Leiden University Student Repository

Bosman, Eva (2020)

Marvelous Soft Power: The influence of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on (Foreign) Perceptions of the United States

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

In 2008, the same year Barack Obama got elected president, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was launched with the release of Iron Man 1. The launch of the MCU introduced a new era with regard to super hero movies. Likewise, the election of Barack Obama promised a different direction for the United States foreign policy. Obama advocated using soft power and diplomacy in order to solve the challenges he had inherited from the George W. Bush Administration. This paper looks at the extent to which Phase One of the MCU reflects, and as such aids, the approach of the Obama administration to foreign policy.

Soft Power

Obama

Foreign Policy

Marvel

Hollywood

Cultural Diplomacy

Author

Bosman, Eva

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

North America

Supervisors

Fazzi, Dario

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en