Cultural Themes in Batman Part II

It has been a bit of a while since I last posted a blog, but thus is life - thus is life getting in the way of sitting down to blog.  I wanted to get something posted this week though and decided to complete some thoughts on Batman.  I will blog again as soon as I am able. Hopefully it will be more regular once again.  Thank you ! Now, onto the second part of exploring Batman.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT

 

The media can be an overwhelming entity in the world today. There is always a television or radio on somewhere wherever we may be at any given time that plays an important role in shaping our perceptions of the world. What follows is a brief look at the cultural impact specifically of The Dark Knight Rises.



 

The Dark Knight Rises

Cultivation theory argues that as more people watch TV and it consumes a greater part of their lives, they will soon begin to feel as though the portrayed world is reality. The movie The Dark Knight Rises is a great opportunity to analyze the theory with respect to a piece of media that has gained widespread notoriety. In showing how this movie is a paradigm example of the implications of cultivation theory, it will first be important to go over some core assumptions and concepts in order to relate them to the movie. Then, specific examples from the movie, society and our values will be discussed to reflect how there is a strong relationship between this form of media and the people who watch it. In performing a cultivation analysis of a specific piece of media, the new release of the hit movie The Dark Knight Rises is a great example of how the media fosters a sense of belief in perceived cultural values and directly impacts people’s behavior on a micro level.

Some core themes and the overall plot of The Dark Knight Rises correlates directly to concepts related to cultivation theory and communication. For instance, it is important to realize that Gotham City is reflective of the American city lifestyle where money, greed and crime are rampant. Also, villains like the Joker and Bane in the final movie reflect the notion of mass terror, fear and chaos upon a city of innocent civilians. Surely, this is indicative of a “mean world” syndrome in which there is a very cynical mindset regarding the actions, motivations and mentalities of people in the world. The movie fully emphasizes that there are individuals in our world that use chaos and terror as an end in itself, rather than a means for money, power or influence. Again, this is very indicative of a culture of fear that cultivation theory posits. Even more, the fact that a masked, fictional vigilante is the only one who can stop the villain shows that the police force and traditional forms of justice do not apply. This skews reality because it represents a world in which people are powerless and only fictitious heroes have the capacity to control the evil nature of people.  Surely, this also reflects the attitude of fearing walking alone at night because the world is portrayed as being dangerous. 

Our Fascination with the Dark Knight

It is also important to consider why people chose to consume this type of media: because it validates existing values and beliefs. The culture of fear is not limited to just movies such as this; in fact, it is a ubiquitous facet of media in general. While news outlets like CNN and others deliver both first and second order effects (facts and values and assumptions), movies only foster the latter. For example, according to Barry Glassner (1999), author of The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things, even statistical data is skewed to represent how dangerous the world is. In citing an example of a Washington Post story of a 1991 shooting, the author lamented that the core message was “you were told that the streets of America were more dangerous than a war zone” (Glassner, 1999, p. 23). This represents a second order effect in which the values and assumptions are warped to represent a culture of fear. Post 9/11, this was even more true as the threat of terrorism was emphasized heavily in the media. 

Similarly, The Dark Knight Rises touched on these same themes by fostering a second order effect related to terror, fear and exaggeration. Within the movie, there was a bombing of a football stadium in which the police was trapped, the citizens were subject to a nuclear bomb explosion and no one could leave. While this was surely used as theatrics in order to build the plot, it nonetheless reinforced values of a powerless group of citizens who were at the mercy of a threat by a small handful of individuals. This kind of media is even more influential for heavy viewers that are exposed to this theme more frequently. Moreover, given that violence in the media is also present, it is no wonder that the same themes of fear and the “mean world” syndrome are evident. Just as the citizens of Gotham City were not comfortable with leaving their homes out of fear from gangs and prisoners roaming the streets, similar news stories on a daily basis plague the media. This all comes together in developing a mainstream theme of fear in society that may be unwarranted and heavily exaggerated. The Dark Knight Rises only adds credibility to this argument by portraying the same themes.

