Finale

          I said it at the beginning of my presentation on her but I came in knowing little about Batwoman. In fact I did not know there was a Batwoman until this class. Now I know about her and her purpose when she was originally created. Through her creation I understood the expectations put on comics through Seduction of Innocence. Her creation and purpose says much about what parents at the time feared their children being exposed to. It is amazing the lengths society would go to prevent people from becoming opposite of what is expected.    

            All of my ideas about all superheroes were changed through this class. I always thought superheroes were superficial entertaining money makers. That there was nothing more about them other than what was presented on the surface people with powers that fight crime and threats to the world’s safety. I was wrong. Through this class I learned why people decide to become superheroes, the similarities and differences between a hero and a villain, and the philosophies that superheroes can represent. For example, what Wonder Woman says about immigration a melting pot or salad, what the Justice League say about family they are the best of the best, and what their storylines reflect about the era they are written in. It was difficult discovering the main differences between Golden Age, Silver Age, and Dark Age of comics, but once I did it made learning what those stories reflected about the era very interesting.

            Through the readings I learned to look for themes in reading. I am a big reader so it is not unfamiliar for me. However, I have not always been good at finding themes throughout my reading. It is probably because I spend more time imagining what is going on than actually paying attention. So for the readings to prove that there are larger themes present proves that there are more to the readings, even comics, than what is read on the surface. I will have to practice that on my readings for the summer.   

            Something I wish we spent more time on was Superheroes in real-life and probably entertained the thought of villains in real-life. If we have heroes in the real-world, who would be considered the villains? How would villains in the comic narratives compare to villains in the real world? I believe villains in the real world would be more like Veidt. The problem with many villains in movies and comics is that they monologue and then activate their plans. If we had villains in the real world they would make sure there was no way anyone would be able to stop their plan. If we did have villains with the abilities, resources, and goals as the one in comics that would surely mean doomsday for us.

            This class has helped me determine what a good citizen is by informing me of the morality or philosophy behind the choices people make. Bruce Wayne became Batman to go after all criminals after the death of his parents, Rogue wants to be  normal and hug people and that prompts her to receive the “cure”, and Rorschach sees the world in black and white and does not yield to see anything other than that. The citizens of the world have their own moral code that makes them who they are. When I go into my citizenship class next year, Democracy Project, I will keep this in mind. The heroes I see as good citizens would be the Justice League of America. Though they are used to doing things on their own they see past the differences that make them to fight for the greater good of humanity. This is what being a good citizen involves. Though we may not always agree with our neighbors and fellow countrymen we are all aiming towards the betterment of society and our lives.    

Questions from Reading Guide to Perry Moore's Hero

          There are two reasons why Thom’s Coach is kicking him off the team. There is the reason that can be considered the diplomatic reasoning, and the true reason. The diplomatic or tactful reasoning would be because of Thom’s seizures. They are health issue that can present a big problem with the school and its insurance. The true reason is because Thom is different and that difference makes the Coach and the team uncomfortable. I cannot say for certain how I would react to this situation. I would probably accept it without a fuss but throw a fit when I am in private. My parents would first see how I feel about the situation and what course of action I would like to take. If I want to petition to be let back on the team I was removed from they would support me. If I wanted to let it go they would also throw a fit in private, but encourage me to stay strong and be the person I want to be.

            When Ruth tells Thom “You can’t go on like you’re going to start living one day, like all this is some preamble to some great life that’s magically going to appear. . . Don’t wait” she is telling him live the life and do the things he wants and knows will make him happy. Stop being what everybody expects you to be and become who you want to be. I am the type of person that is happy in the moment. I am not waiting for anything to “make” me happy. I am more so waiting to become happier. I am waiting for graduation, getting a job, paying off student loans, getting married, and having a family to leave a legacy to. I am waiting to succeed at the progressions at life, be proud of myself, and be happier. However, I am happy for the progress I have made so far in life. By deciding what to do and succeeding at it is what makes me happy.

            I do not think everybody in the world has one moment in their life where they know they are beneficial in the world. That is why the world has suicides. These people feel they are not an asset to the world and decide to take themselves out of it. When in truth they were looking for that moment too soon. That moment may not have been the time where they recognized for who they are but it will come. I do not need a big crowd of people cheering for me to feel special, but one person who appreciates my presence in their life. For someone to thank me for what I do for them would give me a sense of pride, but not an egotistical pride. A pride that would give me joy in the success I have with the people around me.

