Superman
Perhaps as a response to all the cheering and shouting that I encounter online about the latest Superman movie to come out, I am reminded of exactly how much I dislike the idea of Superman.
I simply do not see the entertainment value in watching a character who can be readily characterized as “the unstoppable force” deal with some manner of evil. One of the greatest problems with a character like Superman is that it is difficult to suspend disbelief and actually surrender to the idea that he can actually lose (ignoring for a moment the comic book story where he does in fact die). As things have gone on, Superman has turned out to be an individual with unbelievable powers, that only seem to grow with each challenge he encounters. Truthfully, I expect this is because the writers responsible for Superman manage to paint him into a corner where his current capabilities do not actually quite allow him to survive the clever plot leveled against him, so in order to assure his survival, they must break their continuity and increase the superpowers at his disposal. This gradually creates a character who cannot be stopped by anything at all. There is little need to be truly clever, to apply that bit of fleshy matter located between the ears to solve problems, when they can be readily dealt with by the application of muscles. So, I suppose in some fashion I equate Superman and his exploits with the stereotypical dumb jock, an impression only furthered by his simplistic and utterly unnuanced understanding of the world, and especially of people.
Additionally, the writers of Superman really do seem to think it's ok for him to use his powers for essentially selfish reasons. There is no reason that he should think twice about taking advantage of his X-Ray vision and super hearing, to find out all sorts of personal and private information that he really does not have the right to know. He is privileged by the nature of his birth, how exactly is this upholding the American Way? Really, this strikes at one of the most troubling aspects of the Superman mythos, those people who identify the Man of Steel as their favourite hero, or role model, the less likely they are to actually take a hand in helping people in the case of an emergency. Someone who is the absolute perfection of the ubermensch should be there to step in and fix the problem, so there is no need for “normal people” to get their hands dirty solving real world problems.
The desire for a being like Superman to be around to save the lives of humanity, to save us from disasters and attacks is another thing I find troubling. I can certainly understand not wanting loved ones to suffer from seemingly random events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, crime, etc. However, in a world where there is a constant savior protecting us from the world, and of course from our own evil, there is no need for humanity to grow up. Life sucks, horrible things happen, and the true measure of who we are is how readily we rise to the task of overcoming. It is certainly horrible that we must come into greatness through death and suffering, but that is how we have always grown as a species. To hope for a guardian angel who will appear to right all wrongs, and save us from fear and peril is the dream of a child. I am uncomfortable with the idea that people would be pleased with the presence of a being such as Superman, to save us from having to face the trials and adversities of nature and life.
I will say that at various points in the Superman comic he has shown capabilities such as a superior intellect, but the manner in which he tends to solve problems relies heavily on his super strength, this reinforcing (at least for me) the impression of a big dumb, if well meaning, jock. Really though, I watched the most recent Superman movie to see Kevin Spacey in the role of Lex Luthor. I am amused to go to a movie to, if not root for at least, watch the performance of a master villain. In the final analysis, Luthor is just a man, but one who is able to find a way to blunt the advantages afforded Superman as an unstoppable force. While he may never win, it is somewhat heartening to see that one can at least stave off the inevitable, when it comes to such extremity of power. Perhaps, it would be better to pursue truth, justice, and all that jazz through means accessible to us mere mortals, rather than with power that is essentially godlike. After all, power corrupts.
I simply do not see the entertainment value in watching a character who can be readily characterized as “the unstoppable force” deal with some manner of evil. One of the greatest problems with a character like Superman is that it is difficult to suspend disbelief and actually surrender to the idea that he can actually lose (ignoring for a moment the comic book story where he does in fact die). As things have gone on, Superman has turned out to be an individual with unbelievable powers, that only seem to grow with each challenge he encounters. Truthfully, I expect this is because the writers responsible for Superman manage to paint him into a corner where his current capabilities do not actually quite allow him to survive the clever plot leveled against him, so in order to assure his survival, they must break their continuity and increase the superpowers at his disposal. This gradually creates a character who cannot be stopped by anything at all. There is little need to be truly clever, to apply that bit of fleshy matter located between the ears to solve problems, when they can be readily dealt with by the application of muscles. So, I suppose in some fashion I equate Superman and his exploits with the stereotypical dumb jock, an impression only furthered by his simplistic and utterly unnuanced understanding of the world, and especially of people.
Additionally, the writers of Superman really do seem to think it's ok for him to use his powers for essentially selfish reasons. There is no reason that he should think twice about taking advantage of his X-Ray vision and super hearing, to find out all sorts of personal and private information that he really does not have the right to know. He is privileged by the nature of his birth, how exactly is this upholding the American Way? Really, this strikes at one of the most troubling aspects of the Superman mythos, those people who identify the Man of Steel as their favourite hero, or role model, the less likely they are to actually take a hand in helping people in the case of an emergency. Someone who is the absolute perfection of the ubermensch should be there to step in and fix the problem, so there is no need for “normal people” to get their hands dirty solving real world problems.
The desire for a being like Superman to be around to save the lives of humanity, to save us from disasters and attacks is another thing I find troubling. I can certainly understand not wanting loved ones to suffer from seemingly random events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, crime, etc. However, in a world where there is a constant savior protecting us from the world, and of course from our own evil, there is no need for humanity to grow up. Life sucks, horrible things happen, and the true measure of who we are is how readily we rise to the task of overcoming. It is certainly horrible that we must come into greatness through death and suffering, but that is how we have always grown as a species. To hope for a guardian angel who will appear to right all wrongs, and save us from fear and peril is the dream of a child. I am uncomfortable with the idea that people would be pleased with the presence of a being such as Superman, to save us from having to face the trials and adversities of nature and life.
I will say that at various points in the Superman comic he has shown capabilities such as a superior intellect, but the manner in which he tends to solve problems relies heavily on his super strength, this reinforcing (at least for me) the impression of a big dumb, if well meaning, jock. Really though, I watched the most recent Superman movie to see Kevin Spacey in the role of Lex Luthor. I am amused to go to a movie to, if not root for at least, watch the performance of a master villain. In the final analysis, Luthor is just a man, but one who is able to find a way to blunt the advantages afforded Superman as an unstoppable force. While he may never win, it is somewhat heartening to see that one can at least stave off the inevitable, when it comes to such extremity of power. Perhaps, it would be better to pursue truth, justice, and all that jazz through means accessible to us mere mortals, rather than with power that is essentially godlike. After all, power corrupts.