Entertainment Gone Wrong 

The cultural implications of such themes in the media and the respective movie have been cited as directly evident in recent events. For example, we can see clear evidence of a hypodermic needle paradigm with the case of the theatre shooting in Colorado during the showing of The Dark Knight Rises. In one of the most serious shootings in American history, the media flocked to the scene to discover why the young man was motivated to open fire on harmless individuals. Cited news reports stated that the shooter colored his hair orange to imitate the Joker, a character from a previous Batman film that had a penchant for the same type of behavior. While for other instances the influence of this type of media may be small or not quantifiable, in this case it is clear and blatant. This reflects the notion that heavy television viewers have a higher tendency to engage in violence. CBS Local News (2012) published an article that reflected on how older Batman comic books explicitly featured a movie theatre shooting scene as a form of inspiration for the killer. Surely, the argument that the movie, characters and villains of The Dark Knight Rises inspired the young shooter were critical points that the article mentioned. To that extent, it is reasonable to argue that media like this has a strong capacity to influence people on a micro level to carry out acts of violence that they have witnessed on the big screen. This relates back to cultivation theory’s theme of a warped reality in which the perpetrator would not be caught and punished for his actions based on the course of events in a movie. However, this tragic case clearly exemplifies that the shooter’s perception of reality and his actions were not indicative of the reality that the media fostered.

However, some limitations regarding the application of cultivation analysis should be noted. For example, while the movie was a reflection of a Hollywood production, it is easy to analyze it from the perspective of an objective story. It should be taken into account that the fictional movie was meant to entertain people and follow a story line from previous movies. Nonetheless, it is still reasonable to apply the theory and its concepts from the standpoint of broader themes such as a culture of fear because there is evidence that this is not an isolated incident in the media. Moreover, the direct use of an example where the movie inspired violence based on false perceptions of reality is also applicable because it reflected a tangible means of testing whether the theory was supported through observable behavior. 

As we have seen, movies like these clarify and exemplify cultivation theory in terms of false perceptions of values, violence, and the real implications of it. Core themes of the movie reflected a society that lived in a culture of fear where masked vigilantes are the only ones capable of bringing villains to justice. Society and its own police force is powerless to stop the inherent terror brought on by villains who only want to see evil and terror as an end in itself. This reflected core concepts such as “mean world” syndrome and an overwhelming culture of fear. Media like this is consumed because it validates and justifies existing values that society is already exposed to as being main stream. For example, the mass media’s tendency to exaggerate tragic events and glorify the dangers of daily life were core facets of Glassner’s (1999) argument that Americans have irrational fears brought on by the media. The movie also endorsed similar themes related to such warped perceptions. Finally, the theatre shooting of 2012 was evidence that exemplified how such influence has real world consequences that are tangible. The shooter’s perception of violence, terror and the way in which terror was carried out was similar to previous Batman movies where villains like the Joker did not have to succumb to police or real authority in the world. Given this evidence, cultivation theory offered a strong framework for understanding how movies like The Dark Knight perpetuated themes of fear, inclination towards violence and a false view of reality. 



 



Batman and Culture

I had not realized it had been so long since my last post. The con season as well as the end of a long fall semester got the best of my time though.  But, I am back with a post on the cultural significance of Batman tonight.  I tried to come up with a running theme or themes, but have found I tend to write according to my mood and what I am tuned into at the time.  So, with that, I will move forward with Batman !

Cultural Significance of Batman

Since the conception of Batman in 1939 the face of popular culture in the United States and the rest of the world has greatly changed due to many technological advancements, because of these advancements the face of Batman as a cultural artifact has changed as well, reflecting those changes and benefiting our culture by giving people a common idea of how powerful a superhero that is merely human can be while remaining the original conception of Bruce Wayne, a business man, and Batman, his secret identity. The artifact of Batman can be found all over the world. In the United States specifically it would be hard to go shopping at a mall without having an encounter with at least one piece of Batman memorabilia. With his two sided nature, Batman can identify to any normal person with a job and an agenda for helping mankind, which is generally an inherent quality of all humanity.

Batman the artifact significantly functions as a cultural sign by having a great amount of symbology from the symbol of a solid black bat in front of a circle of light to the idea that Batman the artifact is symbolic of a hero and good having the ability to overcome evil. Popular culture is very aware of all of these symbols of Batman. Batman even has his own song, “nananana, nananana, Batman”, which is seemingly imprinted within our culture so that if you sing the Batman song the majority of people will know exactly what your referring to. As culture and technology have changed from the time of Batman's first conception the portrayals and depictions of Batman have changed as well. When Batman was first created he was created as a detective in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939), in a time period commonly referred to as the “Golden Age” of comics when many of the comic superheros and villains were being created. When Batman was first created he did not yet have all of the villains, weapons, and experience that the character has now. The personification of Batman, like society, has grown since his first conception. This becomes extremely obvious if one looks at the capes that Batman used to use in the original television show, and then then looks at the body armor suite that he wears in The Dark Knight (2008).

