Use of the Word Hero in The Mass Media

2153 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay:perception

Use of the word hero in the mass media has become somewhat cliché. In 2010, an on-line search of three major American newspapers revealed that 5500 articles concerning the topic of heroes appeared between 2000 and 2005 (Sullivan & Venter, 2010). Although the presence of “heroes” and “heroines” in America is not surprising, it is unclear what meaning the word holds in today’s culture (Sullivan & Ventner, 2010). What meaning the word HOLDS. Think about that for a moment. The word hero, or even the idea of what constitutes heroism is different to everyone. While there are acts of heroism every day in our society, what and who the media chooses to classify or portray as heroes has very little to do with heroism. Most often in the media, the word hero is associated with athletes and celebrities. It is not uncommon to hear a performance on a football field described as heroic, when an athlete plays hurt, or in a movie when an actor or actress gives a grand performance in a dramatic film. The word hero should be HELD in high regard. It should be reserved for people who spend their lives, or perhaps lose their life, fighting for a cause, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. It should be reserved for people who put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect others from danger, like firefighters and police officers. The media does hold these type of people in high regard and does consider them heroes, but not often enough.

The idea of celebrities as heroes can be traced back to mid-70s when Farah Fawcett-Majors burst on to the scene as a pin-up model and television star. As detective Jill Monroe on the TV series Charlie’s Angels, she was described by a critic as “a powerful heroin, a representative of a decade of feminism” (Graebner, 2013). ...

... middle of paper ...

... Man in the Water”: The Politics of the American Hero, 1970-1985. the Historian. Retrieved from: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer

PORPORA, D.V. (1996). Personal Heroes, Religion, and Transcendental Metanarratives. Sociological Forum, Vol. 11, No. 2. Retrieved from: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer

WHITE, S.H. & O’BRIEN, J.E. (1999). What is a Hero? An exploratory study of students’ conceptions of heroes. Journal of Moral Education, Vol. 28, No. 1. Retrieved from: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/detail

SCHLENKER, B.R., WEIGOLD, M.F. and SCHLENKER, K.A. (2008) What Makes A Hero? The Impact of Integrity on Admiration and Interpersonal Judgment. Journal of Personality. Retrieved from: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer

Show More
Related

  • Atticus Finch

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Now ask yourself, what is a hero? Works Cited http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201009/what-makes-hero http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=9585

    Read More

  • Leigh Anne As A Hero In The Film Avengers Assemble

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although not every hero shouts “Avengers Assemble” before a worthy deed, heroism is shown in all aspects of the everyday world. Webster Dictionary has exactly 5 definitions under the word hero and still no two people explain heroism the same. Superman and Captain America are a glimpse of the fictional characters society titles a hero. Firefighters and Military portray heroism each day in the lives of every civilian. As Sullivan and Venter stated “individuals are referred to as ‘heroes’ for seemingly different reasons” and even through endless studies the adjectives referring heroes is ever changing. Among the various ideas of what it means to be a hero, boldness and valiance capture the essence of heroism.

    Read More

  • 'The Hero Myth In O Connor Lassiter's Unwind'

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    Humanity has created this “universal story” of what a hero is, or at least the myth of it, time and again. Different tasks and encounters with a variety of villains all lead the hero to the prize, to a new life (Seger). This person deemed the hero is as ordinary as the next but what makes them different is the drastic test that they must face. Individuals admire this character because the hero stands for something, something bigger than themselves. Whether it be the compassionate act of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games or the death of the oldest brother in Brother Bear, as an outsider, an individual sees the human side of these heroes and relates. Connor Lassiter from Unwind by Neal Shusterman is an ideal example of the myth due to the

    Read More

  • The Greesboro Four

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    Generally when you think of a hero, who do you envision? Most likely, you picture a strong and imposeing figure, someone capable of performing in high pressure situations, demonstrating bravery and passion to help his/her fellow man. Those who typically fit that role in society are firefighters, policemen, and soldiers. Those people deserve all the credit and recognition they receive for their courageous acts. However, what about individuals or groups who aren’t necessarily on the “frontlines” physically protecting others and saving lives, but who work extremely hard to improve the lives of others in some way? These everyday people deserve credit as well. After all, to the people they help, these volunteers or activists are heroes. An example of such a group is the Greensboro Four, a few African American college students in the early 1960s who helped change the landscape of segregation in the Jim Crow South.

    Read More

  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

    1109 Words  | 3 Pages

    What makes a man a hero? Where lies the line which when crossed changes a mortal man into a legend? Is it at the altar at Canterbury? in the Minotaur’s labyrinth? or is it an age or a time? Does a man become a hero when he transforms from a boy to an adult? or when he stops being a man and becomes a martyr? Where are the heroes of 1993? In whom do the children of this age believe? Like whom do they strive to be? Kennedy, Lennon, and even Superman are dead. World leaders are mockeries of real men, more like Pilates than Thomas Mores. Pop culture’s icons change daily. It is interesting that nearly 600 years ago someone was writing about heroism in a way that can be understood today. The poet of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells a tale in which a man is proven to be a hero through the seemingly un-heroic decisions made in the course of numerous tests. Sir Gawain is a hero for the 21st century. He is tried and trapped, he is inundated with opportunities to fail and yet he does not lose. More importantly though, in the end he learns an essential, inescapable fact about himself and human nature.

