What Superheroes are Made of: Phillip Thurtle at TEDxRainier

This talk explores in a novel way the underpinnings of the superheroes who permeate our culture and who inspire millions.
Phillip Thurtle is an interdisciplinary scholar using the tools of cultural and intellectual history, continental philosophy, media theory, and science and technology studies to discover how the material culture of information processing redefines life and the potential of human beings. He is director of the Comparative History of Ideas program, associate professor in History, and Adjunct in Anthropology at the University of Washington.
This talk was given at TEDxRainier in Seattle on November 10, 2012. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)