By: Miguel Ernesto Yusty

Epic cinema has its roots in ancient Greek literature. For the Greeks, epic poetry served as a historical narrative in a time when truth was a combination of concrete facts and fantastical explanations. Despite the rise of reason as the foundation for constructing a coherent understanding of the world, a large part of today's audience still finds meaning in stories where myth plays a central role. This is why stories and screenplays that revive archetypal characters inspired by classical epics continue to appear and enjoy widespread audience approval.

From stories based on the Trojan War or the Iliad, through films about King Arthur, to John Carter (2012), the Earthling who fights in wars for control of Mars, and even superhero movies, epic cinema is thriving. This demonstrates that rationality alone is insufficient to satisfy human drama and that viewers yearn for some kind of explanation that gives meaning to their lives. Thus, mythological narratives continue to find a place in contemporary society.

In recent years, films such as Alexander (2004), based on the life of Alexander the Great, 300 (2006), about the Battle of Thermopylae, and more recently, the Avengers saga, have been released. In a few weeks, the film BLACK PANTHER will begin its run, a superhero movie that unabashedly blends myths from Hispanic America with fantastical tales from sub-Saharan Africa.