Captain America’s “Hard Body” Will Save Us All

Ronald Reagan’s America was characterized by its ability to confront opposing forces that challenged “American” ideologies such as strength, loyalty, labor, and courage. This era emerged in the aftermath of the intricate social dynamics of the 1970s, which promoted systematic social upheaval. The Reagan administration actively advocated for these American ideologies as the defining attributes of people with muscular bodies. Muscular bodies were portrayed as a defense against external forces that threatened America. Adversely, anybody who did not conform to the muscular body archetype was automatically stigmatized as lazy or morally deficient.

The article “Hard Bodies: The Reagan Heroes” by Susan Jeffords delves into the exploration of this phenomenon. Jefford emphasizes how Reagan’s policies resulted in the division of society into two distinct groups: the soft body and the hard body. The soft body, according to Jeffords, was portrayed as feminine, weak, and diseased, with this sentiment extending to people of color. In contrast, Reagan promoted his body as the epitome of the hard body – a strong, ageless, healthy, energized White male body. This characterization of hard bodies was further reinforced by Reagan’s masculine actor image, which embodied a simplistic notion of heroism. Consequently, the connection between the body and personal value became intertwined with morality, politics, economics, and dominant ideologies.

Jurgen Link coined the term collective symbol to explain the association between muscular bodies and the ideal masculine form. The collective symbol, as defined by Link, is an image that becomes deeply embedded in the cultural zeitgeist as symbolically significant. The concept of the hard body has emerged as a collective symbol that permeates the fabric of American media. Numerous examples of hard bodies exist; however, Captain America stands as an enduring emblem of this ideal.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) shows the transformation from a soft body to a hard body. The film begins by introducing Steve Rogers, who is initially depicted in his pre-serum body. Steve is portrayed as short, slender, lean, and lacking in muscularity. In the first fight sequence of the film Steve, unable to defend himself against a man twice his size, must accept the aid of his friend Bucky. Bucky exhibits the ideals masculine figure by being strong and psychically fit. After Bucky defeats the assailant, he boldly states, “Pick on someone your own size.” This scene serves to demonstrate Bucky’s strength, loyalty, and courage, all of which are characteristics that align with the ideal American hero according to Reagan's standards. Similarly, Steve possesses these same qualities, as evidenced by his confrontation with the assailant from the movie theater. However, despite his admirable traits, Steve is often overlooked due to his physical weakness. Bucky, on the other hand, is deemed fit for military service due to his ideal masculine physique, while Steve is deemed unfit to defend America due to his physical inadequacy.

Despite possessing courage and loyalty and being willing to protect his country, it is only after exhibiting a hard body that his commitment to helping others is acknowledged. After receiving the serum, Steve's physical transformation earns him admiration and respect. He becomes the military’s poster child, embodying the quintessential American man – strong, ageless, healthy, and energized, much like Reagan. However, despite being the face of the American war effort, he is excluded from the battlefield, creating an exclusionary image that does not reflect the reality of the diverse and ruthless nature of the military. Nevertheless, Steve’s idealized appearance casts him as an iconic American hero, fit to protect his country.