Assignment 2, Part A – Kei Massalski

Kei Massalski T00663221

Terryl Atkins 

VISA 1500

Oct 14th, 2021

Assignment 2, Part A

The image chosen is that of an anonymous user on Reddit who is cosplaying As Captain America, specifically from the Marvel Studios movies of recent years. The man is standing in a dominant pose, with wide shoulders, legs apart, a clenched fist, and a stoic gaze. 

Evidently, one can recognize the cultural significance of Captain America in American culture – obviously so. Steve Rogers’ outfit is directly inspired from the United States flag, and was, after all, a product of the Second World War; a character meant for children to look up to as the “Star Spangled Man” embodying the American spirit, ready to defeat its enemies – “a hero solely created to uphold the patriotic fervor that represents America for what it is” (Pietz 3) . And as a character whose entire persona is built on the foundation of war, propaganda, and patriotism, Captain America is designed to be obscenely masculine. As a result, the cosplayers’ pose reflects this key aspect of the character, as he looks combat-ready with a clenched fist and a wide, dominating stance to look as big as possible. 

However, his face does not reflect the mindless, “macho” violence which used to be plastered on every Captain America comic book cover. His face is that of stoicism, as this specific rendition of Captain America is that of Chris Evan’s portrayal of the character, featured in the record breaking Marvel Cinematic Universe. Chris Evan’s character is depicted as far more nuanced and vulnerable, which one could say is a by-product of modern society’s rejection of hyper-masculine traits as ideas surrounding gender becomes increasingly non-binary. In addition, the man’s ethnicity is telling of how the character of Captain America has been reinvented since World War 2. The character was built on racist undertones and the American “ideal” – that is, of a white, blonde, blue-eyed man, vanquishing enemies “portrayed with degrading characteristics” such as “the Japanese made into racist caricatures and German soldiers ridiculed through exaggerated accents, silly appearance and clumsy behavior” (Becker). Yet, people of all ethnicities are choosing to cosplay as this character, since Captain America is now beloved for his freedom-loving values, and less-so the physical, hyper-masculine propaganda icon the character originated. It would be safe to assume that the idea of an Asian man to portray Captain America during the 1940s would not be well received by the American public due to the war in the pacific, as it would directly oppose the anti-Japanese narratives set in American propaganda. However, the character has since evolved significantly distant from its roots in American propaganda, and has become not just a symbol for America alone, but for anyone regardless of cultural or physical background who idolizes freedom.

Works Cited

 Peitz, William. Captain America: The Epitome of American Values and Identity. Arcadia University, 16 May 2013, scholarworks.arcadia.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=scholar.google.ca/&httpsredir=1&article=1003&context=senior_theses. 

Becker, Lina. “Captain America’s Role within American Wartime Patriotism and Propaganda.” Modern Myths, 8 Feb. 2015, superheroesmodernmyths.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/captain-americas-role-within-american-wartime-patriotism-and-propaganda/.