Mario

In A World of Evil and Doubt, We Need Him

 Posted by on Sun, 10/2 at 8:25pm  ideas  No Responses »
Oct 022016
 

Everybody has their Superman. Some people latch onto Christopher Reeve. Others hold that George Reeves and the Superman of the Silver Age is the only Superman. With a history spanning nearly 80 years, it is easy to see why so many people have their own ideas of what Superman should look like and how he should act. Regardless of the interpretation, Superman is a character that embodies both hope and the best of what humans can be. As a fan myself, I appreciate nearly every interpretation of the character. My initial exposure to the character was through collected editions that reprinted the best comic book stories from the forties to the eighties. I watched all of the key film interpretations of the character. As a result, I have the unique quality of having no favorite portrayal of a character that is so integral to my life.

However, that does not make me blind to the flaws of different interpretations. And it’s not just Superman that I pay attention to; it’s his supporting cast. The people Superman interacts with are just as important as the Metropolis Marvel himself. Lois Lane is a hard-hitting, strong, independent investigative reporter. Lex Luthor is a brilliant, egotistical mind that views himself as the hero fighting off the alien invader. Perry White is the gruff, fatherly editor-in-chief. Jonathan and Martha Kent are a kindly, down-to-earth couple that live in a small town where values and morality are integral.

Additionally, as a member of the fanbase, I have seen the divide brought on by the release of the two most recent films starring Superman. While both films have their fans, there are many who dislike and even loathe the films’ portrayal of the character. Even reviewers and moviegoers who are not particularly well-versed in the character’s mythology, or even dislike the character, find the films to be horrible representations of the American icon.

People argue that Superman doesn’t matter anymore. There are many who say that he’s an outdated character that represents an overly-idyllic world in which good always wins and there is no moral ambiguity. But every time Superman is fundamentally changed, there is an outcry. When Action Comics #900 was released, there was an uproar over a story penned by David S. Goyer in which Superman renounced his U.S. citizenship. Upon the theatrical release of Man of Steel, moviegoers, critics, and even detractors scrutinized the film’s decision to have Superman kill General Zod, and his failure to reduce the number of civilian casualties. Many compared the film’s bleak and somber tone to the upbeat, feel-good Superman: The Movie.

It’s an interesting dichotomy: people argue that Superman is no longer relevant, but whenever his handlers misrepresent him, everyone comes to The Man of Steel’s defense.

Every Time I Try To Fly, I Fall

 Posted by on Sun, 10/2 at 7:35pm  reading  No Responses »
Oct 022016
 

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/comics.php?topic=articles/supes-war

In this essay, author Wallace Harrington writes about Superman’s involvement in WWII. I was already familiar a bit of the information presented in the essay, but Harrington goes into further detail. During WWII, DC Comics very rarely allowed their character to get involved in the war. Because comic books were shipped over to the troops on the front lines, and because the problems were very real, it was seen as disrespectful to have a colorfully clad hero come in and end the war while soldiers were dying on the battlefields. Instead, Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and many other DC characters served to promote the war effort. The war would be acknowledged, but never directly dealt with in stories. Superman would help the troops instead of taking down Hitler.

http://www.businessinsider.com/no-one-gets-superman-anymore-2015-7

In this article, Joshua Rivera writes about the current treatment of Superman in the movies. He questions why it is so hard for Warner Brothers and other authors to get The Man of Steel right. Rivera argues that it is because the emphasis is placed on the powers instead of the man using them. Superman doesn’t do right to avenge someone he’s lost, or to right a wrong that radically altered his life. Superman does the right thing because he was raised to do good and help whenever he could. Rivera argues that Superman shouldn’t be that hard to understand or write for, and that a “boy scout” character can still thrive in the modern world, citing Marvel’s Captain America as a prime example.

http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/03/30/superman-and-the-damage-done

