Avengers Archetype

The Avengers as an Archetypal Superhero Film

All media that lives within a specific genre of film can be classified as such by the similar elements that compose each work. Some say this makes Hollywood clichéd and typical, but a formulaic approach can be conducive to developing a movie that will interest a larger demographic. The “superhero film” is a category of video that utilizes this course of action. More specifically, Marvel’s movies (which are all based on comics) have had much success with this technique, their greatest accomplishment being The Avengers. Just start with a predetermined set of narrative, character, and cinematic elements. Then, throw in humanity and some of your own details: You now have a superhero movie. The
There are three central qualities that comprise a superhero, the most obvious being their superhuman abilities. Thor is from another planet, has an ancient mystical hammer, and is essentially a god. Iron Man boasts extraordinary intelligence and a high-tech battle suit. Black Widow and Hawkeye are master assassins that work for a top-secret organization called the Strategic Homeland Intervention and Enforcement Logistics Division. Captain America is a product of a S.H.I.E.L.D. experiment and is a master tactician with superhuman strength. Finally, the Hulk was another scientific project that resulted in an angry brute with extreme capabilities of strength and power. Also essential to the character of a superhero is their secret identity. While Iron Man’s identity is no secret and Thor is not from Earth, the other Avengers keep their identities concealed fairly well. Captain America is Steve Rogers, Hawkeye is Clint Barton, Black Widow is Natasha Romanov, and the Hulk is Bruce Banner. Each of these characters fight for a reason, and this motivation is almost as pivotal a trait as their powers. You could define a superhero as “a man or woman with powers that are either massive extensions of human strengths and capabilities, or fundamentally different in kind, which she or he uses to fight for truth, justice and the protection of the innocent.” (Kaveney 4). There comes a point in the story where their differences cause the heroes to lose some hope, but their motivation to protect the innocent keeps them together. The driving force behind a hero is imperative to their character and the