The bat itself can be seen as a symbol of darkness and mysticism as the bat flies only at night and is blind, relying on its ears to navigate through the night by hearing echoes and using them to judge the shape and distances of objects. Batman is a sign of someone reaching for that darkness and mysticism for the greater purpose of good. Because of this darkness, Batman creates fear in his enemies and dares the criminals to be not, or face his bat strength and wrath. Not only can Batman and all of his symbols be seen as cultural artifacts, but the villains that he overcomes as well. For example, the Joker, one of Batman's greatest nemesis represents the idea of someone being overly comical, and not taking life seriously enough, which batman overcomes, showing that life is not all fun and games which also represents some of the inner workings of Batman because if he were to not take life seriously he would not be the super hero that he is. There are many other villains that Batman has to overcome, including, Two-Face, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and Penguin, to name a few. Batman functions as a sign of all these things and as an icon of American culture.

According to Barry Brummett there are three types of meanings; indexical, iconic, and symbolic (Brummett, P8). The artifact that is Batman has cultural meaning in all of these ways. Batman has indexical meaning by representing the entire sub-culture of comic book heroes, and superheros. Not only does Batman represent the comic book sub-culture, he also represents the idea of a hero in general, going back to stories told in parables and mythos of a hero that has the ability to overcome intense opposition. Another indexical meaning of Batman is that he can be his association with a bat, anytime someone sees a bat it can be likened to Batman, and vice versa.

One icon of batman of course is his own symbol of a bat with a circle of light behind it, which has changed numerous times from the time of its first conception, this icon has the cultural meaning of giving help to those in need, as a giant spot light is shined into the sky with the Batman symbol in the middle of it whenever his help is needed, this icon also represents Batman himself. The image of Batman himself has an iconic meaning to the culture and has always been changing from the first drawings to the most recent movies and comics. The actual icon of Batman is always changing, but the meaning to the culture has always been the same. Batman will always be a superhero that can overcome tremendous trials and tribulations in order to benefit the good of mankind.

All of these are also symbols of Batman that give meaning to his entire entity. Batman has symbolic meaning in every aspect of his being, if one looks at it from any perspective, they can see that there are symbols throughout all of life, including Batman, so many it would be impossible to mention or process them all. According to Barry Brummett, “everything is a sign of something else” (Brummett, P8). For example I could say that the symbol of batman having a black cape means that he has an underlying desire to be dark and mysterious, one could also say that the cape represents his swiftness and agility in the darkness in the night, further, one could just say that his black cape is symbolic of a the wings of a bat, in any case the symbol of Batman's cape has meaning. There is also the symbol of Batman being a bat and a bat has the meaning of being is seen as scary to some people including Batman the character, according to the storyline of Batman Begins (Nolan, 05), and this is why Batman chose to be a Bat so that he would seem just as frightening to his enemies.
 

    Another aspect is the  normal societal self, we also have a secret self that we are not necessarily open to everyone about, and like Batman, everyone is  a product of  culture and change with mculture as well as create the culture around us. This is why Batman can be considered a great example of an artifact of popular culture. The reason that so many people are into Batman is very complex, yet understandable. One can understand how all of these people would be interested in Batman, but would have to ask them the question of exactly why they like, or relate to this cultural artifact. One would think the appeal of Batman comes from the ways he kicks his enemies butts and is not a bragger about it, or how he has two balancing sides seemingly black and white, maybe the way he always ends up getting the girl, or maybe people are even more interested in the characters that Batman fights against, regardless, Batman has a great appeal and deserves respect as one of the most popular artifacts of our modern society.

Throughout all cultures one will always find artifacts of great significance and influence. In our culture the artifact Batman has ultimate significance and influence. Batman the personified character has undergone subtle change many times in physical appearance and has manifested into something much greater than the original, which is indicative of the changes within our culture. Even the characters that have played Batman in the Batman movies are direct representations of the popular culture of the time, for instance, in the late 80's Batman was played by Michael Keaton, and recently Christian Bale. Although the face of Batman has literally undergone many changes, the idea of Batman being a well off business man with a secret super hero facade and his commitment to justice has remained. With all of his existence in popular culture one can understand how Batman was manifested by popular culture, and at the same time must understand that Batman has had just as great of an affect on popular culture itself. As our culture grows Batman will continue to change and manifest as the same old superhero with new, modern characteristics, thus Batman will always have just as great of an influence on culture as culture has on Batman. All of this will pave the way for superheroes at heart and popular culture into the future.

