By observing the things that popular superheroes stand for, it is possible to understand what the average American believes and values. This is also true because superheroes are a distinctly American phenomenon. Lang and Trimble say that “cultures choose heroes as an indication of their national character” and that earlier in history “America created monomythic heroes that best personified the way Americans wished to see themselves” (Lang 159). The superheroes of today are popular for the same reasons as the heroes of the past. They are popular because they are symbols for the things that America as a whole believes.
LeBron James and Serena Williams are used to show how successful anyone can become with hard work. The Declaration of Independence can be applied to this advertisement because it is what America free, gives people certain rights, and states we are all created equal. The advertisement used a minority race to really capture the concept of everyone being equal. Common stereotypes of African Americans were twisted by Nike in a helpful way that further expressed their
They also have an amazing skill component of supernatural abilities which enhance their civilian identities. Superman, Wonder Woman, Hulk, Spiderman, are all perfect examples of the best superheros. Although not all superheros live an undercover lifestyle when they are not saving the world, having two separate identities is a common theme among superheros. For example, Superman, a fictional hero who appears in DC comic books and movies, goes by the name Clark Kent. Clark Kent was raised in Smallville, Kansas by an average human family.
He was the vehicle used to explore a range of Cold War themes and so became a representative for the fight against communism. He first appeared in the comic book series “Tales of Suspense” in 1963, which was during the time of the never ending Cold War feud. Today his character is still alive and popular in live-action movies. Few other superheroes can compete with the originality and state-of-the art suits engineered by Tony Stark. Iron Man has through the years undergone many costume changes.
He or she will save other people, do the right thing, protect that is good and they will fight any monster that comes to his or her way. They are one of the basic paradigms in tales and mythology from across the world, but especially in European culture. For example, the hero archetype starts from Achilles until Beowulf via superheros such as Superman and other 1980s action heroes. While, in the The Hero With a Thousand Faces Campbell discovered that the
Images can evoke strong human emotion, both positive and negative, and Marjane Satrapi does an amazing job of doing both in her graphic novel Persepolis. The use of images to symbolize important events in a story is a beneficial strategy that can be seen throughout the book. Topics that play huge roles in Persepolis are nationalism (one’s pride for their country), social classes (the separation of the rich and poor), and the loss of innocence (when a person loses their naive nature to the corruptness of the world). These ideas shape the story through persuading people’s actions. For example, nationalism gives people the courage to stand up for their country, as Marjane’s family did during the war.
Time interviewed director Hugh Alexander. Hugh, you are well known on the arts circuit so why a superhero blockbuster? Well, I’ve always, secretly, wanted to direct a superhero film and I saw an opportunity so I took it. For me it’s
Elvis started out as a middle-class working American (Scheiber). President at the time, Jimmy Carter, said that he was America’s “vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor” (“Elvis Presley” St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). This comment shows how Elvis impacted America by being full of energy, crazy, and funny. Of course everyone liked him as well as the president of the United States. He represented America in a way.
They also have an amazing skill component of supernatural abilities which enhance their civilian identities. Superman, Wonder Woman, Hulk, Spiderman, are all perfect examples of the best superhero. Although not all superheroes live an undercover lifestyle when they are not saving the world, having two separate identities is a common theme among superheroes. For example, Superman, a fictional hero who appears in DC comic books and movies, goes by the name
For instance, Toby Keith states that “American Girls and American Guys; We’ll always stand up and salute”. This expression highlights the character of the society – always ready to support the country, no matter what happens. The repetition – American – suggests the strong bond between the citizens and their homeland. Moreover, an unquestioning value for the people is a devotion for the USA. Aaron Tippin’s lyrics show it in a very straightforward way – “I pledge the allegiance to this flag”.