Essay 3: Argumentative Essay with Research Component—Heroes and Villains in Media and Pop-Culture
2,000 – 2,250 Word min
200 Points Possible, Due Mon, 12/11 at 10 am on Canvas
Important Dates:
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Fri, 11/1 Figure and proposal (25 points)
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Wed, 11/13 Annotated Bibliography (75 points) – peer-reviewed journals
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Week 13: Begin one-on-one conferences, MANDATORY (25 points)
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Fri, 12/2 Rough Draft; peer-reviews (25 points)
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Mon 12/11 at 10 am: Last day to upload writing center reports
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Mon, 12/11 at 10 am: Final draft due on Canvas (200 points)
Assignment: Consider a hero or villain, or someone along the hero → villain spectrum fictional. They can also be a representation from any of the following primary texts: book, movie, television series, graphic novel, comic book, activist, artist. Your task is to write a fully-fledged academic essay stating why you think this figure is either a hero, villain, or anti-hero, or outlaw, or possibly a combination of two. If your figure has multiple representations, like Batman or Joker, you must choose ONE representational text for your argument—this will be your primary source, or text. Identify the places where your figure demonstrates the most heroism or villainous traits and use those clips/scenes/images to form your argument. Here are some things to consider for the content of your paper:
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Perhaps you think this figure is somewhere in between the hero → villain spectrum, like a hero and outlaw figure such as Robin Hood, or and anti-hero character like Walter White (Breaking Bad) and if so, identify the qualities and/or characteristics that makes them ambiguous and not exclusively a hero or villain, and specifically an anti-hero or outlaw.
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Miguel O’Hara (Across the Spiderverse)
Categorize traits based on which are more heroic and which are more villain
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Explain and analyze your figure’s general purpose or specific function. For example: fighting city crime like Batman, or a more specific purpose like Walter White (Breaking Bad) immersing himself in the crystal-meth trade to make money.
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Break down actions – why he does what he is doing, he is technically fighting crime, but his morals are impacting that.
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Butterfly effect/multiverse
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Nothing would have happened if he hadn’t changed to a different universe to live out his life
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Describe what the figure looks like. Explain and analyze their appearance, and how their appearance either adds to or takes away from, your interpretation of the figure’s function or purpose. For example, Deadshot (Suicide Squad) must put on a specific uniform equipped with gadgets that make him become Deadshot.
This is not an exhaustive list and you may not be able to address all questions dependent on your chosen figure. Additionally, you may add to this list in any way you see fit, so long as you show why your figure is a hero or villain.
The Research: You will use research directly related to your topic in the body paragraphs of the essay; these are your secondary sources (four of them must be scholarly). The Annotated Bibliography sources are the research sources you will incorporate to support your argument.
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The journal of Popular Culture
Structure:
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Introduction: construct a clear introduction giving context to your figure with an identifiable thesis at the end. Introduce your “text” (primary source) and give contextual information about your figure. Remember, an introduction is like a movie trailer; let your audience know what to expect in the paper without giving it all away in the beginning.
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First body paragraph: give a brief summary (approximately 5 – 7 sentences) about your figure:
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Film figures: give brief plot summary about the film and information about your figure.
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Figures from a written and/or graphic text like a comic book: give brief plot summary about the text and contextual information about your figure.
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Body paragraphs: clear topic sentences and paragraph structure connecting your arguments to your thesis. This is where you will present your research (secondary sources) to support your argumentative claims. Be sure to use clear topic sentences telling your reader what to “expect” in the paragraph, or indicate you are transitioning from the previous paragraph.
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Conclusion: wrap up your paper by “zooming out.” Restate your thesis and main points without repeating them verbatim. This is the part of the essay where you can bring in new information related to the figure without connecting back to the thesis, such as a final thought or idea that leaves the reader with something new to ponder.
You can visit the SDSU Writing Center (in-person or Zoom appts only working one-on-one with an advisor) for an additional 15 points on this paper. I suggest making an appt early because they will undoubtedly book up fast as the semester-end approaches. Be sure to upload the report directly to Canvas.
**Also, please ask whomever you are working with to email you the report directly and not send to my email.
Requirements:
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2,000 words min, MLA Format, 1” margins, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman
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Works Cited page (not included in the minimum-page count)
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At least FOUR (4) scholarly sources.