    Read More

  • Heroism and Its Manufactured Prestige: A Critical Analysis

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, a hero may not measure up to what the public accepts as true, but the nation grants them credit for the country’s success. If the world lacked baristas and other “small” employments, “the right stuff’s” significance would cease to exist. A hero’s accomplishments often overshadow the genuine individual behind the deeds. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe illustrates how humans have the tendency to place heroes in a position of high honor and respect, when perhaps these idols do not hold entitlement to the privileges they

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Hail The Conquering Hero

    1951 Words  | 4 Pages

    What does it mean to be a hero? Heroism can’t be confined to one set defined definition. Instead is a forever evolving term that change as society changes. Since it seems it isn’t the actual individuals that are labeled as the hero that are setting the standards to what it means to be a hero. Instead, society deems itself

    Read More

  • Not Always the Hero

    2022 Words  | 5 Pages

    Heroes are found everywhere in the world. They are seen in movies, on television, in books, and in reality. A hero can be anyone, from a friend to a fictional character. To be considered a hero, one must make selfless sacrifices, develop and learn, overcome challenges and temptations, and ultimately present their known world with a gift of any kind. Homer’s

    Read More

  • The Heroes of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried

    1963 Words  | 4 Pages

    The word "hero" is so often used to describe people who overcome great difficulties and rise to the challenge that is set before them without even considering the overwhelming odds they are up against. In our culture, heroes are glorified in literature and in the media in various shapes and forms. However, I believe that many of the greatest heroes in our society never receive the credit that they deserve, much less fame or publicity. I believe that a hero is simply someone who stands up for what he/she believes in. A person does not have to rush into a burning building and save someone's life to be a hero. Someone who is a true friend can be a hero. A hero is someone who makes a difference in the lives of others simply by his/her presence. In Tim O'Brien's novel, The Things They Carried, the true heroes stand out in my mind as those who were true friends and fought for what they believed in. These men and women faced the atrocities of war on a daily basis, as explained by critic David R. Jarraway's essay, "'Excremental Assault' in Tim O'Brien: Trauma and Recovery in Vietnam War Literature" and by Vietnam Veteran Jim Carter. Yet these characters became heroes not by going to drastic measures to do something that would draw attention to themselves, but by being true to their own beliefs and by making a difference to the people around them.

    Read More

  • Scott Labarge's Heroism: Why Heroes Are Important

    686 Words  | 2 Pages

    Who is your hero? Many of us can clearly picture our idea of our personal hero in our head, but is the person you consider to be a hero really a hero by definition? In Heroism: Why Heroes are Important, Scott LaBarge, a Classics and Philosophy Professor at Santa Clara University, awakens your thoughts on the word heroism and how it has changed since its origins in ancient Greece. Throughout his essay, he goes in depth into the term ‘hero’ and compares it to society’s take on heroes today. Although LaBarge uses examples to back up his stance that “Today, it is much harder to detach the concept of heroism from morality (LaBarge. 1),” his essay contains flaws and he contradicts his own words.

    Read More

  • True Heroes in Literature

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history, there have always been heroes. Those strong-willed, brave individuals who perform courageous acts for fame and glory are prevalent in most cultures.. Societies have these heroes as standards of their cultures’ moral codes. Every society has their own definition of these codes are, so a unifying definition of hero can be hard to achieve. However, Philip Zimbardo says “Simply put, then, the key to heroism is a concern for other people in need—a concern to defend a moral cause, knowing there is a personal risk, done without expectation of reward.” With this basic definition, I will be examining various epic heroes I’ve studied throughout the course of my senior year for characteristics. From the copious amounts of studying, I’ve deduced that Achilles, Odysseus, Aeneas, Socrates, Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and Arthur all have characteristics that make them heroic.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis: Why Heroes Are Important

    901 Words  | 2 Pages

    Are heroes important? This is the question that Scott LaBarge, a philosophy professor at Santa Clara University, tackles in his article “Heroism: Why Heroes are Important.” He encourages teachers, parents, and students to realize that heroes are tremendously significant in society by using references to factual and historical details, personal association, and various examples of different types of heroes. LaBarge effectively uses the rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos, and kairos to convince his audience that heroes are important.

    Read More

  • Gilgamesh: A Mythical Hero

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    From the beginning of time, mythology has appeared to be one key method of understanding life’s confusions and battles. Within these myths lies a hero. From myth to myth and story to story, heroes experience what may be called a struggle or a journey, which lays down their plot line. Bearing tremendous strength, talent, and significant admiration, a hero holds what is precious to their audience, heroism. Over time however, no matter the hero, the hero’s role remains indistinguishable and identical to the position of every other hero.

    Read More

  • The Definition of a Hero

    562 Words  | 2 Pages

    A person can be a hero for saving the life of one or of millions. Heroes are not only real people, but they are also fantasy figures. Children are extremely interested with legendary and fantasy figures because they take on such tasks as: difficult journeys, challenges with dragons, discovering lost treasure, and changing the nature of the world through their singular acts of courage and selflessness. They also endure much resistance, hardship, and danger. Often the hero learns valuable lessons about survival and self-reliance. Not only do heroes teach valuable lessons they give a child a sense of belonging. To a child, a hero is an invincible person who will change the world.

    Read More

  • What Is Heroism Essay

    900 Words  | 2 Pages

    Heroism is defined as an act of courage and an act of selflessness. They reflect the highest levels of morality in society. Heroes have embodied the morality codes of civilizations throughout the ages. When heroes display courage, observers often identify with that courage. The refusal to take the easy way out and the ability to act in spite of fear, is what makes a person a hero. This is the way everyone wishes to react in the midst of a crisis. As witnessed in literature and real life, mankind needs heroes to provide an inspirational role model, an escape from the mundane, and a guide for morality.

    Read More

More about Use of the Word Hero in The Mass Media

Open Document