Nolan : http://www.batman-on-film.com/batman-coolness_Bat-Films_Nolan-Bale-BEGINS-CRose_7-4-13.html

Brummett: Rhetoric in Pop Culture.  2014.
 

Planet of the Apes Part II - "Racial" ( ethnic ) Conflict

The language of the ethnic or "racial" "other" as depicted by the apes is an old and well adaptable tactic.  Throughout the 1990's , and even to some extent today, racial profiling continues, many instances depict the perpetrator as a violent animal, even suggesting gorilla or ape- like. This was the case in  a courtroom in New York as prosecutors described a 1992 white male  accused in the shooting at Jefferson High School who had killed two African American students. It has been habit for some time to portray accused killers as non human animals in some fashion, in order to place emphasis on their violent nature.  Rodney King was likened to a "monster" by Los Angeles police, as they attempted to justify how he was brutalized.  The officer actually described the trip into an African American neighborhood on a domestic dispute call as being like a scene out of "Gorillas in the Midst". Also in 1992, a high ranking mental health official of the Bush administration linked inner city violence to the aggressive nature of male rhesus monkeys.  There is a definite, historical pattern, one that solidifies Apes as a good reflection of human behavior towards one another as humans in contemporary society.  Apes reflect the hatred humans have for one another , for those of other ethnic groups, and reflect that hatred between groups that exists even on subtle levels.

Just as Apes first appearance on the US cultural landscape was preceded by and coincided with the increased awareness of "racial" conflict and a need for cultural responses to make sense of it, public discussion of "race" and of current and historical racism in the US has substantially increased since the 1990's. This has been further heightened by such incidents as the Treyvon Martin shooting in 2012 and the racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri during the summer/fall months of 2014.  There is a continued need to review these strong messages in Apes, since "racial" violence remains a staple component of US culture with respect to both domestic and foreign affairs.  The Rodney King trial also illuminates the great ongoing need for attention to the messages in Apes via the entire dehumanizing process King was subjected to during the trial of the officers who were accused of the beating, followed by their acquittal. This all speaks to the persistence of "racial" bigotry, oppression, and violence that still dehumanize and deform the culture overall. 

The old standby of scapegoating continues to be reinvigorated as white fears of being overrun by foreigners and minorities continue to be fanned while the powerful and wealthy, still quite dominant white hands that manipulate the economy remain largely invisible, all this despite the election of an African American president in 2008, for he has also been victimized and demonized out of fear.  Biased motivated crimes against cultural outsiders like African Americans, Hispanics, even homosexuals , continues to rise.  It is no secret that "race" is still a deep cultural problem, a problem that has demanded increased public attention.

The stories the US has told throughout its history , the actions it has taken regarding "race" demonstrate how difficult it is for its people to believe , or even imagine otherwise.  That there is reason to fear difference, that difference must be eliminated. The fictional stories written in books, movies, or for television, and the real life stories written on the streets, the courtrooms, and voting booths are all a part of the limiting mythology and a history that maintain that differences cannot be accepted and must lead to the end of that which is different. 

Like all contemporary mythos though, Apes provides an opportunity to rethink human history, the culture of the US, and human experiences past and present, and encourages critical thinking about different possibilities, the reimagining of the culture, and to transform present realities.  Such mythos aids in the development of what is possible.  If humans can make the implicit meanings and values explicit, if they can recognize as choices that is taken for granted and identify the hidden political assumptions, then that which is disguised fiction can aid in the future rejection of assumptions and to the embracement of new ways of thinking and of doing. Apes as contemporary myth is a means to cultural change via its timeless messages regarding "racial" conflict. It is time to begin to rewrite the stories that depict the political realities of today and alter the future for the better.

Given that the language of the Apes saga has not been exhausted and given that there is both an increased recognition of "racial" problems and a need for cultural responses to them, then it should come as no surprise that the Apes sage continues, and continues to be remade in order to maintain the mythos and spread it throughout the culture as a whole.  There is a great need to continue to illuminate the meaning and messages of Apes as it continues to act as a viable vehicle with which to explore the dangers of ongoing "racial" conflict. 

