Superheroes on Screen Lecture Series

The superhero genre has long been a staple of the summer blockbuster, featuring caped crusaders with secret identities who level entire cities doing battle with supervillains. These films are big-budget, big-business and key to the success of Hollywood studios. But how did we get here? This six-week course will take a closer look at superhero movies, exploring the history, tropes and development of the genre, and the business behind them. Owen Van Spall, editor of Smokescreen London, will lead the sessions, examining issues of authorship and adaptation, reboots and remakes, as well as critical readings of the films. Places can be booked online in advance for single sessions or for the whole six-week course.