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You may use other, additional sources such as articles, imdb.com, and allmovie.com, but they will not be counted as one of the four scholarly sources.
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Use direct quotes from your secondary sources
Annotated Bibliography – Miguel O’Hara Research
D’Amato, Gabriele, and Luca Diani. “Multiverse Fiction: A Narratological Approach to Infinite Worlds Narratives.” Between, vol. 14, no. 27, 2024, pp. 593–614, ojs.unica.it/index.php/between/article/view/5828, https://doi.org/10.13125/2039-6597/5828. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
D’Amato and Diani analyze multiverse fiction, focusing on narrative techniques that allow for infinite worlds and alternate realities. The authors discuss the narrative frameworks used in stories involving multiple universes, examining how these frameworks influence plot development and character arcs. This journal article uses textual analysis rather than data, analyzing well-known multiverse examples in popular media. The central claim is that multiverse narratives allow for complex explorations of identity and consequence, making them a popular tool in modern storytelling.
This source is relevant to Miguel O’Hara as he exists within a multiverse, which shapes his role as an anti-hero by giving him alternate versions of his world to protect. The concept of multiple realities can enhance arguments about his complex motivations and the internal conflicts he faces. The authors’ insights will help illustrate how the multiverse setting complicates Miguel’s decisions, as he feels pressure to prevent mistakes he’s observed in other universes.
Krakowiak, K. Maja, and Mary Beth Oliver. “When Good Characters Do Bad Things: Examining the Effect of Moral Ambiguity on Enjoyment.” Journal of Communication, vol. 62, no. 1, Feb. 2012, pp. 117–135, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2011.01618.x.
Krakowiak and Oliver explore the impact of moral ambiguity on audience enjoyment, focusing on how morally ambiguous actions by characters influence viewer perceptions. The authors argue that audiences often empathize with flawed characters, as their moral complexity allows for more engagement. This study uses data from audience surveys aiming to understand how character ambiguity affects entertainment value and emotional connection.
This study is directly relevant to Miguel O’Hara, whose morally ambiguous actions make him compelling anti-hero. The findings support the argument that audiences connect with Miguel’s character despite, or perhaps because ofhis flaws. I plan to use this source to discuss how Miguel’s morally complex choices enhance his relatability and allow him to function as a memorable anti-hero in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Perreault, Tara. “Rise of the Anti-Hero.” Journal of Undergraduate Research, vol. 25, 16 Oct. 2023, https://doi.org/10.32473/ufjur.25.133438. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.
Perreault’s article discusses the increasing popularity of anti-heroes in modern media, tracing the historical context and characteristics that make anti-heroes appealing. She argues that anti-heroes reflect societal shifts in morality, offering audiences a way to explore complex ethical issues. The article uses a mix of historical analysis and examples from recent media to argue that anti-heroes provide a unique lens through which to understand values.
Perreault’s insights are relevant to Miguel O’Hara’s role as a hero with morally ambiguous. Qualities. This article will help highlight how Miguel reflects trends in anti-hero narratives, serving as an example for examining complicated ethical situations. I’ll use this source to frame Miguel’s actions within the larger trend of anti-heroes in pop culture, adding context to his complex character.
Exlibrisgroup.com, 2024, csu-sdsu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CALS_SDL/10r4g1c/cdi_sage_journals_10_1177_1742715013504425. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
This article from Sage Journals provides an analysis of leadership and moral psychology in modern narratives, examining how characters’ decision-making processes are influenced by ethical dilemmas. The author argues that characters in leadership positions, particularly in challenging roles, often have morally complex traits that resonate with audiences. Using both textual analysis and references to psychological studies, the article explores how these characters reflect real-life ethical complexities.
This article is useful for analyzing Miguel O’Hara as a character who faces leadership dilemmas that push him into morally ambiguous territory. The source will allow me to discuss how Miguel’s role as a leader compels him to make difficult choices, reflecting broader themes of ethical conflict within leadership roles. By incorporating this source, I can deepen the argument that Miguel’s complexity as an anti-hero mirrors societal questions about moral authority and responsibility.