Page - 73 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 03/01

The Problem of Evil | 73www.jrfm.eu 2017, 3/1, 59–74 with more adults interested in comics and their adaptations. in addition, the influence of dystopian literature on the development of the superhero genre has become more palpable over the years. this renewal is thought unfortunate by observers who consider the genre’s loss of innocence and its desire to be taken seriously a step backwards, deem- ing that its authors are ignoring the silliness that is integral to the genre – and where is the pleasure when a genre tries to be serious when it is not supposed to be? in addition, over the last thirty years, although the study of comics has gained a certain cultural legitimation, some researchers, especially in europe, still find it difficult to see analysis of the comic as a cultural practice worthy of theoretical approaches and academic emancipation as are cinema and televi- sion.37 furthermore, the close relationship between academic research and fandom, a characteristic feature of the study of comics in the United states, is not always well received by mainstream academics.38 the extreme popularity of the media and its heavy reliance on the fans’ imperatives and needs seem to undermine its hopes for cultural legitimacy. however, the renewal of the genre, especially via film, another popular medium, is a positive sign for those who can identify the superhero genre’s ability to build a political and philosophical discourse that is in line with today’s angst. BiBLiOGrAPhy Altman, rick, 1984, A semantic/syntactic Approach to film Genre, Cinema Journal 23, 3, 6–18. Arendt, hannah, 2001, Qu’est-ce que la politique ?, trans. Carole Widmaier, Muriel frantz-Widmaier, Paris: Points essais. Baetens, Jan, 2005, Un nouveau départ pour l’étude des comics, Acta fabula 6, 1, http://www.fabu- la.org/revue/document880.php [accessed 8 september 2016] Bréhier, emile, 1994, histoire de la philosophie, vol. 4: XViie siècle, Paris: Cérès. Brunschwig, Jacques, 1969, introduction, in: Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm, essais de théodicée, Paris: Gf-flammarion, 7–14. Campbell, Joseph, 2013, Le héros aux mille et un visages, trans. henri Crès, Paris: J’ai Lu. Chevalier, Jean/Gheerbrant, Alain (eds.), 1982, Dictionnaire des symboles, Paris: Robert Laffont/Ju- piter. Darowski, Joseph, 2016, the superhero Narrative and the Graphic Novel, Critical insights: the Graph- ic Novel, 3–16. Dufour, Eric, 2006, Le Cinéma d’horreur et ses figures, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. Dufour, Eric, 2011, Le Cinéma de science-fiction. Histoire et philosophie, Paris: Armand Colin. 37 there are some notable exceptions in the french-speaking academic world, such as the studies of hergé’s Les aventures de Tintin, a cultural phenomenon in its own right. 38 see Baetens 2005, 4–5.