ECON 121 - Economics of Superheroes and Villains

Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory (or Other) Hours: 0

Prerequisite(s): None
Restriction(s): None

Corequisite(s): None

This course explores the dynamic world of economics through the lens of popular culture superheroes, villains, and associated fandom. Superhero companies through the production of comics, films, streaming series, amusement parks, attire, product tie-ins and other economic partnerships add billions of dollars to the economy. Understanding the choices that firms and consumers make will help students understand core economic concepts around production, consumer choice, supply, demand, and economic theory. Comics also provide an intriguing “in-universe” way to examine key economic concepts. From spillover costs, to factors of production, to unidimensional governments, there is a unique opportunity to explore economic theories in a method that students understand and relate to. Regulatory efforts around trademarks, patents, and copyrights will help students understand the intersection of policy and economics.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Course:

Show proficiency in understanding and applying the basic axioms/principles of at least one social science to demonstrate the explanatory power of the respective discipline by demonstrating a critical knowledge of its major concepts, models and issues;(knowledge of major concepts, models and issues in at least one discipline)
Demonstrate a critical knowledge of two or major theories/models of human behavior in one or more of the social sciences. (critical thinking- analyze and evaluate arguments)
Display an appreciation of, and basic competence in, the use of mathematical tools and analyses as these apply to the social sciences.
Exhibit an understanding of the methods used by social scientists, demonstrate an ability to develop a hypothesis related to observable human behavior in at least one discipline, and use data appropriate to the discipline to test a hypothesis. (understanding of data collection, observation, and hypothesis development, interpretive analysis) (critical thinking- develop well-reasoned arguments)
Students will be able to apply economic concepts to the world of entertainment to effectively evaluate how economic theory describes behavior by firms and consumers.
Students will be able to analyze consumer trends and choices that consumers make.