Michael, he guards the weak, the poor, and the innocent. He most closely resembles Aeneas, carrying on the culture of charity and sacrifice into the darkest and most savage parts of his world. Indeed, it would be hard to find another figure in popular and literary culture that more embodies the traditional heroism of the West more than in the figure of Bruce Wayne. Hillsdale College professor Bradley Birzer argues: Heroic stories have also been an integral part of Western culture, especially in Greek and Roman literature, and modern superheroes such as Batman can be thought of as continuing that tradition.
Superhero movie effects on society full#
People can look to superheroes as beacons of selflessness in an age perceived as corrupt and full of negativity. People can look to superheroes as beacons of selflessness in an age perceived as corrupt and full of negativity. But what sets them apart and what gives people hope is that the strength of their character and morality allows them to overcome such terrible experiences to do good in the world. Whether it’s Bruce Wayne being haunted by the memory of watching his parents die or Superman wrestling with the loneliness his powers and Kryptonian heritage create, heroes have no shortage of traumatic experiences. More than anything, what justifies the admiration of superheroes “is the way they handle the entire scope of life as a human and still end up making the altruistic choices for which they are known.”Īdditionally, superhero origin stories often deal with death and loss, which can evoke a sympathetic reaction from the audience.
The Artifice goes on to say that superheroes display virtue in the face of the worst humanity has to offer.
Audiences watch superhero characters cope with the human experience through these films, an experience with which audience members can identify. Though enhanced by super powers or abilities, the superhero as portrayed in today’s films displays an astonishing level of humanity. As online magazine The Artifice explains: The times are not so good - we're looking for heroes." People Want to Be Reminded of the Good in HumanityĪnother explanation is that superheroes are easy to identify with. Adding to Millar’s comment, Jerry Robinson, the creator of the iconic villain “Joker,” notes: "I think heroes are back. Modern times may have many people similarly in desperate need of entertainment. You’ve gotta entertain everyone through it!” The worldwide recession will probably last until the end of the decade. “Superheroes were huge in the thirties during the Great Depression. “Good economic times usually signal the death of superheroes, and bad economic times see a surge in their popularity,” says comic book writer Mark Millar. Superman, for instance, made his first appearance in 1938 as America was climbing out of the Great Depression. One explanation is that people turn to heroes during hard economic times.
Why are people everywhere embracing these stories so much? Economic Struggles Foster Demand for Inspiring Entertainment But now I recognize that these movies have more to offer than I ever realized as a kid. Those cherished memories are one of the reasons why I love superhero movies today. On lazy weekends I would eagerly turn on the family television to watch the Batman, Spiderman, and Justice League cartoons of the 90s and early 2000s. This phenomenon comes as no surprise to me, as superhero stories were a beloved part of my childhood. But, for recent superhero movies, the US typically accounts for no more than $4 out of every $10 made. It used to be the case that the US box office was the be all and end all for commercial success. Films such as Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War have shattered box office records and captured the public’s affection.Īnd it’s not just America-markets in Europe and Asia (especially China) have also embraced superheroes. In 2017, five of the 10 highest grossing films were about superheroes, as are three of the top five so far this year. It’s safe to say that America has a love affair with superhero movies.
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