"Superheroes are so greatly admired because at the end of their struggles they make the right choices."
This used to be the case, but in today's media the term "hero" as it applies to a superhero has less to do with morality and more to do with a capacity to do good, aka their power.
One example: Think about My Super Ex-Girlfriend... did Uma Thurman's character do the right thing when she threw a live shark into her love interest's apartment? No, I venture to say that was not the moral choice.
Hancock throwing the boy who called him an a-hole into the air? Mr.Incredible going behind his wife's back to follow a crazy mission? Iron Man drugging himself? None of these are the right choice...though out of the many I would most like to avoid the shark in my apartment.
However, the super ex-girlfriend was still a do-gooder who helped society- rendering her a superhero nonetheless.
Its a toss up, and I'm not saying the comment was incorrect- rather I want readers to note that they don't always do good. It is becoming far more acceptable for our superheroes to make the wrong choice.
I think the times have changed a bit concerning the definition of a hero. In the past, heros were incapable of poor judgement or evil. With modern-day hollywood redefining superheros, we see them become more and more human-like with the capacity to do wrong. However, like you said, their capacity to do good makes them heroes in the end.
ReplyDeleteI think superheros are just more likely to be capable of doing something usually unacceptable because it is more acceptable in our society today.
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