Exploring Politics in Planet of the Apes Part I -The Originals

Politics in the Original Planet of the Apes: An Overview

 

I have been aching to do some writing on Apes , particularly now that I am prepping my first convention presentation on this subject. So, my next few blogs will be focused on a series of Planet of the Apes discussions and the relevant social themes. This first part begins with the original films.

 

It was 1968 when Planet of the Apes was first released in theaters. It immediately captivated audiences across the United States. The film was hard hitting with political issues reflective of the times in which it was produced.  As Apes has evolved, so shall this multipart blog that will feature the social themes within each production and how each has been reflective of the times in which they were produced. I shall continue to look at how Apes represents a form of contemporary myth in that even the original text and film are still just as relevant today as they were in the 1950's or 1960's respectively, when each was created.  Many themes within those original works are still applicable to the world today, in 2014.  In this first part of a series of Apes blogs, reflection of those original times is covered. 

 

The original Planet of the Apes film was such a success in theaters that shortly after it's release, a Saturday morning cartoon series was launched, though short lived, it spawned great interest in an array of Apes merchandise.  Apes also had one of the most iconic images of any film, the rotting and partly buried Statue of Liberty in the end scene of the film.  The original film led to four additional sequels as well, each maintaining devotion to social and political issues of concern to the US at each given time of production. Primary issues center around "race" and social class structures.

 

Planet of the Apes held appeal to many because of the science fiction element that represented the human obsession with life on other planets.  In this original film that depicted such life, but not life as would be expected. This turn in primate evolution was captivating and a fine depiction of how humans have treated other life on their own world, including the treatment of other humans deemed of lower social class. All of this was rooted in the novel by Pierre Boulle in 1963 entitled "La Planete des Singas ( Monkey Planet ).  An interesting note regarding the first film, Rod Serling had done the original draft of the script, polished by Michael Wilson, and worked with to bring political concerns to light by Eric Greene ( film historian ). They wanted to use the apes to depict the human condition.

 

 

The film explored social and political themes of the times. The original and all that has followed have continued to be quite laden with political issues.  The original, of course, reflective of the Vietnam War and the dozens of social movements of the 1960's, but yet remains relevant to the overall idea of war and inequality today.  This may be one reason the Apes films have continued to be popular draws, as they remain powerful narratives of the human condition.  Much of what is dealt with in these original and remade films is reflective of the fragile nature of social class and Democracy.

 

An interesting note about the original film is that it has been said that the chimps , organs, and gorillas all sat together during off times or meal times, very reflective of the human habit to associate with those who are more like ourselves. In terms of the primate breakdown occupationally:  chimps were the scientists and intellectuals, orangs were the politicians, and gorillas were the military.  Humans were slave labor or lab specimens. 

 

In this alternate society, the chimps would handle all the scientific studies and the treatment of humans. However, just as the case in our own world, the chimps and their work did not gain the respect they sought.  Scientists were looked down upon, particularly by political figures such as Dr. Zaius.  Overall, science has not had the respect it perhaps has deserved over the decades, even over the centuries. In addition, the treatment of various primate classes in Apes, as well as the treatment of humans, is reflective of the hot bed racism searing through the 1950’s and 1960’s ,some of which still exists today in various forms.  There are always groups within the infrastructure to be looked down upon, and always groups within society to be looked down upon. 

 

In the original Apes, one of the more important scenes deals with politics and justice in a trial that was investigating the relationship between Zira and Cornelius and their association with Taylor.  The other apes were attempting to figure out why he spoke and felt he had been a mutant creation of  science to act against the other apes.  Despite the fact that it was said all apes were created to be equal, it is evident they are not.  This scene and the overall films also reflect McCarthyism.

The McCarthy era was ushered in via  a heightened fear of communism in the US. McCarthy blamed the increase in communism on subversives who had infiltrated the government at all levels to share secretive information.

 

Apes, in fine science fiction mythological fashion, does a fine job of presenting controversial materials without being attached as controversial since it has been disguised in a fictitious narrative, but a narrative of great cultural significance with respect to the human condition and the future of humanity.  This is especially true with how Apes has been reflective of how people in power have continued to view those who are not in power.  This aspect alone makes for timeless narrative. Have humans really changed in nearly 50 years? The messages of Apes are still relevant.

 

Not only the original, but each sequel, and even the short lived television series, held political messages within.  In Beneath the Planet of the Apes one storyline focused on the Forbidden Zone , where gorillas were headed in order to wage war against the mutant speaking humans and the strange on goings in that area.  They feared a revolt  uprising if the mutants were able to reach others.  Also, along the way, a  group of chimps is seen with protest signs protesting war, reflective of the political and social tides certainly of the 1960’s.

