Jumat, 24 Agustus 2012

Are Our Super Hero Characters A Sign That Something Is Missing In American Society?

Think of all the Hollywood box office hits that are remakes and take-offs from comic book characters. Seriously, stop and think about it; Batman, Superman, etc. There have been so many now it's hard to keep track of isn't it? It is as if it is a sure thing, if you want a hit, and play it safe, go with the action super hero strategy and you are assured to win, plus, look at all the potential endorsements for products in the real world - why it's a match made in heaven if you ask me. Okay so, let's talk about this.

On August 7, 2012 the Wall Street Journal had a piece titled; "Zap! Superheroes lean on Supporting Cast," by Spencer Jakab which discussed how the comic book Super Hero venue, genre, and motif was knocking it dead at the box office. But, may I ask a deeper and more serious question here; what does this say about us as a society.

Well, perhaps it speaks to a real problem we have, as in movie goers, and regular people just don't feel adequate about themselves, thus, want to escape to a fantasyland where they can identify with a character in the movie, hopefully the good guy or super hero and not the bad guy such as the "Joker" for instance, speaking of course to the Colorado opening night tragedy which occurred. Why are people insecure or feel that they are living a mediocre life? Maybe because they are, but again, I ask why?

Have we set our expectations too high? Have we set them too low, thus, no one works to be great in their own life, but still longs and dreams of such a reality? Do people identify with super heroes like they did Rocky Balboa, and are these comic book type characters an extension of that need to feel great even if only for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or more during the movie? As we watch the 2012 London Olympic Games we see real people, Olympians competing with near super human agility, is this a similar need. Of course, how many of us would really put in the herculean effort it takes to be the best in the world at something?

Some of us might, I know because I was once a high-performance athlete myself in my younger years, no never a super hero type, but you know I suppose I would have risen to the occasion if I were. And maybe that is the answer really. These movies allow us an escape to ask the big question; what if? Indeed, I ask that you please consider all this on a deeper philosophical level if you might.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of non-fiction short stories, eBook compilations of Science Fiction. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

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