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Characters and Story Types (Part 1: Superheroes)
10 years ago
OMG there are SO MANY superhero movies out lately!! Has it always been that way or am I only just now noticing it? Seems like every other month they're making a movie of YET ANOTHER superhero, looking to keep doing it until they exhaust the list of superheroes out there. Don't worry, this isn't a rant about superhero movies, or a rant about superheroes, but hey, I already made several comments about Hollywood's lack of originality.
This two-part journal is actually more to talk about certain types of characters and story types that seem to get all the spotlight in mainstream and even independent writing. I did some googling to see if I could find some articles about it. I found stuff here and there, but if anyone else has any good articles about "perfect" or "normal" characters, as well as stuff about superheroes and why we like them, or about overtold archetypes, feel free to link them in the comments. This first part is about superhero characters and superhero stories.
I don't have a beef with superheroes. I grew up with them like everyone else did (yeah I wasn't isolated from the mainstream as some people might think). I saw them as a kid and watched them and enjoyed them, and in fact I was and still kinda am a fan of X-Men. I know that a lot can be said in favor of superheroes, but the biggest reason I am not big on superheroes is, no one is really a superhero. Now, I get that for most people that's a reason to really be into them, they're fantasy characters that can do things that we can't and that's exciting to read about and watch, and that's definitely a great case for them and I can see why they have such a great appeal. For me however, I don't find as much enjoyment out of it because, we all face huge problems in our lives in many different forms, either in our personal relationships, or our personal struggles, or larger struggles that we face as a society both physical and not, and we face all of these problems with just us ourselves. We are not bulletproof like Superman, we can't grow super-muscular like the Hulk, we do not have some kind of superstrength infused into us like Captain America. We are just, us. This is why I love characters who are perceived as "weak" and have no "special ability". I remember there is one moment in the second Spiderman Movie (the one with Toby Maguire) that still stands out to me to this day. It is the scene on the NYC train where the regular citizens try and stand up to Dr. Octavius to protect Spiderman as he is laying weak. They look scared but they are brave and each individually say "you will have to get through me". They have nothing of super strength to stop Dr Octavius but do so anyway. The downside of that scene is that they're all completely unsuccessful as Dr Octavius easily gets through the mass of people. See? We're useless unless we have superpowers. We are ill-equipped to deal with the power of supervillains. We are too weak and need a savior. We can't succeed without superpowers, or without waiting for someone to come who DOES have them.
This sort of takes us to another aspect of superhero stories that tend to just make me shrug: supervillains. It's not just about the superpower in this case. In this case it's their motives and their professions. They are always this generic "evil" thing whether this leader with thugs who wants to take over the world or universe, or some kind of mob boss, or some other ring-leader heading some "evil" organization out to do "evil" to us regular citizens. It rarely ventures out of anything that is a "good" vs "evil" setting. Once again, in the real world, "evil" is not so basic and easy to identify, and neither is "good".
Lastly, most superhero stories seem to take place either in a massive city or in some multi-planet/galaxy world. Seems the entire world is always on the brink of total anihilation from total destruction. I can't relate to this as much being from small-town-bordering-the-rez, Arizona. Besides the difference in size of the world, my issue is this. Sometimes in these multiplanet stories I begin to wonder, is there a small community in some planet somewhere that is struggling to remain alive and yet is going totally and unfairly unnoticed thanks to the fact that there's a "more important" story affecting the entire universe? That is often how I feel, because, to give a concrete example, no one is interested in hearing about a land dispute over what is sacred lands to us being used for oil drilling or a resort or mining. These are the battles we face, but are always overshadowed by some other "larger" issue that everyone is talking about. So this is why I find myself once again feeling alienated in these. I see myself in one of those smaller planets in a small village in that planet, and the issues (maybe very serious ones) they are faced with will never really be talked about.
To not be completely negative about superhero stories and superhero characters, some people have asked me what my ideal superhero would be if I have so many problems with the existing ones. Before I answer that, I want to say I don't have a "problem" with superhero movies. I like everyone else like seeing explosions on screen and these fantastic battles going on between non-existent but creatively made characters. My "issue" is that I have grown kinda bored of it for the reasons stated above. So what would interest me? Often when people talk about what they would like to see, it is not always how they think in their head, but here is what I think I would like. I would like a superhero that either with some kind of superpower or by his or her own will, saves people from the grasps of poverty, the cycle of crime, and political violence. To describe it would be a journal in and of itself, but if anyone wants to hear, I can try to describe it. As I said, this is always hard to fully conceptualize but I am open to trying to explain it further.
