Abstract
Central to the chapter is the figure of the Ubermensch that, finding its provenance in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, was appropriated by National Socialism. The figure is discussed in terms of the representation of Neo in the Matrix trilogy – The Matrix (The Wachowskis, 1999), The Matrix Reloaded (The Wachowskis, 2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (The Wachowskis, 2003) – and that of the mutants in the X-Men trilogy – X-Men (Bryan Singer, 2000), X2 (Singer, 2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (Brett Ratner, 2006). The figure of the Ubermensch is further seen inform the representation of fascistic characters in Stir of Echoes (David Koepp, 1999), American Beauty (Sam Mendes, 1999) and Elephant (Gus Van Sant, 2003). The chapter closes with a discussion of Pleasantville (Gary Ross, 1998), which, in counterpoint to the representation of Ubermensch figures, is proposed both to affirm ordinariness and to set it as being contesting of fascism.
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