Comics and Superheroes: Contemporary Myth

Comics and Superheroes: Contemporary Myth

 

 

Introduction

 

In this blog I wanted to take the time to explore comics more than I usually do in my work, which up until recently has focused primarily on science fiction.  This blog will explore comics and the story telling they provide through superheroes, and explore a bit about why this has remained significant in our world today.

Superheroes, both known and those yet to be created, along with the comics they are found within all act as a form of contemporary myth.  Science fiction, fantasy, and comics are no different than mythologies of the past or from folktales and fairytales.  All provide insight into the cultures and time periods they are products of.  Comics and superheroes act as cultural mirrors and teachers in that they reflect the ideologies at that time through their stories, but as cultural teachers they provide insight into our cultural concerns on larger scales and the outcomes of the paths humans take in the contemporary world.  Some provide insight into better paths and some provide warnings of doom along current paths. 

Comics standout as a solid form of contemporary myth , but as a mythos also unique to the American culture, in many ways similar to that of Japanese Anime within the Japanese culture that created it. Though widespread on a more global scale now, comics still are considered to be reflective mythos for the culture they were produced in.  Our superheroes represent to us the same things Greek Gods represented to their culture. Our mythological Gods take the form of Superman, Batman, or the X-Men. These characters are all representative of the culture that created them.  These superheroes are American Gods and tell American stories in the form of a narrative that acts as a reflection of contemporary society via commentary contained within the story of the comic.  Our comics have examined issues of war, terrorism, drugs, racism and more. All reflective of current social issues and attitudes while also acting as an insightful teacher to help us make possible changes in our world for the better.  Individual superheroes may also act as role models we can identify with, who influence us in personal ways. 

Superheroes do also change with time periods.  This is how they adapt to us and how they also help society to continue to grow and evolve.  Stories change, characters may be added or deleted, costuming looks change , as does the technology used in a story.  Superheroes are also becoming more subtly flawed in some way so as to perhaps reflect that in our own world.  Humans , as well intentioned or as good natured as they can be, are inherently flawed and do make mistakes. How we handle those mistakes is reflective of who we truly are. Mistakes can also be forgiven , mistakes can also produce positive change.  Flaws are key elements in characters and stories.  Comics are truly reflective narratives within their culture, truly a modern and evolving mythos.  Future historians and social scientists will surely be able to glean quite a bit of insight into who we are today by thumbing through the pages of our comics that we may leave behind. 

Comics have Global Appeal

 

 

The idea of the comic as narrative and the role of the superhero as a role model allows one to look at how and why heroes in general hold appeal. Sure, super powers are neat, but that is only one layer of the appeal.  Superheroes reach into the human psyche. Superhero identification propels self evolution. This can be attributed to the narrative, mythic, structure of the character and story.

 

One example of this would be the classic "Hero's Journey" defined and outlined by Joseph Campbell. Campbell was a mythologists who examined myth from a cross cultural perspective. He determined what features were common across cultures and what features were culturally unique.  He was primarily interested in mythos convergence, the common features of all myths. Campbell found that regardless of when a story had been written or where it had originated from, there was a pattern to myth structure that permeated cultural lines.  He referred to this as a Monomyth. (* At some point I would like to create additional blogs for more detailed exploration of the Monomyth). 

 

What Campbell had discovered was that every culture told stories in a similar way with similar patterns in the development of those mythological tales.  It was determined that such as structure filled a need or role innate in the human mind.  The patterns that showed similarity were in the way heroes were created, how they evolved, and how they completed a given journey.  This is an attractive and powerful narrative, the journey of the hero.  The world needs heroes, the world therefore needs superheroes. Such characters and stories connect with the human psyche, and connect humans cross culturally in ways that are yet to be fully understood.  There is indeed a collective human mindset connecting all humans globally.

 

 

Superheroes: Inspiration for a Better Self

 

Hero narratives written in the Monomythic style allows a hero to be easily identifiable.  Those who identify with a particular hero interpret that hero to be an extension of themselves, consciously or subconsciously.  There are traits in heroes each of us is drawn to, things one learn from them, insights and perspectives that are  gained from both the character and the narrative they  are involved with.  A personal connection or identification develops. 
 

 This connection can be attributed to the fact that humans want to be heroic. The symbolic image of the superhero embodies human values and ideals. The hero is represents that which one wishes to see in themselves. This does not happen easily or immediately however, and much of the development of a personal identification depends upon how the hero is created and what journey(s) the hero takes. This personal connection is a result of the way a story is presented. The reader must grow with the character, and the character must continue to grow and evolve to maintain that connection with the reader. There exists a coevolution between the hero and the reader who identifies with them. This in turn leads to greater individual variability and adaptability which can aid in the larger scale evolution of culture over time. The hero experiences struggles that are shared with those who identify with them and teaches them how they can overcome their own struggles. Heroes and their stories allow others to also experience their journeys. By doing so, those who feel a personal connection to a hero also learn to ponder how they too would react to extraordinary scenarios in their own life. Superheroes teach others how to evolve into their best personal selves over a lifetime.

On a cultural level, the stories provide greater insight and deeper understanding of the world as a whole while also providing warnings about the dangers of certain paths humans may take as well as providing glimpses into what wondrous  things humans can possibly achieve. Comics and superheroes humans in seeing their potential for change, both on an individual level as well as a global , cultural, level.  Comics tell stories about striving for change.

Conclusion

 

In briefly summarizing this discussion, Superheroes hold global appeal and are important because they offer such grand inspiration on many levels. This is why the world is still so attracted to comics and superheroes. They inspire humans on both small and large scales and help educate about social concerns. Superheroes can inspire us to do the smallest of things that may have the largest of impacts, and this is why the world still very much needs comics and their heroes. Such entities are integral components of any culture. 

 

 

In the next blog : Gotham City and Metropolis - Social Imagery via Myth