WRIT 027: COMPARATIVE LITERATURE (COMPL)

Spring 2020 Courses

WRIT 027 301

MW 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Howard

Costumes & Identity

Fulfills the Writing Requirement

From Superman's iconic red "S" to Batman's form-fitting leather suit, superheroes are defined by their attire. Equal parts gaudy, theatrical, and athletic, costumes are pivotal to the superhero's widespread appeal, dividing the larger-than-life character from his civilian alter ego. However, this phenomenon is not limited to comics. Historically, costumes represented an inversion of one's nature - an opportunity to escape the dreariness of everyday life and become someone new. This seminar will explore the consequences of using costumes to alter one's identity, drawing on examples from both fiction and reality. Though superhero costumes will be the primary focus, we will ultimately move beyond caped crusaders to interrogate how even the most familiar costumes, from Halloween masks to the straw hats of Penn's Hey Day, allow us to inhabit diverse identities. In addition, case studies involving "real-life" masked vigilantes, like Pussy Riot, will reveal the fluid interplay between popular culture and contemporary politics.