200316 Spider-Man 3 Sony $336,530,303 200717 Forrest Gump Par. $329,694,499 199418 The Lion King BV $328,541,776 199419 Shrek the Third PAV $322,719,944 200720 Transformers PAV $319,246,193 200721 Iron Man Par. $318,412,101 2008西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文）第vn页According to the upper All-time North American Domestic Box Office statistics, in top 100 box-office movies in the whole American big screen history，Superhero movies occupy 12; in Top 25, Superhero movies take 5.西南交通大学本科毕业设计(论文) 第vm页Spiderman, Batman and Superman series are inclusive. Particularly, Batman 6 ranks the second place on the list, which can best illustrate the popularity of Superheroes. Why are superhero movies enjoying such popularity, why can they dominate the box office, what makes them so appealing? These questionshave greatly aroused the author’s interest and the author has tried his best in this thesis to seek a satisfying answer.Significance of the StudyNowadays, Superhero movies have become an integrate part of American culture which deserves researchers’attention. Superhero movies have developed meanings beyond screen. People’s favor for superhero movies represents a cultural trend and conveys certain social psychology. Through adetailed study of Hollywood superhero movies, we can get a deeper insight of American culture and have a better understanding on contemporary social psychology of American and the wholeAmerican society.Thesis StructureIn this thesis，which consists of five parts, the author endeavors to present his studying fruits. Part one serves as a general introduction. Part two will focus on five major common features of Hollywood superhero movies, namely, the dualityof Superheroes' identity, miseries, misfortunes superheroes suffered in childhood, Superheroes* special costume, superheroes，fighting single-handedly and masculine Dominance. Part three is concerned about illustrating relevant reasons of superhero movies，prevalence: the impact of individualism and individualheroism, American people's sense of insecurity, religious factors and hegemon ism in American culture. Part four will be given to demonstrate a major development law in superhero movies-populace. In part five the thesis comes into a conclusion, which summarizes main findings of the study and some limitations,together with the prospect of further study in this field.Part Two Major Common Features of Hollywood Superhero Movies Hollywood, as a highly developed movie-producing center, just resembles a huge modern factory, producing movies on the assembly line. Superhero movies are of no exception. They inevitably follow certain pattern, and they are invariablylabeled with some common American characteristics. Superman, Spiderman and Batman can serve as typical cases. Apart from magic superpower superheroes usually possess, courage and sense of justice that drive them to fight every evil, there exist in superhero movies some common features, which are furtherillustrated as follows.The Duality of Superheroes’ IdentificationWatching Hollywood superhero movies, we find that one of the commonestphenomena is that those superheroes usually play two different roles. On the one hand, confronting crisis, they were invincible superheroes with magic power, and they never let people they protect down, and their images were so great and they seemed so far away from us; while on the other hand, most of them were commonpersons who led an ordinary life. They might run into a series of troubles we common people may met in our daily life, and they seemed so familiar, as if they just lived around us. Take Superman for instance, in daily life, he was a newspaper reporter named Clark Kent who was often in a dilemma betweenrescue and interview. And his foul-tempered boss often blamed him for his not concentrating on working; besides, his road of romance was not smooth as well. While Spiderman, in daily life, was a poor college student who had to do several part time jobs to pay his tuition and rent. With the girl he loved standing beforehim, he dared not to tell his true feelings.The reasons why superheroes have two different identifications could be: firstly, two identities can provide convenience for superheroes to hide their true identity, so that they can avoid unnecessary attacks by the evil. Secondly, dual identity helps to intensify the sense of reality of thosesuperheroes and shorten the distance between superheroes and common people. Playing an ordinary role in daily life，superheroes make our audience feel that they suffer the similar pains as we do, they are around us, and they may be one of us. Thus, superheroes seem less alienated from common fleshes. It may evenlead people to bear a hope that they can be a superhero and every one can be a superhero.Miseries, Misfortunes Superheroes Suffered, Especially in Childhood.Every superhero movie fans may has the feeling that superheroes suffered so much in their life, especially in their childhood. Superman, whose original name was Kal-El, was born on a remote planet Krypton. Moments before Krypton’s destruction he was rocketed to Earth as an infant by his scientist father Jor-El,who died with his wife in the explosion. Discovered and adopted by a Kansas farmer and his wife, the child is raised as Clark Kent. While Batman, whose secret identity is Bruce Wayne, had witnessed the murder of his parents as a child, which millions of heritage could never compensate for. Spiderman, as PeterParker, whose parents died in his infancy，was brought up by his uncle Ben and ant May in Queens, New York.Why is the road of Superheroes' childhood so crooked and rough? There are two main reasons. First of all, sufferings and adversities in childhoodcontribute a lot in molding a man’s good characters, such as perseverance, toughness, iron-wili and so on, which are indispensable to superheroes. Besides, misfortune in childhood makes those superheroes realize and concern common people’s sufferings and hardships, thus superheroes have developed deepsympathy for grass-root people. Accordingly, they have developed strong sense of justice from childhood to fight evil and protect the weak.Superheroes9 Special CostumeSuperman got his trademark blue tights with a big “S” on the chest, together withred short and red cloak. While Spiderman put on his Spidey-suit on mission, which consists of a red-and- blue tights with a spider mark on the chest and a red headgear covered with spider web which extended from head top to whole upperhalf. Batman who usually moved in the dark night wore his black bat-suit, black tights, black cloak and black helmet.Of course, apart from simple decoration, there must be other deeper intentions to achieve. First comes the purpose of covering superheroes' trueidentity. For the sake of self-protection, avoiding unnecessary harassment and living a normal life, superheroes were unwilling to expose their true identities. Superheroes might be invulnerable, invincible, however, people close to them, their friends and relatives were common fleshes. If superheroes exposed theirtrue identities, people around them, their beloved ones, their friends and their relatives might be in danger. The evil might took them as leverages to threaten superheroes, thus superheroes were put in a passive and disadvantaged position. So the less people knew about them, the safer they were. Apparently a specialcostume can save them many troubles. Besides, it could impose deterrent force on the evil. According to clothing psychology, police uniform can create an effect of gravity and stateliness, placing deterrent effect on criminals, which might make impact on their psychology, triggering emotion, such as fear, misgiving andregret. Superheroes’ costumes play a similar role as police uniform. Fine feather makes fine birds; it also applies to superheroes, an eye-catching costume really helped to elevate their image, impressing audience. What is more, superhero movies were all market-oriented; everything in movies must contribute to marketdevelopment. Attractive costumes, as by-product of the movies, created more wealth for the producer.Superheroes’ Fighting Single-handedlyIt is a tradition that heroes fight single-handedly in Hollywood movies; superheroes are of no exception. Foreseeing bad things or dangers were about to happen, superman would find some place secret and take off his regular suit and。