ipl-logo

How Does Superman Affect Society

1197 Words5 Pages

Superman; the all-American hero who has lasted for over three quarters of a century (Impact of Superman). It’s nearly impossible for a comic book character to exist that long and not change, and Superman is no exception. In fact, from sporting a mullet to fighting Nazis, he changes a lot. These changes may seem random at times, but they make sense when put under this lens; Superman is just mirroring America. Superman comics have changed to reflect society most notably during Great Depression, WWII, and The Vietnam War.
The Great Depression was a trying time for America. Just four years after the stock market crash, 15 million Americans were without jobs (“Great Depression”). Investment, consumption of goods, and overall quality of life went down significantly (“Great Depression”). Comics like Tarzan and Flash Gordon were the most popular, as they provided a means of escape, if only temporarily (“Impact of Superman”). To put it simply, the American economy was struggling, and Americans had plenty of people to blame (“Great Depression”). Not surprisingly, this cry for justice pitted the …show more content…

The general mood was that of a cheerful determination. It was a time where everyone pulled together, making sacrifices for the good of the country (The US Homefront). Through the social and political disorder of this time, Superman comics impressed the simplistic view of America’s goodness against the dastardly forces of evil like the Germans, Japanese, and other cookie cutter villains (Impact of Superman). Even Superman’s core morals changed to reflect how society was feeling (Impact of Superman). Now, instead of fighting just for “truth and justice,” as he had been doing since his creation, Superman fought for “truth, justice, and the American Way” (Impact of Superman). This wasn’t really a noticeable change, considering the large amounts of patriotism that America felt (Impact of

Show More
Related

  • Sherman Alexie's Use Of Rhetorical Devices In Superman And Me

    186 Words  | 1 Pages

    Reading "Superman and Me" gave me conflicting feelings. Of course, the tale of a young boy striving to succeed in and environment where he is nearly required to fail is thrilling, yet it really makes you think of the environment itself. He was a young Indian child living on a reservation; however, he recognized that he was an intelligent person. Others around him tried to quiet him because Indian children were supposed to be dumb. Sherman Alexie wanted more out of life.

    Read More

  • What Caused The Great Depression Dbq Essay

    383 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Great Depression was an economic crisis that took place all over the world during 1929-1939. America and other nations were not prepared nor expecting this. Before it hit, stocks were high, businesses were thriving, and jobs were full. This event made the Roaring Twenties turn into one of darkest times in American history. The Great Depression was mostly caused by speculation/installment buying, banking, and unemployment.

    Read More

  • 'Superman And Me' By Sherman Alex

    129 Words  | 1 Pages

    The story of his life in “Superman and me” by, Sherman Alex, expressed deeply of himself on how dedicated and content he was during his youthful life. As a young impecunious Indian boy, he grew up on the sides of Eastern Washington state following the path of his father’s dedication in the love of reading and writing. He self taught his way up to be an overachiever reader by constantly reading everything he saw in sight. Later in life, acting as a life saver, he taught those who lacked in reading and writing. He’s proud and prudent to this day, leading those who are inspired by his novels, poems and short stories.

    Read More

  • Great Depression Dbq

    220 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Great Depression was a roughly 10-year period in the early twentieth century that was shaped by the United States’ national economic crisis, but affected the global economy, as well. It began in 1929, when the stock market first crashed and stock prices began to fall, but only 2% of Americans owned stock and were affected at this time. (1:48) It wasn’t until tens of thousands of people began to withdraw money from banks and hundreds closed across the country, leaving 28 states bank-less (5:32) that the population truly began to suffer. Unemployment rates skyrocket and more and more people begin to go bankrupt, with 34 million Americans left with no source of income by 1932.

    Read More

  • Explain What Were The Political Objectives Of The Revolutionary War

    462 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Americans always kept in mind what they were fighting for, their freedom. That thought pushed them through the hard times during the

    Read More

  • What Are The Similarities Between Superman And Me By Sherman Alexie A Superhero

    462 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Superhero is not judged by the power he has,but only by the choices he makes. In the essay,”Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie, the author uses an extended metaphor to explain his relationship with the fictional character Superman. Alexie uses many things in his life to compare himself to Superman. Although Alexie may not be seen as a hero with actual superpowers, he demonstrates the qualities of a superhero in different ways. Alexie is seen as someone that almost resembles an alien in the eyes of his society.

