The mutation as metaphor for the discourse of difference: representations of racist and homophobic practices in the X-men literary universe

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze historical-social issues in the american graphic novel´s X-Men through a critical-sociological reading. The comic books were first published in 1963, in the United States. Those stories have present different characters, stories and themes that are extremely relevant for our contemporary issues, such as: ethnic conflicts, urban violence, and social inequality. Apart from these themes, the X-Men’s comics, in a metaphoric speech, allow us to think about other social issues – like racism and homophobia. By analyzing excerpts from magazines and movies, parallel to the social reality of black people and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people (LGBTI) in Brazil and in the world, we propose to establish a relation between the discourse of comic mutation and the discourse of difference, that is, of respect for otherness. Our work and analyzes are based on the reflexions of the philosopher Giles Deleuze and his ideas about the “reversal of simulacrum”, as well as the logic of the diférrance by philosopher Jacques Derrida. Thus, we have verified this literature allows us to identify intersections between the discriminatory practices undergone by the mutants in the graphic novels and the racist and homophobic practices suffered by blacks and LGBTI people.