Here is the first part of this journal. In the next journal I will talk about stories that deal with characters and stories that are unrealistically "perfect" and "normal". I will actually not be talking about Mary Sues but more along the lines of the manners in which characters are set up and developed. I will also link an article that actually describes a lot of what I have felt about it. Thanks again for reading!
This two-part journal is actually more to talk about certain types of characters and story types that seem to get all the spotlight in mainstream and even independent writing. I did some googling to see if I could find some articles about it. I found stuff here and there, but if anyone else has any good articles about "perfect" or "normal" characters, as well as stuff about superheroes and why we like them, or about overtold archetypes, feel free to link them in the comments. This first part is about superhero characters and superhero stories.
I don't have a beef with superheroes. I grew up with them like everyone else did (yeah I wasn't isolated from the mainstream as some people might think). I saw them as a kid and watched them and enjoyed them, and in fact I was and still kinda am a fan of X-Men. I know that a lot can be said in favor of superheroes, but the biggest reason I am not big on superheroes is, no one is really a superhero. Now, I get that for most people that's a reason to really be into them, they're fantasy characters that can do things that we can't and that's exciting to read about and watch, and that's definitely a great case for them and I can see why they have such a great appeal. For me however, I don't find as much enjoyment out of it because, we all face huge problems in our lives in many different forms, either in our personal relationships, or our personal struggles, or larger struggles that we face as a society both physical and not, and we face all of these problems with just us ourselves. We are not bulletproof like Superman, we can't grow super-muscular like the Hulk, we do not have some kind of superstrength infused into us like Captain America. We are just, us. This is why I love characters who are perceived as "weak" and have no "special ability". I remember there is one moment in the second Spiderman Movie (the one with Toby Maguire) that still stands out to me to this day. It is the scene on the NYC train where the regular citizens try and stand up to Dr. Octavius to protect Spiderman as he is laying weak. They look scared but they are brave and each individually say "you will have to get through me". They have nothing of super strength to stop Dr Octavius but do so anyway. The downside of that scene is that they're all completely unsuccessful as Dr Octavius easily gets through the mass of people. See? We're useless unless we have superpowers. We are ill-equipped to deal with the power of supervillains. We are too weak and need a savior. We can't succeed without superpowers, or without waiting for someone to come who DOES have them.
This sort of takes us to another aspect of superhero stories that tend to just make me shrug: supervillains. It's not just about the superpower in this case. In this case it's their motives and their professions. They are always this generic "evil" thing whether this leader with thugs who wants to take over the world or universe, or some kind of mob boss, or some other ring-leader heading some "evil" organization out to do "evil" to us regular citizens. It rarely ventures out of anything that is a "good" vs "evil" setting. Once again, in the real world, "evil" is not so basic and easy to identify, and neither is "good".
Lastly, most superhero stories seem to take place either in a massive city or in some multi-planet/galaxy world. Seems the entire world is always on the brink of total anihilation from total destruction. I can't relate to this as much being from small-town-bordering-the-rez, Arizona. Besides the difference in size of the world, my issue is this. Sometimes in these multiplanet stories I begin to wonder, is there a small community in some planet somewhere that is struggling to remain alive and yet is going totally and unfairly unnoticed thanks to the fact that there's a "more important" story affecting the entire universe? That is often how I feel, because, to give a concrete example, no one is interested in hearing about a land dispute over what is sacred lands to us being used for oil drilling or a resort or mining. These are the battles we face, but are always overshadowed by some other "larger" issue that everyone is talking about. So this is why I find myself once again feeling alienated in these. I see myself in one of those smaller planets in a small village in that planet, and the issues (maybe very serious ones) they are faced with will never really be talked about.
To not be completely negative about superhero stories and superhero characters, some people have asked me what my ideal superhero would be if I have so many problems with the existing ones. Before I answer that, I want to say I don't have a "problem" with superhero movies. I like everyone else like seeing explosions on screen and these fantastic battles going on between non-existent but creatively made characters. My "issue" is that I have grown kinda bored of it for the reasons stated above. So what would interest me? Often when people talk about what they would like to see, it is not always how they think in their head, but here is what I think I would like. I would like a superhero that either with some kind of superpower or by his or her own will, saves people from the grasps of poverty, the cycle of crime, and political violence. To describe it would be a journal in and of itself, but if anyone wants to hear, I can try to describe it. As I said, this is always hard to fully conceptualize but I am open to trying to explain it further.
