From propaganda to a blockbuster : the role of nationality in the reinterpretation of Captain America for modern, international audiences

Abstract

Captain America comics were originally created in the 1940s as war propaganda. In the 2010s the story was remade as a successful movie franchise. Nowadays Hollywood is quite dependent on overseas sales, which is something they need to consider when producing their high-budget films. This thesis concentrates on how the story and the character of Captain America were reshaped to better appeal to modern and international audiences. This is done by comparing the ways America/Americans and other countries/ nationalities are addressed both in the comics and the films. The study shows that the movies include more references to other countries and nationalities, and there are considerable positive references to Germany, the main villain of the comics. America and American nationalism play a central role in both versions, but the movies take a more discreet and often comical approach to the overflowing patriotism surrounding the story. In the comics the character of Steve Rogers concentrates solely on defending his homeland and its ideals, without further questioning of his motives, whereas the Steve of the films gets a backstory that explains his sense of duty, and his inner motivation to fight injustice.