            The perfect first kiss would have to start with me and the person I am interested in hanging out, watching a movie, eating candy, and enjoying one another’s company. When we are just talking with one another I eventually start stroking his cheek and he rubs my hand. He lifts it and kisses my fingers bring my hand up to his other cheek. By this point I know he wants to kiss me just as much as I want to kiss him. He finally grabs face and gently pulls me towards him and kisses me. His hands go to my waist while I put my arms around his neck. This makes it feel like we are closer. It is sweet, simple, and as expected as it is unexpected. The perfect first kiss. The perfect first kiss, whatever it may be for whoever, is possible to achieve. A person may just have to be patient to get it. I have had many celebrity crushes especially when I was younger. I have no idea why we have crushes on famous figures. It just something about that figure a person likes and it develops into a crush.    

           

Free Thought: Analyzing Back to Back Batman Weekend

            I don’t know about everyone else in class, but every time something superhero related comes up I look at it as if it is for class. While watching the Iron Man 3 trailer I tried to determine why the producers choose the scenes they did. How the choices I make can fit into my superhero profile, and many other situations that happen. This was most prominent during ABC Family’s Back to Back Batman weekend.

ABC Family played every Batman movie since 1989 leading up to the network premiere of Batman Begins. So I noticed how Batman and Robin opened up with a Bat symbol followed by a Robin symbol coming together to signify who the movie was about, and later them coming together not just as partners but as a family. I never noticed that when I was younger. I noticed the sad irony in Batman Forever when Dick Grayson did the Death Drop in the circus performance but was the only member of his family that didn’t drop to his death. However, Two Face also fell to his death just like the Grayson family. You reap what you sow. I also took notice of when the cameras would zoom into a characters face and that what just happened affects them on an emotional level. The biggest point I was trying to determine was not from the movie perspective but from ABC Family’s.

            The marathon went in the order of Batman Forever, Batman and Robin, Batman, and Batman Returns. Not only is this not chronological as far as story line, but it isn’t chronological of production. The whole weekend I wondered why they decided to do this. It is because they are ending in Batman Begins. ABC Family is making an assumption that their viewers have not seen any of the Batman films and do not know that whatever will happen in Batman Begins has nothing to do with what happened in the previous four. If viewers were to watch the first four and notice that the last two don’t follow the story line of the first two when they get to the final film they would not be surprised that there is a new storyline.

            It is not only the creators of the superhero plot and themes that needs to think about the viewers and how it relates to the bigger picture being presented, but also the people who use these medias after their initial release. If this was someone’s first time seeing Batman Begins the producers needed to find a way to build up the excitement, but they also needed to inform the audience that what happened previously did not matter so they showed them out of order. An interesting method, but it works.

               

Real Life Superhero

           If I had not seen the documentary for myself I never would have believed that people in real life dress up and call themselves superheroes. That people go out fight drug dealers, try to catch criminals, and patrol the streets for danger. Like Stan Lee said, I would be worried if a person went out and fought with people that had weapons. The danger is real. So while I admire some of these people for their passion the more dangerous situations I would leave to people with the experience and training to handle it.

            If I were to make a superhero costume I would make it out of fabric that is easy to sew but designed in a way that makes me stand out. Luckily I took a clothing class my senior year of high school and am familiar with how to use a sewing machine. So the fabric would be something I could sew, move around in, and make me stand out. So maybe a bright colored polyester to be noticed with elastic sewn inside for stretch.

            My specific problem I would try to combat is kids and role models. I do not believe there are enough positive role models in the world for young children. Role models that promote good character, positive morals, and respect for yourself and others. I want to be the role model that represents these ideals for them. Since kids already look up to superheroes who better to look up to than a real superhero in their neighborhood. Since I am dealing with children the only equipment I would need is something that would keep their attention, and will assist me in promoting the values I represent.

Since I would be focusing on kids I should not wear a mask. To many things can be associated with a masked person hanging around young children, but even if that wasn’t an issue I don’t want to be a “Do as I say, Not as I Do” hero. I want them to know that the values I teach I believe in and apply to my lifestyle. So whether they see me in my costume or in jeans they know I believe in what I do completely.

It is difficult to say which hero from Superheroes I identify with the most, but I think it would be Mister Extreme. In the beginning of the film he says “I do this to protest all that is wrong in the world.” I agree with that statement because I would create my real life superhero persona to protest all that is wrong with the choices of role models in the world. Not all the role models are wrong but I do believe some need a reality check. So I would be that realistic role model just like Mister Extreme is the realistic hero. He works with the police, puts up signs to inform the public, and trains to become better. It is that realism I can identify with.    

