A Trickster Reading of Loki’s Character in Contemporary Popular Culture

Abstract

This paper examines how Loki is represented as a manifestation of the trickster and explores the intersections of this theoretical framework with contemporary media, mythology, and forms of participatory fan culture. Citing the work of Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Paul Radin, and Lewis Hyde, the project discusses Loki as a shape-shifter, boundary-crosser, and disruptor. This article also addresses how, through a comparative analysis of mythological texts, Marvel Comics, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Loki is presented as an eternal trickster figure while also reflecting the social and moral concerns of modern audiences. The research also investigates how fan communities continue to reinterpret Loki, proving his popularity as a cultural representation of resistance, innovation, and evolution. Finally, the paper argues that Loki is one of the contemporary trickster myths that remain relevant, and that there has always been an aspect of trickster stories that, though not yet in-depth, contributes to the larger narrative of what we consider to be of contemporary importance and meaning.