Superpower: Heroes, Ghosts, and the Paranormal in American Culture

Introduction: Culture of Longing -- The Supernatural in American Culture One: Not Just a Job: The Longing for Adventure in American History and American Culture Voyages of Discovery: American Adventure from Columbus to Jean-Luc Picard / The British Invasion: Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter Make It Big in America / Cool Magic: The American Postmodern Epic Fantasy Two: Heroism In America: The Longing for Heroes in American History and American Culture American Heroes and Antiheroes: Kings of the Wild Frontier / Hard-boiled Magic: The Vampire Detective / Girls Kick Butt: The Female Action Hero / Buffy Keeps It Cool / Teenagers from Outer Space: Teen Angst and the Superhero Narrative / Our Others, Our Selves: The Mutant Superhero Three: U.S. vs. Them: American Paranoia and the Longing for Evil in American History and American Culture Rosemary's Baby and the Horror Boom of the 1970s / The X-Files and the Postmodern Conspiracy Narrative: Mapping the Apocalypse/ Apocalyptic Television at the Turn of the Millennium / Finding that Special Place: The Strange Enclave Narrative from Twin Peaks to Lost Conclusion: The Contradictory Compensations of Popular Culture Notes; Works Cited; Films Cited; Television Series Cited; Index

M. Keith Booker is the James E. and Ellen Wadley Roper Professor of English and the director of the program in comparative literature and cultural studies at the University of Arkansas. He is the author of several books, including "Alternate Americas: Science Fiction Film and American Culture" and "From Box Office to Ballot Box: The American Political Film."