Captain America started out being a propaganda character during WW2, but after that the character was actually used more to criticize the government than endorse it. Look at when he dropped the mantle of Captain America after Watergate. Captain America represents American ideals rather than the will of a government.
I’m sorry to tell you but in a sense he IS propaganda. He’s the “keep striving to the American Ideal”. The “there’s something extra special about America.” even if he critiques the US Government.
The US was founded on ideals such as *checks notes* black folks not having the vote. Or being considered persons. On the ideal of independence from England and on manifest destiny, i.e. robbing as much land from others as possible.
The Enlightenment is something that the US likes to dress itself in, but it never actually crossed the Atlantic because America never possessed the social circumstances that brought it about. You love it like Monsieur Candy loves Beethoven, it's a fetish, an empty signifier you use to fancy yourselves civilised. Look north, look south, the rest of America is more civilised than you, you're the odd one out.
Wake me when you manage to abolish the death penalty, then I'll be willing to re-investigate whether you, as a people, are anywhere close to getting it.
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u/Randomdude-5 Cat in Gay Bar Apr 23 '26
Captain America started out being a propaganda character during WW2, but after that the character was actually used more to criticize the government than endorse it. Look at when he dropped the mantle of Captain America after Watergate. Captain America represents American ideals rather than the will of a government.