American Propaganda of Freedom and Uniqueness of Personality through the Images of DC Comics Antiheroes

Abstract

The aim of this article is to determine the role of American comics as one of the most effective tools of political propaganda of such American values as freedom, perceived as permissiveness, and the uniqueness of the individual, manifested in the rejection of traditional norms. So that the propaganda works effectively all over the world, the US actively uses mass culture. In the modern world, one of its most popular elements are DC comics – graphic stories. They are very popular among young people. At first glance, these pictures, which are only entertaining in nature, are a powerful relay of American values, through which the necessary ideas are easily fixed in the minds of young readers. As iconic characters of such works, the article considers the Joker and Har-ley Quinn. In conclusion, it argues for the idea that such mass culture media become an instrument of political propaganda and serve to implement the concept of “soft power” on the part of the United States towards other countries, pursuing the goal of spreading America’s influence in the world.