I know a lot about Superman. I could tell you the Kryptonian date that he was born, read and write in his native language, recite his social security number, and even speak a few phrases in Kryptonese. But as much as I love the character, I tend to stay away from reading certain things about him. He’s my hero, and, despite how stupid this sounds, he’s been there for me when I’ve needed him the most. Why would I want to read articles in which the author either doesn’t understand or downright despises the character? With this class, I am given little option, and I think it might be for the best. I already know what the fanbase is saying about the character. I could tell you exactly how the dedicated fans are feeling about having the Post-Crisis Superman take over for the recently deceased New 52 Superman, or how the release of March 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has split the fanbase even greater than 2013’s Man of Steel. I’m knowledgable about what is being said within the community, but I am vaguely familiar with what is being said by detractors (aside from the lousy excuses for reasons to dislike the character) and those who have a general understanding of the character. As I’ve written elsewhere, Superman is engrained in our culture. People much smarter than I have commented that The Man of Steel and his colleagues are essentially modern day American mythology. A lot is being said about Superman. People have written essays on the scientific workings of his abilities, how he’s impacted American society, the moral and philosophical questions he’s raised, and even the practicality of him and Lois engaging in coitus. While I doubt that I will be able to bring anything new to the conversation, especially since the character is nearly 80 years old, I do hope to be able to sort through the myriad articles and essays to perhaps consolidate what is being said into an easy-to-comprehend piece of literature. The character means a lot to me and plays a huge role in my life. I am in contact with people who love the character and despise his very existence. However, after reading the articles from this week, I feel that I am well-equipped to be writing about this topic. I write for The Superman Homepage and host a podcast on the character; I think I have a pretty good understanding of who the character is, why he works, and what makes him so enduring.
Sep 252016