"All of Humanity’s Sins Are the Devil’s Fault, Right?" "Metamythology" and Mythical Subversion in Netflix’s Television Series Lucifer (2016-2021).
This article argues that the figure of the devil in season one of Netflix’s television series Lucifer subverts the myth of the devil in a witty way by using "metamythology," a type of discourse produced by fictional characters who self-consciously and systematically draw attention to their mythical...
| Published in: | Atlantis (0210-6124) Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 169 - 190 |
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| Format: | Article |
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Departament de Llengues i Literatures Modernes i d'Estudis Anglesos
Jun2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=195007892&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 195007892 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 02106124 VSM jtl: Atlantis (0210-6124) issn: 02106124 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Jun2026 vid: 48 iid: 1 pid: 19799 pub: Departament de Llengues i Literatures Modernes i d'Estudis Anglesos artinfo: ui: 195007892 10.28914/Atlantis-2026-48.1.8 ppf: 169 ppct: 21 formats: fmt: @attributes: type: P size: 1.1MB tig: atl: "All of Humanity’s Sins Are the Devil’s Fault, Right?" "Metamythology" and Mythical Subversion in Netflix’s Television Series Lucifer (2016-2021). aug: au: GONZÁLEZ, CRISTINA SALCEDO affil: Universidad Complutense de Madrid. su: Devil Mythology Theology Popular culture sug: subj: Devil Mythology Theology Popular culture keyword: "metamythology" Lucifer Media Studies popular culture Reception Studies TV series "cultura popular" "metamitología" Estudios de Medios Estudios de Recepción serie de televisión ab: This article argues that the figure of the devil in season one of Netflix’s television series Lucifer subverts the myth of the devil in a witty way by using "metamythology," a type of discourse produced by fictional characters who self-consciously and systematically draw attention to their mythical status. After outlining the evolution of the myth of the devil, identifying crucial versions or aspects that shape our understanding of the devil as an archetypal figure, this article goes on to elucidate how Lucifer offers a revision of certain elements of the myth. The analysis of the show, especially Lucifer’s dialogue, reveals him as being witty and a playboy-like figure. He utilises "metamythology" to playfully comment on stereotypes and clichés associated with the archetype of the devil, particularly those rooted in Christian theology and popularised by modern horror films. Though probably unintentionally, this portrayal of the devil in fact brings him closer to the traditional concept of Satan in the Old Testament and in Milton’s Paradise Lost. Due to its wide-ranging explanatory potential, "metamythology" emerges as a significant addition to Reception Studies, casting light on important questions within the field, including whether manifestations of popular culture dismantle myths or reinforce them by engaging with them. Este trabajo sostiene que la figura del diablo en la primera temporada de la serie de televisión Lucifer, de Netflix, subvierte el mito tradicional mediante el recurso de la "metamitología," un tipo de discurso pronunciado por personajes ficticios que, de manera consciente y sistemática, llaman la atención sobre su propio estatus mítico. Tras trazar la evolución del mito e identificar las versiones y aspectos clave que han configurado nuestra percepción del diablo como figura arquetípica, el estudio se centra en cómo la ficción televisiva reinterpreta determinados elementos de esa tradición. El examen de la serie, y en particular de los diálogos de su protagonista, revela la construcción de un personaje ingenioso y seductor, de aire playboy, que emplea la "metamitología" como recurso irónico para cuestionar y parodiar los estereotipos vinculados al diablo, en especial aquellos asentados en la teología cristiana y popularizados por el cine de terror contemporáneo. Aunque probablemente de forma involuntaria, esta representación del diablo lo acerca al concepto tradicional de Satanás presente en el Antiguo Testamento y en El paraíso perdido de Milton. En definitiva, la "metamitología" muestra un amplio potencial explicativo y se perfila como una aportación valiosa a los Estudios de Recepción, al arrojar luz sobre cuestiones centrales de este ámbito, como si las manifestaciones de la cultura popular contribuyen a desmantelar los mitos o, por el contrario, a reforzarlos mediante su interacción con ellos. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Copyright of Atlantis (0210-6124) is the property of Departament de Llengues i Literatures Modernes i d'Estudis Anglesos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. item: Atlantis (0210-6124) holder: Departament de Llengues i Literatures Modernes i d'Estudis Anglesos dt: @attributes: year: 2026 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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