Sunday, October 22, 2006
Heroes?
It's Sunday night and I've been sitting for the last hour and a half watching some of the Heroes marathon. While the title and some of the trailers mays suggest that it's an attempt to cash in on the age old superhero genre, the plot seems far more pomo. As I understand it, the show is taken from the graphic novel genre, which I readily admit I'm not too familiar with; nevertheless, two episodes have left me with what I think is a pretty good feel for the show. Amidst other things, it appears that the program is wrestling with/advancing the notion that contemporary heroes are not as perfect as those of bygone eras. Sure Superman had his kryptonite, but this isn't the type of weakness this show wrestles with. All the superhero's from my day (it's sad that I can date myself already) though they may have grappled with occasional physical infirmities, were upstanding at all time in their moral character. NBC's new program grapples with the darker side of their heroes. For example, the narrator of the storyline is a man who can see the future and is mapping out the fate of the characters through his paintings...which are composed during his heroin induced trips. Likewise, the wholesome cheerleader who apparently cannot die and gladly saves a stranger from a burning train wreck also kills the boy who tried to take advantage of her by racing his car (with him in the passenger seat) into a concrete wall at 80 plus miles per hour. The gentle Asian man who can stop time to save a young girl from being hit by a truck, also uses the same skills to beat the house in Vegas. I grant that it's still early in the season and perhaps these moral dilemmas will be righted...however, I suggest postmodernity has struck again...this time deconstructing the superhero. Either way, the show is certainly intriguing.
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11 comments:
If you wanted to see real heroes, you should have been watching the Tigers play in the World Series.
crb
Hi Nate, What does this kind of concept do to the idea of the "role model",you and I both know kids are watching this, parents better pick up the ball cause the "world" sure dropped it a long time ago. The "nothing" continues to "crush, kill, and destroy". I know the "dark side" will grow stronger, which makes me realize how urgent it is to be a "light" in a "dark place". Though I know the Truth, it still blows my mind to see the scales over many peoples eyes, and they just keep getting worse. What a challenge to be a parent in these days. Love, Mom
Hi Nate, What does this kind of concept do to the idea of the "role model",you and I both know kids are watching this, parents better pick up the ball cause the "world" sure dropped it a long time ago. The "nothing" continues to "crush, kill, and destroy". I know the "dark side" will grow stronger, which makes me realize how urgent it is to be a "light" in a "dark place". Though I know the Truth, it still blows my mind to see the scales over many peoples eyes, and they just keep getting worse. What a challenge to be a parent in these days. Love, Mom
Hi Nate, sorry for logging in twice, my computer was slow and I was too slow to realize it, it's Monday morning, what can I say! LOL Mom :-)
Mom,
Nice double allusion to both Never Ending Story AND Star Wars. It is sad, but then again, Hollywood never was concerned with setting the pace for role models.
Bruno,
Due to my short stint in the Motor City, I am proud of the Tigers. I was at Comerica Park the first summer they were open (in fact my first MBL game). However, as a general rule and much to my wife's dismay, I hate baseball and was quite incensed to see that the world series trumped the Simpsons, since it was on Fox. What is this world coming to? :-)
Mihelis, I think you meant MLB . . . not MBL . . . unless the Major Baseball League is the league the Tigers played in the past 5 years before going pro.
Logan, is that you posting under Baylor's user name?
That was just uncalled for.
don't usually post on here nate, but had to ask - how do the simpsons play in all this good vs evil!! :) (I would say the evil side - baylor/nate, don't shoot me!!)
:) :) :)
Nice piece on the "graphic novel genre" and the "deconstructing the superhero"? Nice work Mihelis but don't they keep you busy over there at HSBC?
I agree with Bruno! Check out the playaz over in Mo-town. That will get you all geeked up about superheros.
Linsey,
Your question has prompted a full post. I finished it this morning just before 1am, but tragically lost it before posting. I'm in the process again, but it probably won't be up till tomorrow. Who knows, Thomas, it might even loosen your conscience up enough to enjoy the Bartman!
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