Growing up I was a fan of superheroes. On weekends, I would spend endless hours cemented to the television enamored by courageous animations battling their foes in an attempt to save humanity. I was fascinated, not only by their strength and endurance, but also by their overwhelming intelligence. Somehow, they always made the right decision, just in time to rescue the victim and restore the world to its formerly peaceful state. Looking back, it is easy to see why superheroes are not real. While these programs undoubtedly offered me continuous entertainment, they also lulled me into the mindset that in every conflict, there exists only one right and one wrong answer. However, this is a surreal depiction of reality and is not a true representation of the dilemmas we face in our day-to-day lives. Often, there are multiple perspectives on a particular issue or event. A conflict may have more than one solution. At its most basic level, “The Most Dangerous Beauty”, written by Michael Paterniti, is about the struggle between good and evil. However, this essay tells a story with a much more nuanced conflict rather than the traditional dichotomy between right and wrong. In the essay, David Williams, a professor teaching anatomical illustration, becomes infatuated with Pernkopf’s Atlas, a compendium of anatomical studies produced by Nazis and Nazi supporters. These intricate paintings that portray the human body as examples of the utmost perfection become an obsession for Williams. When allegations are made that the cadavers used to create the Atlas’ illustrations were obtained unethically, both Williams and the document became heavily scrutinized. Through this conflict, Paterniti explores the ethical dilemma of finding beauty in something... ... middle of paper ... ...anding an individual’s perspective on a subject is critical in appreciating their decision-making. Works Cited Paterniti, Michael. "The Most Dangerous Beauty." Occasions for Writing: Evidence, Idea, Essay. Wadsworth. 735-49. Print. Forster, E.M. "On Not Looking at Pictures." Occasions for Writing: Evidence, Idea, Essay. Wadsworth. 706-08. Print. Hildebrandt, Sabine. "How the Pernkopf Controversy Facilitated a Historical and Ehtical Analysis of the Anatomical Sciences in Austria and Germany: A Recommendation for the Continued Use of the Pernkopf Atlas." Clinical Anatomy (2006): 91-100. JSTOR. Web. "Eleanor Roosevelt." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2012. 26 March. 2012. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/eleanorroo133886.html "Plato." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2012. 26 March. 2012. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/plato400440.html
Why is it that in most superhero movies the good guys win? Because good always outshines evil. Characteristics, feelings, and actions which are commonly shared by most people is called human nature. One can easily make a statement about human nature by reading Lord of the Flies by: William Golding and Night by: Elie Wiesel. Lord of the Flies is about a group of well rounded group of British boys who survive a plane crash and find themselves the sole inhabitants of an island. Night is an honest, firsthand account about Elie Wiesel’s life in concentration camps during the Holocaust. Through these books, one can simply say humans are essentially good, even throughout the circumstances they face.
We are currently living in the Golden Age of Superheroes. They dominate our cultural life, and have become seemingly permanent fixtures in modern media. Since X-Men burst onto the screen fifteen years ago, we have witnessed the release of over forty superhero movies. By 2020 we will have seen the release of more than twenty-five more. Today, the much anticipated film Superman vs. Batman has come to theaters. Though a plethora of superhero movies have been released, it is to the dissatisfaction of many, having long been exhausted by the stories of the Hulk, Batman, and Spider-man. Although I must agree that it is quite easy to get bored with the constant action, and flashing colors of these films, if one looks deep enough into the story they will discover universal themes and metaphors. Though they may be fighting off alien invasions, these heroes are also battling with their personal challenges, challenges which we can
As a kid I always loved going to the movies and seeing Spiderman, Batman, or Superman kicking the bad guys’ butts’ on the big screen. It seems movies these days always have the same overarching theme though good vs. evil. Even those super girly princess movies have aspects of good and evil. Take The Little Mermaid, for example, there is the protagonist, Ariel, and the antagonist, Ursula, and just like in all of the other movies, the good guy always wins. Although, the theme of good vs. evil is not only found in movies; it can also be found in history, literature, and day-to-day lives. Though the battle between good and evil manifests itself in many types of literary work, good always triumphs evil.