 

In Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Zira and Cornelius are escapees from their own world, one that was destroyed due to hate. They attempt to adapt to the humans in the time of 1972 in which they are thrown back to.  At first, they are poorly treated, like zoo and lab specimens. Soon they become welcome guests. The tables turn once again though with the news that Zira is pregnant.  Humanity turned in fear of one day being dominated by the new off spring  and the idea that non human apes would breed and become as intelligent, one day taking over the Earth.  This is reflective of how our own society has continually treated new groups or new ideas, and has reacted to the idea that military intervention would be needed to destroy any perceived of threats of anything different. Humans become aggressive in this film until Zira and Cornelius are killed and their son, Caesar sent into hiding.  Much of the film revolves around the idea that one day humans will do great things such as end pollution and population expansion.  It was clear that this was a human world and humans would not allow non human apes to conquer it. This is still how humans react to anything perceived of as a threat to those in power, or to anything that is different from the accepted norm.

 

In Conquest of the Planet of the Apes , 1973,  the story progresses down a darer path.  It was set in a city that represented a futuristic police state. Humans all wore black to denote a more rigid and unpleasant society.  The apes are slaves, but with Caesar’s leadership rise up in revolt, similar to the well known Watt Riots in 1965. In 1972 no one would dare release a film about the Watt Riots, but mask it in a science fiction thriller, and sure the messages would get out to the public. 

 

The one thing well written science fiction does well is use actual events and history and create a story that masks messages under aliens and future times.  This allows messages to be viewed and received by the masses and allows those messages to be processed with the hopes of altering human paths that are negative and bringing about more positive behaviors and ways of thinking in order to better the human condition and the human future. 

 

In future blogs, the Apes films will continue to be explored with respect to their ongoing relevance as contemporary myth. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Themed Convention : Star Trek Fandom and Mythos

Following the Gotham and Metropolis Blog, here is the blog that was listed to follow:

The Themed Convention

 

 

 

Star Trek  represents modern myth, and as such it legitimizes fan participation in numerous activities, particularly themed conventions. Myth explains the meaning which fans have assigned to both

Star Trek  and the archetype characters it has created.

Star Trek acts as a secular myth for contemporary times by providing cultural symbols and meanings that serve as a model for the formation of a distinct subculture. Themed conventions represent the way in which fans come together to more fully participate in the myth, solidifying the place

Trek  holds in their daily lives,and allowing for the continued evolution of a vibrant subculture.

1

Myth acts as a model for all aspects of human behavior, all cultural practices, and ultimatelyassigns value to life. The

Trek  myth is quite real to members of fandom, and like all myth, it issubject to continued reinterpretation on the individual level at varying points in time by the believers in the myth. Despite this, it is possible to identify core meanings in

Star Trek .

Theutopian future, concept of IDIC (infinite diversity in infinite combinations), and the humanisticstudy of the humanity are ideals shared across fandom.

Star Trek  is a futuristic portal, allowingfans to learn from the past, make changes in the present, and strive for a

Trek  future. Fans havefound compatibility between the messages of 

Trek and personal beliefs, incorporating the mythinto their daily lives with ease.

2

Themed conventions provide a platform for understanding the utilization of myth. Fans gather and translate the myth into a cultural binding force, legitimizing their subculture. Fans agree that participation is required, that the myth must be experienced. Fans participate in the myth inseveral ways. They create alien personas, take on the persona of their favorite Trek  character or species group with whom they identify with ideologically, collect merchandise for the purposesof owning a piece of the myth, perform songs and plays, and seek out their favorite actors inorder to complete the meeting of the myth experience. These conventions allow fans to escapethe constraints of contemporary society and fulfill their desire to exist in and experience theutopian future of Star Trek 

.

Star Trek  Conventions offer an arena for fans to share their interpretations concerning stories and characters and to more fully participate in the myth. Convention participation strengthens the place of myth in their daily lives

. Star Trek as modern myth possesses the power to bring meaning to life and to transform life according to all patterns inherent in myth. Themed conventions are a celebration of that power and of the desire of fans to harness that power to change their world. 

 

NEXT BLOG: EARLY NOV 2014 due to speaking schedule for travel and conventions:  Bronze Age of Comics !

 

 Notes1.

