Darna Movies in the Time of Martial Law: National Trauma and Historical Memory

Abstract

Although superhero stories used to be seen only as vehicles forentertainment and profit, contemporary studies see them as metaphors forunderstanding social and political issues. This article analyzes two filmsmade in the 1970s that revolved around the female superhero Darna, usingtrauma and memory as frameworks. The selected movies provide insightsnot only on how their production was partly shaped by martial law rhetoric,but also on how they contribute to discussions of trauma in local movies.This article presents an alternative way of interpreting Darna texts thatlocates them within a larger historical experience, both real and imagined.

KEYWORDS: DARNA • MARTIAL LAW • MEMORY • SUPERHEROES • TRAUMA