Devin Faraci writes that the current films featuring Superman are damaging to the legacy of the character. According to Faraci, Zack Snyder is out to destroy The Last Son of Krypton by turning him into a mopey, nihilistic being that holds himself above both the law and the people he protects. Faraci has such disdain for Man of Steel and the recent Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He argues that the reason Superman: The Movie worked, besides the fact that it got the character’s hopeful nature down, is that it was released at a time when America needed a symbol of hope. “Just as in 1938 and 1978 we need a bright, hopeful figure to fly in and remind us of what we can be, of who we are when we’re not weighted down by the hate and the problems. We need a Superman.” Faraci writes that with all of the problems facing us as a society, the last thing we need is a Superman that questions himself and struggles with the morality of doing the right thing.

I’m Only A Man In A Silly Red Sheet, Digging For Kryptonite On This One-Way Street

 Posted by on Sun, 9/25 at 9:28pm  ideas, reading  No Responses »
Sep 252016
 

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.

Superman Never Made Any Money Saving the World From Solomon Grundy

 Posted by on Sun, 9/25 at 9:08pm  reading  No Responses »
Sep 252016
 

When you’re involved with a group of like-minded people, it can be really easy to fall into the rut of reading the same ideas. Sometimes, new ideas and thoughts are rare and hard to come by. As a fan of Superman, I find myself reading a lot of the same opinions, mostly because I find myself reading the thoughts of people who share very similar viewpoints about the character, the mythology, and the philosophical implications of his existence. I find this weekly journaling and reading to be incredibly insightful as it allows me to read articles and thoughts from people who are not necessarily in the group. I am given the chance to find out what people who are outsiders think about Superman.

This week, I read a couple of interesting articles analyzing Superman and his relevance in popular culture. One article that stuck out to me was “The Trouble With Superman.” (http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/02/the-trouble-with-superman/435408/) A lot of the things said in the article have been said before, but the author’s word choice and often unconventional opinions gave me the impression that they were not particularly invested in Superman. In the article, Asher Elbein writes that Superman’s biggest problem regarding relevancy is that DC Comics has no idea how to handle their flagship character. While Elbein isn’t necessarily wrong, he also doesn’t seem to have a full understanding of what makes the character work, let alone suggest a way to make the character relevant again. For example, Elbein references an event that happens in Action Comics (vol. 2) #42 in which Superman, depowered after a long and incredibly convoluted series of events, punches a cop. Elbein states that making Superman confront current social issues, much like he did during the first few years of his existence, is the the answer to make him relevant again. Not much else is offered in terms of suggestions.

Regarding another article that I happened to read (http://thefederalist.com/2016/09/25/superman-unconsciously-fights-relativism-one-popular-adventures/), author Jace Lington takes a more philosophical approach to the character. In the article, Lington references a moment in All-Star Superman in which Superman states that he has no right to impose his beliefs on anybody. Lington takes this moment and analyzes it, as well as the implications, as well as Superman’s unintended hypocrisy. According to Lington, in fighting against evil and injustice, Superman’s actions are in a sense him imposing his beliefs on others. Furthermore, Lington writes that this contradiction raises a lot of questions about relativism.

Regardless of how popular Superman might be currently, there will always be some sort of discussion regarding him.

We Can Be Heroes, Just For One Day

 Posted by on Fri, 9/23 at 2:43am  mini analysis  No Responses »
Sep 232016
 

http://www.gutewerbung.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Amnesty-International-Superman.jpg

Before I discuss the advertisement I found, I feel that some context is required.

Superman has been used for marketing many, many times. He’s been used to sell everything from bread and orange juice to insurance. There was a time where you could walk down the aisles of any grocery store and find a Superman-brand something. His image, or images that evoke thoughts about him have been used to sell things. A guy in a suit ripping open his dress shirt to reveal a superhero costume? That’s Superman, no doubt about it. No other comic book character does that. Batman heads to the Bat Cave, Green Lantern’s suit materializes from his Power Ring, and The Flash uses his super speed to change. The shirt rip is unique to Superman. It’s a powerful image, and it efficiently gets its message across when used for marketing. It says something along the lines of: “We may look like a normal company/product/group of people, but we’re really super and we can prove it!”

