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Reconsidering the Cinematic Hero
Monday, October 12, to Friday, October 16, 2026
Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
Film treatment of the traditional hero is at a crossroads. The harsh naturalism of recent decades has punctured idealizing portrayals of the heroic. Revisionist treatments of the hero have emphasized human limitations, mixed motivations, fallenness, and vicious degradation. At the same time, a relentless postmodern drive to find hints of the heroic at the margins has functioned as an implicit critique of traditional ideas of heroism especially in its masculine form, in effect offering a deconstructive genealogy of the “heroic” that exposes its deep flaws and uneven record in promoting human flourishing.
In recent years, however, hints have appeared of a rethinking of the idea of the heroic, such as the quiet and sacrificial family leader of A Quiet Place (Krasinski 2018), the stolid anti-Nazi conscientious objector of A Hidden Life (Malick 2019), a vulnerable and unironic Superman (Gunn 2025), the physically imposing but humble-hearted Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Harris & Smith 2026), and the reluctant and self-effacing astronaut of this year’s Project Hail Mary (Lord & Miller 2026).
What are the continuing prospects for cinematic depictions of the hero and the heroic? Is the traditional hero dead? Can revisions and reboots of the heroic continue to refresh it in new and meaningful ways? In what ways can cinematic heroes challenge and inspire people today?
Students, faculty, staff, and community are invited to attend any of these events.
All events are FREE admission.
Event Schedule (events and speakers TBA; please come back for details)
Monday, October 12, 7 pm: series opening plenary talk
Tuesday, October 13, 7 pm: faculty panel: What is the Future of the Cinematic Hero?
Wednesday, October 14, 7 pm: student panel: Reconsidering the Cinematic Hero
Thursday, October 15, 7 pm: plenary talk
Friday, October 16, 7 pm: plenary talk
Featured Speakers
Please visit again for a full list of featured speakers.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding the Faith, Film, and Philosophy 2026 Series, please contact David H. Calhoun, Gonzaga Faith & Reason Institute, at faithandreason@gonzaga.edu.