    Read More

  • How Did The Great Depression Affect People In The 1930s

    616 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Great Depression was a time of large economic struggle that took a toll on the lives of many American people. The depression affected the people of the United States in many different forms such as the Dust Bowl, homelessness, and the failure of banks. Each of these aspects reflect how it was to experience the Great Depression in the 1930s. The collapse of the United States economy affected everyone farmer or businessman in different ways.

    Read More

  • The Colonists During The American Revolution

    546 Words  | 3 Pages

    The American Spirit was able to transcend during the war since the Colonists were fighting for freedom as well as a

    Read More

  • The Iron Giant Analysis

    931 Words  | 4 Pages

    Gifted with incredible endurance and super strength, the ability of flight, and an impeccable moral compass, Superman is the quintessential superhero that Americans of all ages have admired and looked up to since his conception in 1938. In Brad Bird’s 1999 feature animation The Iron Giant, the fifty-foot metal protagonist is no exception. Hiding out in a barn, he peers at an issue of the Superman comic book like an amused child with his eyes wide and mouth agape. His closest human companion, nine-year old Hogarth, sits before the giant and explains to him, “Sure, he’s famous now, but he started off just like you! Crash landed on Earth…he only uses his powers for good, never for evil.”

    Read More

  • What Are The Transformative Events That Change American History

    2169 Words  | 9 Pages

    Throughout history America has had hundreds of transformative events that have changed the course of history through political, economic, and sociocultural effects. The most significant events aren’t the ones everyone remembers for being exciting but rather the ones that have impacted society and individuals the most. Many of these events that have shaped America most profoundly include wars, presidents, supreme court decisions, but they also include such events such as natural disasters, fires, and even scientific findings. Each event has not only impacted the time period it was set in but also may even still be impacting our lives today. By studying and analyzing America’s history one can learn the struggles and triumphs of a young nation that became the superpower it is today.

    Read More

  • How Did The Great Depression Affect Middle Class Americans

    1742 Words  | 7 Pages

    The Great Depression was a period of an economic disaster that lasted from 1929 to 1939. The effects of the depression varied across the nation and had a significant impact on all the different classes of the society. The following investigation will explore the impacts of Great Depression on the daily lives of middle-class Americans. Middle-class Americans were severely affected by the Depression mostly because they stood in the most convenient place of the societal ladder, they were neither poor nor wealthy. So, when Depression struck, the middle-class almost disappeared from the ladder because the economic crisis was massive and affected their lifestyles drastically.

    Read More

  • A Critical Analysis Of Superman's Song

    437 Words  | 2 Pages

    Therefore grief and sorrow are depicted over the fact that the world would never see another Superman, especially with all the good men going into hiding.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Growing Up In The Great Depression Pros And Cons

    461 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Great Depression was a huge tragedy that took millions of people in the U.S. out of work. It was the biggest economic fall in America's history. The story “Digging In” by Robert J. Hastings, the video “Growing up in the Great Depression”, and the poem “Debts” by Karen Hesse showed the problems people encountered during the Great Depression. It affected people negatively by making the prices raise and people made less money so it was hard for them to pay their rent or bills. Also, many people were unemployed and did not have enough money to get food.

    Read More

  • Great Depression Dbq

    758 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Great Depression was an enormous economic downfall in the history of the United States and was also a very hard time for many Americans. People had lost jobs, markets went bad, banks had shut down, and unemployment rate has gone up. It had lasted from 1929-1939. During the next several years, buyer spending and investment had dropped, causing a decline in industrial output and raising the unemployment level. It began with the stock market crash on October 29 1929, which had lost millions of investors, markets had lost $30 billion dollars in two days, making it ten times more than the annual budget the U.S had spent for WWI, and prices were dropping until the end of November.

    Read More

  • How The Great Depression Shaped America

    923 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Great Depression was not only one of the defining moments in American history, but also one of the most difficult hardships Americans faced. During the Great Depression, which was ignited by the stock market crash of 1929, people faced unemployment, poverty, and changes in government the ultimately shaped America today. Many people believe that The Great Depression began when the stock market crashed on October 29, 1929 (“The Great Depression,” American Express). In the mid to late 1920’s the stock market grew majorly, the stock prices skyrocketed gaining interest from all kinds of people.

    Read More

More about How Does Superman Affect Society

Open Document