Here is the first part of this journal. In the next journal I will talk about stories that deal with characters and stories that are unrealistically "perfect" and "normal". I will actually not be talking about Mary Sues but more along the lines of the manners in which characters are set up and developed. I will also link an article that actually describes a lot of what I have felt about it. Thanks again for reading!
You're right, we're not superheroes. You know what else we're not? Animals. Now, see, I don't see it as "we're useless unless we have superpowers"--at least, not ideally. For me, the best superheroes are Christ figures--indeed, Superman particularly is an obvious Christ figure. But just because we cannot save ourselves from sin, suffering, and death doesn't mean we're worthless. If we were, Christ wouldn't have become one of us, much less died for us. But I like what you say about characters being perceived as weak, without special abilities--that makes me think of Frodo Baggins, and that was definitely a Catholic work.
You make an interesting point when you talk about small communities. It would seem that, if anything, they would be most in need of a superhero. I'm reminded of Shichinin no Samurai in that way: the whole reason the farming village was easy prey for the bandits was because Japan was in a civil war, so that ordinary law and order wasn't protecting the farmers (who were not of the warrior class and didn't know how to fight) from the bandits--and the bandits knew that and exploited it.
That could also make it feel more real, as then there would be fewer people who would have to be fleshed out more, and it wouldn't reach a point to where you cannot suspend your disbelief because the stakes are so high that you KNOW the heroes are going to win, so that it becomes comical.
I am curious to hear about your ideal superhero in more detail if you're interested.
-Juniper 'Stands Firm'
i thought the idea of having a secret identity was really cool, but the rest of it just seemed pointless and dumb.
i also figured early on that the best way to have a secret identity was to just be inconspicuous.
oh i fantacized about having alien technology, and using it to stop other people's really stupid wars.
but i never really "got" the sense of anyone wanting to be all the time fighting them.
why anyone would want to, whatever 'super powers' they might or might not have.
i always thought mad scientists in their secret laboratories had more fun.
Literally no superhero is "perfect" or "normal" and that's why they've been around for 50+ years. If they were perfect, people would've stopped reading them a million years ago.
-Juniper 'Stands Firm'
People like superheroes cuz reality fucking sucks, and seeing someone similar to you overcoming and maybe even kicking ass and saving the world is empowering. Plain and simple. It's the same reason people like pretty much any sport, because they are "regular people" who are "super". There needs to be more diversity in comics and superhero movies so everyone gets a chance to kick ass and save the world, but even that's getting better (See the new Aquaman movie).
> "weak" and have no "special ability".
I could not agree more.
It is far more meaningful for someone who is weak and timid, or just plain ordinary, to stand up against injustice. They're using their inner strength to conquer fear and stand up to a much more dangerous foe. That, to me, is more worthy of the title "hero" than someone who can fly in, wiggle a finger, and set the world right again.
I see today's modern super heroes as an adaptation of older stories, though. Not much has really changed. There's a problem, normal people can't handle it, so someone with exceptional ability comes in to save the day. You can see it in all cultures. Every people has their super heroes, though they may not wear tights, a cape, and a mask.
If you have not yet read it, you may be interested in "Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Face...../dp/1577315936 . He digs into the archetype of the hero and the similarities across cultures and time. It's pretty interesting stuff.
If you want a copy I'd be happy to buy one for you - create a public wish list on Amazon, PM me a link to the wish list and I'll make it so (that way you don't have to give some strange bear on the Internet your mailing address).
Hollywood tends to give them a pretty shallow treatment, though. There's the Obvious Bad, the Obvious Good, the barest of threads to support a minimal plot, all to sell some special effects. Unfortunately, that's what the general public seems to respond to.
If you ever dig into the old graphic novels you'll find that they can go much deeper. The super heroes aren't always so super or good, and they struggle with moral choices where there isn't an obvious right answer. It's been so long that I can't really pull any off the top of my head, but the original content did contain some deeper material from time to time.
Also, a minor thing: Shouldn't attention be proportional? You seem to want MSNBCBSFoxAOLTimeWarner to point cameras at your face 24/7 in case of breaking news over property rights. ISIS is a pretty big deal, and probably deserves the coverage. If the universe is under threat that's probably a better allocation of hero resources. This isn't a sandbox game; you can't do every sidequest and leave the main quest for later.
-Juniper 'Stands Firm'
See Also:
The Goonies
The Patriot
Rat Boy (paperback)
Lawrence of Arabia
The Jungle Book