Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: the power elite in the dark

 

This photo is a group character shot from the TV series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” showcasing the valuable high-tech control instruments and displays aboard the spacecraft. The series, created by Joss Whedon, is based on the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization from Marvel Comics. The full name of “S.H.I.E.L.D.” is Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division, which was formed by the Allied powers during World War II to combat H.Y.D.R.A., an enemy armed with dangerous advanced technologies. The daily operations of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are highly confidential, dealing with supernatural phenomena that pose threats to national security. Access to various intelligence and information within S.H.I.E.L.D. requires sufficient security clearance to protect secrets from falling into enemy hands. The agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. include those who have been secretly resurrected, martial arts experts, combat spies, hackers, scientists specializing in physical and biochemical sciences, and individuals with supernatural abilities, most of whom have extraordinary and tumultuous life experiences. In this photo, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are at their headquarters, aboard a massive high-tech airborne armed transport aircraft.

In “The Power Elite,” C. Wright Mills characterizes the power elite as individuals whose roles elevate them above the everyday lives of the ordinary person, allowing them to make significant decisions that impact society (Mills [1956] 2002:3-4). Mills stresses that the real influence of these elites stems from their structural positions within major institutions, rather than merely their wealth or resources (Mills [1956] 2002:9). Moreover, Mills also notes a common tendency among powerful American figures to downplay their influence, often framing themselves as public servants who seek to serve rather than govern or rule. This rhetorical strategy, according to Mills, is a standard element of the public relations efforts of these powerful individuals, leading to a liberal-reading misconception that portrays the power elite as impotent or less powerful than they actually are (Mills [1956] 2002:17).

For me, the intriguing aspect of this photo is whether it conveys to the audience the idea that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents represent a portrait of the American power elite. According to Weber’s definition, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are part of an elite interlock within the institutional interlocks of the economic, military, and government domains. Moreover, they align with Mills’ description of the power elite as those in structural positions capable of making decisions with profound societal impacts. Their access to highly confidential information and the high secrecy of their work illustrate this point, as does the high-tech aircraft and equipment they use, which denote significant economic investment. Interestingly, the image of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in the series share many similarities with Mills’ notion that the elite power is often depicted as “public servants” in the power situation of America. Similarly, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are portrayed as individuals who sacrifice their safety for public security in the interest of national defense. However, what is not emphasized in the series is the privilege they hold as highly classified personnel within crucial national defense institutions, privileges that transcend those of ordinary people. Perhaps the experience of team leader Coulson, who was resurrected due to the needs of a secret mission, represents a privilege that ordinary people cannot have. This leads me to continuously ponder, what exactly does the common person’s filter of understanding the power elite include? What significance does this definition hold in sociology of power?


Work Cited

Sarah Lewin. 2017. “'S.H.I.E.L.D' Agents Are 'Lost in Space' for Season 5.” Retrieved 18 April 2024. https://www.space.com/38400-agents-of-shield-lost-in-space.html.

Mills, Wright C. 1956. Revised in 2002. “The Power Elite.” Oxford University Press.