 

For more on myth and the anthropological perspective, see, Claude L`evi ± Strauss,

 Myth and  Meaning: Cracking the Code of Culture

. 1979. Shocken Books. New York;

 

CamilleBacon-Smith,

 Enterprising Women: Television, Fandom, and the Creation of Popular 

 Myth. 1992. University of Pennsylvania Press;

 

Wendy Doniger, Other  People¶s Myths:The Cave of Echoes

, 1988. Macmillan.

 New York. Bronislaw Malinowski, ³Myth inPrimitive Psychology´, In

 Magic, Science, and Religion and Other Essays

.1992 [1948].Waveland Press. Illinois.2.

 

For more on Star Trek and fandom, see, Peter J. Claus, ³A Structuralist Appreciation of Star Trek´, In

The American Dimension

. Montegue and Arens, editors. 1976. AlfredPublishing.

 New York;

 

Henry Jenkins,

Textual Poachers: Television Fans and  Participatory Culture.

1992. Routledge. London and

 New York; John Tulloch and HenryJenkins,

Science Fiction Audiences: Watching Dr. Who and Star Trek 

. 1995. Routledge.London and  New York.





Comics as Teaching Tools: A brief blog

Comics as Teaching Tools



                                                  

NPR did a story back in January on Code Switch, a comic ! It focuses on themes in comics such as the concept of "race"  or ethnic identity, and culture  in comics. Extremely well done! The article as well as the comic that is.  This focuses on a new memoir from the Civil Rights Movement. It is written with Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell via US Representative John Lewis' account of his experiences as a participant in the Civil Rights Movement along with his history as a public servant.  All that in a comic book folks! Look them up on facebook for sure! This is basically a graphic novel type version of Lewis' life story, his superhero origin story so to speak.  A comic about Rosa Parks actually was the basis of inspiration for Lewis, and he decided to use comics as a vehicle to examine nonviolent movements. This exploration propelled his involvement with the Civil Rights Movement and the March on Washington.  This comic is an ideal teaching tool for those wishing to introduce and discuss the idea of non violent means to gain social justice to their students. It can be adapted to classrooms of multiple grade levels with a fair amount of ease as well. The push is also on now to get Code Switch into the hands of libraries and classrooms across the United States.

Comics in general hold a great deal of educational value and are quite well suited to teaching in the classroom since they offer an unbiased means by which numerous sociocultural themes can be discussed. They help lower the defenses and barriers inherent in opening discussions on history, politics, religion, gender, and ethical dilemmas. One is limited only by their creativity in pulling topics from comic examples for application in the classroom. 
Not only comics, but graphic novels for older students also work well as metaphorical materials are more apt to be useful at the high school or college levels.  Comics is quite the diverse genre. There are mainstream and independent works that hold many culturally themed wonders.

There is an excellent teaching resource that has been published online since 2011, The Comics Grid: Journal of Comics Scholarship.  There is a vast range of reviews and academic papers on themes in comics. They cover the full spectrum of available comics, mainstream and otherwise, that are available to the public.

The case for considering comics in the classroom has been supported by teaching about teaching via the comic To Teach: The Journey, in Comics. It is written by William Ayers and Ryan Alexander-Tanner (Teachers College Press, 2010).  Comics make for ideal alternatives to the traditional textbooks, and make for more creativity and diversity in discussion important themes in the classroom. 

Apologies for a brief blog this week.  I shall return to the more specific themes where I had left off in Gotham last blog and continue forward with topics once I am by a heavy travel schedule with convention talks through late November 2014. 

Thank you.

 

Gotham City and Metropolis - Superman, Batman, and American Myth

     The United States is still relatively young as a nation with respect to the majority of the globe and its ancient civilizations. Those who come from around the globe and become part of the cultural mix in the United States help create a unique overall culture via the assimilation of aspects of other cultures and their mythologies. This has been the case for over 200 years now. So, can one say there is a distinct mythos that defines what is more commonly referred to as America?

     Folk heroes have existed for hundreds of thousands of years around the globe. In Ancient Greece they had the likes of gods such as Zeus and Poseidon. Ancient Rome held gods such as Jupiter Volcanus, and Apollo in high regard. Even Scandinavia can lay claim to the great Thor. Israel is the region of origin for folk heroes such as David and Goliath. What then can America claim with respect to the folk hero that has stood the test of time? What mythological characters are unique to America? Why superheroes of course!