The difference between a superhero, as we know from movies and comics, and a traditional hero is rather unclear for many people.. In modern times, a superhero is often a being with supernatural abilities. For example, the movies depict them as individuals with super strength, night vision, the ability to climb walls, and so on. The majority of audiences have been spoiled with these unrealistic depictions and are unable to recall the real or “traditional” hero. In the texts, The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Book of Job, and Bhagavad Gita, heroes are not “as seen on television”, but something more. The heroes in these stories carry great strengths such as wisdom, patience, and pride. To illustrate these characteristics, the protagonists themselves
In their graphic novel Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons establish their story during the Cold War period, when a group of superheroes tackle the task to save humanity from a potential World War III caused by tensions among governmental powers. Managed by the intelligence of Adrian Veidt, the worst was avoided after the attack of alien forces causes the death of millions of New Yorkers that leads to a temporary world peace. The representations of the Watchmen superheroes of Moore and Gibbons, particularly Rorschach, display the concept of heroism being a part of the real world, among the regular public of our society.
Sontag, Susan. “Beauty.” The Black Book: A Custom Publication. 3rd ed. Ed. Sam Pierstorff. Modesto: Quercus Review Press, 2012. 34-36.
Hughes, Jamie A. "Who Watches the Watchmen?: Ideology and 'Real World' Superheroes." Journal of Popular Culture39.4 (2006): 546-557. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 25 Feb. 2010
“But the life of a superhero is fraught with stress: Saving the city (or planet) from nefarious plots of evil-do-ers; and the hassles of daily life…” (deLusé 187). Superheroes are known to save mankind and defend the Earth, but what most people do not consider is the amount of stress these heroes deal with on a daily basis. The obstacles they must overcome include coping with their alter ego and superhero stress, keeping a secret identity and surpassing the expectations set for them.
Taylor, Edward. “Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 8th ed. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 303-304. Print.
Since the beginning of civilisation the question can art have the capacity to transform the world politically and morally has invariably haunted the philosophers and social scientists alike. This paper makes an attempt to address two different but interrelated questions in the light of photography by primarily focusing on Abu Ghraib pictures. First, I intend to look critically at Butler’s claim that framing of reality in a certain way imposes constraints on what can be heard, seen and read during the times of war. And second, I propose to consider the various ways in which the relationship between photography and ethical responsiveness can be explored by invoking the idea of face propounded by Levinas in one of his interviews.
Idealism shown in comic books is a fruit of human perceptions and values. Society provides the material on which our superheroes and their enemies are based. Our perceptions of ideal figures are what drive their characterization and impact how we respond to them...
Being a hero means that one can show courage when it comes to facing a problem. It is a person who helps others in many ways, such as a person in danger. In the modern era, the creation of superheroes have become popular when it comes to producing films. Viewers can choose their favorite heroes due to the idea that there a many of them. However, most fans argue which superheroes are better. Two of the most popular superheroes are DC’s Batman and Marvel’s Iron Man. Although Batman and Iron Man are loved by many viewers because of how they help people in danger, they still demonstrate imperfections which can cause viewers to dislike them. However, both superheroes share similarities and differences between themselves. Batman and Iron Man have
I can remember when I was the ring bearer at my aunt’s wedding, no more than five or six years old, and being caught on camera talking to my watch in the back of the church. “Everything’s ok here KIT, it’s all-clear”, is what I was saying. No, I wasn’t a disturbed child. I was imitating Michael Night, the normal guy with the not so normal talking car, who always saved the day on the show NightRider. GI Joe, He-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles......I’ve been all of them (Or in my mind anyway). Also, like most kids, I probably could of single handedly kept up one of those toy makers with all of my purchases. I have to wonder though, if I hadn’t watched these shows and played these games, if I would be the same person I am today. Even today, maybe if people didn’t grow up watching Superman, Batman, the Hulk.......we wouldn’t have people who are as courageous as the firefighters and police we have at the World Trade Center right now.
Art is limited in a very large number of ways by the ethical judgements we make, but it is also often brought into existence as a result of our morals and emotions. These judgements seem to handicap the production of knowledge of and through art, but they are also vital to it. This is a sign that abandoning our morals would be difficult, but impractical for the arts. For science, however, abandoning these morals to avoid the obstacle of ethical judgements would allow us to understand much more than we do today, and even more than we did hundreds of years ago; however, these judgements also keep our developments in check. They may prevent some good, but they definitely prevent irreversible harm as well. It is clear that ethics has many drawbacks, but it is a necessary element of our lives.
Heroes always change in our mind as we grow. As a child, we think Hercules, Xena, superheroes, imaginary friends, comics', and cartoons' heroes as the real heroes. As we grow older, our opinions keep changing from time to time.