He’s even been used in PSA-style ads. In the 40s, Superman, Batman, and Robin were used to sell war bonds. There was a set of ads in the 80s where Superman was used to discourage kids from smoking. There was an ad put out around the release of 2006’s Superman Returns that featured Superman with a milk mustache and a read-up promising that if you drank milk, you’d be stronger, even if you weren’t Kryptonian. Besides the fact that the ad was to promote the film, why would Superman be used to encourage kids to drink their milk or discourage them from smoking? It’s because The Man of Steel is heavily associated with strength and dependability in the public conscious. He’s become this revered staple of Americana. Superman would never steer you wrong. He doesn’t lie because he’s the upstanding citizen that we should all strive to be like.

The long and short of it is, Superman is used to either promote dependability/durability or serve as the lovable icon passing on his wisdom.

But with this ad, Superman is used in a totally different way. He’s used in a way that is incredibly rare with this character. In the ad, we see a man wearing a Superman costume, surrounded by green screen. It’s supposed to be a “behind the scenes” look at how they make Superman fly on film. Crew members in green morph suits help create the illusion of the wind blowing his hair, or the flowing of the cape. It deconstructs the idea of Superman being real, or at least as real as other ads make him out to be. This ad takes it and uses it to demonstrate its point: Superheroes aren’t real, and it’s up to us to make a difference in the world. This ad for Amnesty International really stood out to me because it grabs our notions of what a hero is and flips it on its head. Heroes can be everyday people and don’t have to wear costumes to save the world. While this ad can be read as cynical, I actually find it to be inspiring. There isn’t much to say about the ad; it’s pretty straight forward. It can’t be disassembled like other ads to uncover hidden meanings. Its intent is clear and its unconventional use of Superman enhances its message. The product or service isn’t the hero – we are.

My Love For This Character is Never-Ending

 Posted by on Wed, 9/14 at 1:58am  Uncategorized  No Responses »
Sep 142016
 

For my topic, I will be writing about Superman. From what I understand, we will be writing multiple pieces about the topic.

Since I was 12 years old, I have been enthralled by The Man of Steel. The powers, the morality, and the adventures resonated with me and continue to thrill me to this day. He has and forever shall be my hero. The great thing about a character as enduring and culturally significant as Superman is that there will always be some sort of discussion about him. For decades, people have been comparing Superman to Jesus Christ and it is easy to see why they would make that connection. He is the savior of mankind, he fights against the evils of the world, and he preaches messages of peace, justice, and truth. In 1992’s The Death of Superman comic book story arc, Superman not only died, but sacrificed himself for the good of the world, much like Jesus Christ died for to pay for the sins of the world. Though Superman would not return for over a year, he did in fact rise from the grave. In nearly every film adaptation of the Superman story – from 1978’s Superman: The Movie to 2013’s Man of Steel – there have been shots that invoke thoughts about the Man of Tomorrow’s parallels with Jesus Christ. Shots of Superman in a crucifix pose floating in the air, segments featuring the Last Son of Krypton overlooking the planet as a watchful protector, and sequences of Superman using his super senses to monitor much like an omnipotent being would.(http://www1.cbn.com/movies/superman-and-jesus-supermans-origin-and-parallels-jesus)

However, others argue that Superman is more of a Moses allegory. His story fits more in line with the tale of Moses. This debate has been going on for decades and as a comic reader and an avid Superman fan, I would like to write about and discuss the parallelism as well as examine the significance of the religious ties. I am very familiar with the character’s creation and the proverbial ingredients combined to create the world’s first super hero, and while many people are set on the Jesus allegory idea, I am a firm believer that Superman most closely resembles an allegory for Moses.