     It was 1938 when the American Action Comic was born. It was introduced in the form of a comic strip published by National Allied Publications.  This super human, super strong, man was dubbed Superman! In 1939, another comic publication by these folks ( later to become DC COMICS) sprouted from the pages of popular detective comics.  Batman was released to the world, and more importantly, to the criminals of Gotham City. Superman and Batman are the focus for this brief blog on the American mythological hero. There are more , and future blogs will seek to address the likes of Spiderman, The Flash, Green Lantern, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, and Wonder Woman to name just a few. 

     Superman appears bold and colorful , lighting up the already bright skyline of Metropolis, assuming a humble life hidden amongst the masses as every day Clark Kent.  While Batman, in contrast, is the alter ego of one Bruce Wayne, a well known wealthy playboy who scoots out under the guise of darkness to tackle a dark, gloomy, corrupt, crime riddled Gotham City.

     Superman, though the last survivor of the dead world of Krypton, grew up in a well balanced family in the Midwest, Kansas.  He was raised by farmers in a traditional family values manner after being rescued from his crashed ship as an infant along the roadside. The comics even had kept the parents alive for sometime after Clark had reached adulthood and worked as a reporter for the Daily Planet. He continued to assist his parents on the farm. Superman is a globally recognized hero in every sense of the word.  Batman, however, saw his parents gunned down in an alley near the local theater after they were mugged. He grew up angry and hateful. He was fearsome of the world around him. Bruce would go on to be raised by the family butler, Alfred.  Bruce shunned his childhood and turned his attentions to fighting crime. He sought revenge for the death of his parents and felt by ridding the world of evil and crime, he would have that.  He used his wealth for this purpose. he built the batcave, batcar, and would set his sights on cowardly criminals as he referred to them.  All by the shadow of darkness, he became known as the Dark Knight.  Batman became well respected throughout Gotham City, but some felt he was nothing more than a dangerous vigilante, someone to be feared. 

     Superman and Batman have taken up permanent residence in the hearts and minds of Americans, they are fully embedded in the American psyche.  Bruce Wayne is the self made millionaire that epitomizes the American dream.  He does as he pleases as either persona.  Bruce Wayne/Batman is the person that everyone who continues to buy into the American dream strives to become.  Superman, on the other hand,  is more of a god-like figure that people strive to be more like.  He is the boy scout, the big brother, a protector and defender of what is right, particularly for those who are too weak to defend themselves.  Superman is benevolent. His actions are based upon being the right thing to do, then returning to a simplistic life at the end of a day. 

     Both Metropolis and Gotham personify these two superheroes. Metropolis is big, bright, and full of life.  It is a city that is larger than life where anything is possible. It is a living depiction of the American Dream.  Smallville, the hometown of Clark , was a small farming community, and it too was developed to mirror small town USA.  On the other hand, Gotham, Batman's home, is depicted as dark, dangerous, and corrupt. Gotham has an eerie air of mystery to it at all times.  Gotham is the epitome of all that people fear about the American city, abundant crime and corrupt politicians, police, and other city leaders all around. 

Superman and Batman both tap into basic American ideals and because of this, they have each gone on to survive in pop culture for over 70 years.  Their messages are constant, they are easily identified with, and they offer timeless insight into American culture, timeless insight into outcomes of the paths humans may choose, and timeless messages about how to redirect those paths. These are the reasons for the longevity of these characters. They continue to speak to each of us as individuals, and to all of us as a cultural whole.  Batman and Superman are household names, and like Superman, each individual has their kryptonite! Superman teaches us how to identify it and how to avoid it. Superman and Batman are indeed American folk heroes, their stories creating an American mythos. 

      The gods of great cultures were complex, but integral to the culture. Due to similar complex continuities that began to develop for Superman and Batman by the 1950's due to DC's decision to have Superman guest appear in Batman comics, merged universes. Superman would go on to have a love interest in Wonder Woman, Batman would go on to struggle with his identity and lack of true super powers. He would struggle to fit in with true super human beings.  Complex timelines and relationships emerged and have continued to develop. This is what has grabbed the attention of the American public, and it is what has solidified both Batman and Superman as American mythological heroes, creating an ever evolving myth that all can identify with and learn from.  Superheroes are so much more than entertainment for children, they are the stories that define us and teach us over multiple generations. They are our American mythology. As they continue to evolve, so shall America. 

 ppt: Cultural Imagery of Gotham City and Metropolis

Next Blog...... The Themed Convention !