Thoughts on Smallville
I think we've been suckered by Smallville. We were all here either for the tales of young Clark Kent and his nemesis, Lex Luthor, on their ultimate journey to being enemies (or for the pretty boys) and what do we get -- MORALITY PLAYS!!
Not that I give Al!Miles credit for being smart enough to do satire but lets step back and look at the series for a minute.
Smallville, Kansas -- The Heartland of America. Where they still argue about God v. Science. Where the family lives. Where all of this drama might seem a bit more real than if it were set in a city close to DC or NY. Or heaven forbid, LA. Flannel is pitted against Silk. And Silk is portrayed as Evil.
Jonathan and Martha Kent -- On the surface, they are an average middle class American couple stuggling to get by. They have an "organic" farm. They have an adopted "foreign" child. Martha is a stay-at-home Mom until her son is in high school despite a college education. Jonathan is a man of the earth with decidedly conservative family values.
Clark Kent -- typical American teen (despite the super powers and Alien heritage) with questions about his place in the world. He has to deal with sex, drugs and rock and roll. He's struggling to decide if his parents views are what he wants to follow or if he has his own destiny.
Lana Lang -- The girl next door. Object of worship. That which must be saved for life as we have always known it to continue. Madonna and Whore all wrapped up in one package. Platform for all of the life lessons that must be taught to teens. Should I have sex? Should I run wild with my latest boyfriend? How do I break up with one boy to be with another? How do I make it in the world? What effect will my life have on those around me?
Chloe Sullivan -- A different perspective. She's not from the Heartland. She's from "Metropolis." She's a "city" girl. She's the liberal viewpoint in a conservative town. She sees the weirdness that's happening all around her and tries to point it out, but she's an outsider. The Press. On your side when it tells your story. Not to be believed when you don't agree with it.
Pete Ross -- token black kid. Yes, we have diversity in our town, but we only have to play lip service to it and we can dismiss it at any time.
Lex Luthor -- The World Outside the boundaries of the Heartland with more pragmatic concerns. He's the Agenda that the town must fight gainst. Faith isn't enough for him. Facts are what counts. He doesn't come with warning labels, though common sense would tell you not to touch if you aren't equipped to handle him. You'd take him to court in a frivolous law suit in a minute. He will expose your lies and take you down -- unless lies serve his own purposes. And you hate him for exposing your underbelly.
Lionel Luthor -- The old corrupt guard. Power and Money. Those that Must be Fought Against. Satan. Those that get away with murder. Those above the law. And yet there is something about these people that we pay millions of dollars a year to read about and watch TV shows about.
Krypto-Mutants -- Each is a morality lesson in itself. From Jodie's obsession with her weight that turns her into a fat sucking monster to Ian's drive for success that uses his ability to be two people to take up the impossible schedule he sets himself. Smallville using morality plays. Who would have thunk?
Washing dishes gives me too much time to think.
Not that I give Al!Miles credit for being smart enough to do satire but lets step back and look at the series for a minute.
Smallville, Kansas -- The Heartland of America. Where they still argue about God v. Science. Where the family lives. Where all of this drama might seem a bit more real than if it were set in a city close to DC or NY. Or heaven forbid, LA. Flannel is pitted against Silk. And Silk is portrayed as Evil.
Jonathan and Martha Kent -- On the surface, they are an average middle class American couple stuggling to get by. They have an "organic" farm. They have an adopted "foreign" child. Martha is a stay-at-home Mom until her son is in high school despite a college education. Jonathan is a man of the earth with decidedly conservative family values.
Clark Kent -- typical American teen (despite the super powers and Alien heritage) with questions about his place in the world. He has to deal with sex, drugs and rock and roll. He's struggling to decide if his parents views are what he wants to follow or if he has his own destiny.
Lana Lang -- The girl next door. Object of worship. That which must be saved for life as we have always known it to continue. Madonna and Whore all wrapped up in one package. Platform for all of the life lessons that must be taught to teens. Should I have sex? Should I run wild with my latest boyfriend? How do I break up with one boy to be with another? How do I make it in the world? What effect will my life have on those around me?
Chloe Sullivan -- A different perspective. She's not from the Heartland. She's from "Metropolis." She's a "city" girl. She's the liberal viewpoint in a conservative town. She sees the weirdness that's happening all around her and tries to point it out, but she's an outsider. The Press. On your side when it tells your story. Not to be believed when you don't agree with it.
Pete Ross -- token black kid. Yes, we have diversity in our town, but we only have to play lip service to it and we can dismiss it at any time.
Lex Luthor -- The World Outside the boundaries of the Heartland with more pragmatic concerns. He's the Agenda that the town must fight gainst. Faith isn't enough for him. Facts are what counts. He doesn't come with warning labels, though common sense would tell you not to touch if you aren't equipped to handle him. You'd take him to court in a frivolous law suit in a minute. He will expose your lies and take you down -- unless lies serve his own purposes. And you hate him for exposing your underbelly.
Lionel Luthor -- The old corrupt guard. Power and Money. Those that Must be Fought Against. Satan. Those that get away with murder. Those above the law. And yet there is something about these people that we pay millions of dollars a year to read about and watch TV shows about.
Krypto-Mutants -- Each is a morality lesson in itself. From Jodie's obsession with her weight that turns her into a fat sucking monster to Ian's drive for success that uses his ability to be two people to take up the impossible schedule he sets himself. Smallville using morality plays. Who would have thunk?
Washing dishes gives me too much time to think.