Assuming that there are multiple pieces on the same topic, I will also be examining Superman’s relevance. It is not secret that Superman is a popular character, but there have been numerous points in history where he was on the edge of going out of style. Regardless of how many close calls there have been, the character has endured. There is a reason that Superman remains a part of popular culture to this day. Some despise the character while others love him. Some believe he endures because of the ideals he represents, and others believe he endures because he is a pop culture phenomenon.(https://www.theodysseyonline.com/superman-more-relevant-than-ever)

Finally! A Chance to Write About Things That Interest Me!

 Posted by on Thu, 9/8 at 5:30pm  Uncategorized  No Responses »
Sep 082016
 

I do a lot in terms of the communication of ideas. My courses for the past four years have been very writing intensive and ultimately, to my dismay, my film courses have focused less on how to actually make a movie and more on how to analyze one. Despite my frustration with the lack of film production education, I have been fortunate to have had my papers graded by several professors who grade with varying levels of intensity. At the end of the day, I have learned how to write college level papers and, if grades are a valid indication of quality, write them well.

But writing is not limited to formatting and styles dictated by universities and often subpar high school English teachers. It can take on many forms and is not an entity that fits easily into a box. While rules of syntax and grammar remain relatively unchanged, language, ideas, and the written communication of those ideas are constantly evolving. With the emergence of the internet and blogging, composition structure has been called into question. Even before blogs, there were authors who sought to break the mold by challenging the conventions of writing. Now, it seems as if everyone and their mother runs a blog, and this is marvelous.

From a certain perspective, I am a blogger. While I do not own a website domain or use Tumblr to express myself, I do run a podcast (soon to be two). In my podcast, I communicate my ideas to a larger audience about a specific topic of my own interest: Superman. If blogging is merely the communication of your ideas and interests through the internet on a designated space, then I am a blogger. My blog just happens to be audio-based.

For the past two years, I have been hosting my podcast and have earned a constantly growing fanbase. But it is always easier to speak your ideas than it is to write them down for the world to see. Creating a meaningful combination of words and structuring those clusters into a coherent set of ideas that simultaneously exude personality is an art and a skill that takes time to develop. I had tried my hand at it before with a freelance piece I had written for the Superman Homepage, but my writing still had an air of formality about it.

In taking this course, I am finally given a chance to break out of that college-style writing mentality, even if only for a semester. Additionally, I will be given the opportunity to write further about things that interest me. While I love film and one day hope to have a career in the industry, there are only so many analysis papers a guy can write before he becomes restless. Writing blog-style pieces is a nice change of pace and the concept is not terribly difficult to grasp.

In Alex Reid’s Why Blog? Searching for Writing on the Web, the specifics of blogging are defined for those uninitiated with the form. A blog can be about anything that happens to interest the author. Reid also states that blogging is a good habit to get into. Because blogs are, for the most part, independently run, the frequency of postings and the material posted is entirely based upon the author. There are no due dates or assigned subjects, meaning that the maintaining of a blog must come from the author’s desire to write.

Of course, to be encouraged to continuously write about a topic, one must have a topic that interests them personally. For instance, I love film, comic books, and music. I might write about one or all of these things as it would be easy for me to do so. However, it might be difficult to find a topic that is interesting for the author to write about. This is where Ballenger’s text comes into play.

A topic may not initially be interesting at first glance, but sometimes, a different approach might need to be taken. In reporting, this is called “finding the angle.” For example, I’m not terribly interested in French New Wave cinema. I find a majority of the films to be pretentiously artsy with little to no substance to justify its avant garde approach. But if I were to look at it from a different angle and wrote about how French New Wave cinema influenced filmmakers that emerged during the New Hollywood era, I would have more interest in writing about the subject.

Both Reid and Ballenger proclaim that any topic can be an interesting topic, and that blogging can be an effective tool to reinvigorate the author’s desire to write. Sometimes, a new approach is required, but each topic has the potential to be engaging. Anyone can be a blogger. All you need is a computer, connection to the internet, and a topic that continuously motivates you to write.

 

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