On Superherology

doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/98736 On Superherology Kyle Hammonds, University of Oklahoma Abstract Introduction In 2012, Travis Langley’s book Batman Academic research to understand the and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight social functions of superhero myths has only introduced the term “superherologist,” recently begun to gain traction. The mass indicating Langley’s belief that scholars production of formal superherological who study superheroes belong to a unique stories through television and film seem to field of study. This presentation seeks to have alerted some scholars to the fact that explore historical academic standards for the superhero myths are legitimate subjects of constitution of disciplines, fields, and topics, study. Lack of research on superheroes is and hold them against Langley’s claim that undoubtedly due to the significant American superhero studies warrant their own field. stigma against superhero narratives. Lopes Further, if “superherology” does indeed (2006) argued that comic books, the source qualify as an academic field (versus a mere material from which most contemporary topic, subject, etc.), what are the boundaries superhero stories are extrapolated, “have of the field and how should researchers been stigmatized since their introduction in engage in appropriate scholarship for the the mid-1930s, and this stigma has affected subject matter? The legitimacy of superhero comic books as well as artists, readers, and studies in academia is bound up in whether fans of comics” (p. 388). Given the lack of superherologists fit the historical boundaries superherological research, relative to other of rigorous scholarship. existing topics and fields, present scholars Further, this presentation does not solely would do well to add “academics” to Lopes’ seek theoretical ground for determining list of groups impacted by superhero stigma. whether superhero studies belongs in Although Lopes’ sociological analysis of scholarship; a praxical approach to comic book stigma in 2006 concluded that superhero studies is suggested through a “the efforts of publishers, artists, and fans in discussion of the questions: 1) Who can be a comic book culture to break through the superherologist? and 2) What are the barriers to this medium seem to have finally practical aims and scope of superherology? born some fruit,” the analysis itself bore out Ultimately, the presentation will conclude that much work has yet to be completed in that superhero fans all have the opportunity studying comics because of the lingering to engage in superherological work. effects of pre-existing comic book stigma (p. 411). Accordingly, although superhero scholarship exists and continues to be conducted, most researchers who dare to The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 116 address superhero myths identify as word that he introduced. Perhaps he academics in larger disciplinary areas, intended the term to function informally or specializing in a different subject, who believed the meaning of the word would be simply happen to have studied a superhero apparent in its construction. In either case, at some point. In other words, superhero Langley’s term and its variations have now research is not usually produced by people entered the public arena and suggest that who claim such research as their primary superhero research may be serious and academic interest. A line of inquiry inspired significant in academic study. The following by this knowledge regarding the production essay will explore the potential meaning and of superhero scholarship includes whether implications of being a superherologist, superhero myths may warrant constitution of examine the academic boundaries of an academic discipline or whether existing superhero studies, and call for future scholarship is already most productive by research in superherology. examining superheroes as objects of study. This question is significant to superhero Men and Masks: Who is Travis Langley? researchers because the academic categorization of their scholarship impacts Understanding Langley’s academic work how superhero stories are studied, including and introduction of the word, the scope of research and acceptable study superherologist, may lend insight into how methodologies. other scholars may navigate superhero In 2012, a superhero researcher – Travis research as well. Langley is presently Langley – at Henderson State University in situated in the department of psychology at Arkansas published a book publically Henderson State University (HSU.edu). His indicating superhero research as his primary status is, notably, “professor of psychology” interest. Further, Langley introduced a term and not “professor of superherology.” Even implying that there is something scientific so, as with other instances of his public (and, therefore, academically legitimate) biographical information, Langley’s entire about studying superheroes. In the “About blurb on his Henderson State webpage the Author” section his book, Batman and emphasizes his “authority on the psychology Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight, of superheroes and fictional television Langley (2012) introduced himself as a characters” with the discipline of “superherologist.” Additional reading of psychology being mentioned almost as a Langley’s biography in the book revealed backdrop (HSU.edu). Although there are that he had been using the title of undoubtedly commercial benefits for authors superherologist for some time in both social of best-selling books on superheroes to media and for scholarly work (e.g., personal advertise themselves as a superherologist, website with course syllabi, academic Langley’s focus on superhero stories as a conference schedule, etc.). Despite use of primary research interest still rails against the unique term, superherologist, though, the American comics stigma and potential Langley did not write any explanation of the academic prejudices. Langley obviously The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 117 acknowledged the potential academic on the Interpretation and Influence of backlash of studying superheroes by the Comic Arts), Dr. Langley and his claiming that “the professor side of my life students investigate how fans see and the nerd side were two separate things themselves and their heroes. Travis until I went to ComicCon in 2007… It was a has also been a child abuse place that celebrates interests that might investigator, courtroom expert, and ostracize people somewhere else. I felt undefeated champion on the Wheel happy, comfortable, and full of joy in this of Fortune game show even though environment.” (HSU.edu) The merging of none of the puzzles they gave him Langley’s two, previously separated, social were about psychology or identities of academic and geek – a superheroes. (2012, About the transformation seemingly akin to the dual Author, emphasis in original) identity tropes of many superhero stories – culminated in the publication of Batman and Even though Langley’s biography splits up Psychology in 2012. With Batman and writing space about psychology and Psychology, Langley took his self-appointed superherology fairly evenly, the breakdown title of superherologist and advertised it to of individual accomplishments clearly the world. Analyzing the phrasing of favors superherological research. Again, Langley’s bio in the book highlights the while acknowledging that Langley’s negotiation of his academic identity at the credibility as a superhero scholar may time: influence the success of his book[s], Langley’s biography in the book is Superherologist Travis Langley representative of the public self that he has teaches on the psychology of crime, presented for years. The focus on mental illness, social behavior, and superherological work in Langley’s Batman media (including comic books), not and Psychology biography is similar to what to mention a course titled Batman, at may be found in his Henderson State site Henderson State University. He biography as well. Both Langley’s book received his bachelor’s degree in biography and his HSU webpage present a psychology from Hendrix College researcher who does not merely tack and his psychology doctorate from superhero studies as a footnote onto their Tulane University. An organizer of curriculum vitae or conveniently forget their the Comics Arts Conference, he superhero scholarship in certain contexts; to regularly speaks as a panelist the contrary, Langley always identifies as discussing the psychology of both a professor of superherology and superheroes at conventions such as psychology. San Diego Comic-Con International, Generally speaking, other scholars WonderCon, and New York Comic would not question what it means for Con. As part of their ongoing Langley to be a professor of psychology. ERIICA Project (Empirical Research The discipline of psychology has a long- The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 1, August 2018 118 standing history with recognizable theories, understanding constitution of academic methods, and objects of study. disciplines. Communication studies is an Superherologists (if anyone besides Langley appropriate exemplar for consideration on may take on the title) do not enjoy the same this topic for several reasons: 1) recognition, popular history, or clarity in communication studies, like superherology, methodology. Even so, Langley has is a relatively young [formal] area of study consistently presented himself as much as a compared to other disciplines, 2) professor of superherology as psychology, communication scholars have,

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