 

Limitations and Mutations

Part 1

            In Green Lantern, Kyle was pushed to the limits of superhero moral code and pursued criminals for personal satisfaction and caused them physical harm on purpose. Superheroes are meant to be defenders of justice so for Kyle to go after criminals as his superhero self for vengeance is a complete disregard for everything he stands for. It is common for people to forget everything they are taught and believe in when they are challenged. For me it happened my freshman year.

            I am the type of person that tries to see the good in everything. So at lunch and my friends and I were talking about adoption, I do not know how that conversation got brought up, and I made the statement of someone has to really care to put their kid up for adoption. When someone tried to make me feel like a naïve fool because of my statement I got angry. I do not always react to things in anger. It does not solve the issue that made you angry, but this time I was fed up with people questioning what I believe. I do not force others to believe what I do but respect me enough not to insult me when I do state my opinion.

            My reaction to this situation was of pure emotion, and I did not think about what could happen. I just wanted my feelings known. In the aftermath, the person that insulted me and I were no longer friends splitting the rest of my friends down the middle. For the rest of the semester it was a delicate balance, and even though we all knew it no one would talk about it. But that is what happens sometimes when you go against the boundaries. It affects everyone around you. So from now on I will try not to react with anger, but to remember my moral standards.

Part 2

            For part 2 I imagined I was Storm and Mystique. Every time I encounter X-Men I always see them as the opposite sides of a pole. Both are the closest to the person they follow, are comfortable with their powers, and believe that mutants should not have to hide who they are. The difference that distinguishes Storm and Mystique, other than the physical obvious, are how they go about getting mutant equality. While Storm uses her words to fight for mutant fairness Mystique is aggressive and willing to kill anyone that makes her feel inferior.

            Both of them would be willing to walk down the street as they are but because of Mystique’s mutation and societies view on how people should look it is impossible for that to happen. They both feel the same way about the “cure” in X-Men The Last Stand, but Storm was willing to defend the humans that created it. If it wasn’t for Magneto leaving and losing her powers Mystique would have been on the offensive side instead of working with humans. It was when she became like everyone that was against her that Mystique became cooperative.

            Any group or person in the real world that feels ostracized because of their circumstances can relate to the X-Men. Whether that person has a disability or just different than the societal norm they can relate to the X-Men. However, the X-Men can teach these groups to remain strong in who they are. They can know that though society does not accept them that if they work together they can have the same rights as everybody else.

            The mutant I most identify with is Beast. It is not because of his mutation but because of who he is. He is the ambassador for mutant affairs.  He lives in both worlds. He understands why the humans created the “cure,” why some mutants would want to take it, and why others don’t. All the while he is not confused about what he personally believes. He knows who he is and doesn’t let either side change that. With the changes happening to the world and what is deemed appropriate and not I see both sides of an argument, but I know what I believe and I won’t change that for anyone.    

Reflection #7

Part 1

            It is amazing how good you feel after a break from routine. I never noticed how much I needed spring break until it was finally here. In one week I slept better, became more energetic, and actually had more time to focus on taking care of myself. Since I didn’t have to go to class, do homework with a close deadline, or study for an upcoming exam I was able to perform some of the exercises from The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes.

            The first one I tried was silent meditation. I sat up - laying down would have resulted in me falling asleep - cross my legs, breathed and just let go. I did not think about what work I had due the Monday I got back on campus, I did not think about taking the dishes out of the dishwasher, I just sat a listened to myself. Even more than listening to myself I relaxed. Emptying my mind and not thinking about school work, friends, or the future is very calming. It was a freeing experience.

            The second exercise I tried was to take notice of the sounds, sights, and smells that I perceived and thinking about the person who noticed it. I would recognize the cars driving by my condo, the upstairs neighbor’s footsteps, even the color of every car in the parking lot. This exercise was exhausting. I felt like I was trying to place myself in multiple places at once. I was stretching myself too thin. This is not an experience I care too much for. So while I may start meditating over the summer, when my time isn’t on a schedule for class and getting assignments done, taking notice of everything and the person who noticed them may not be a routine activity for years to come.

Part 2

            I would have never thought to compare Batman’s relationships to people in terms of Aristotelian definitions of friendships. It is an eye opening explanation and Morris does a fabulous job of explaining it. As for me and my life, many of my friendships are of pleasure. My friends and I enjoy hanging out and being near each other. We like talking, watching movies, and spending time with one another. I could not have a person as a friend if it was not enjoyable being around them. I have tried it before and it did not work out well.

            Though my friendships have some aspects of utility – rides to and from the train station in Galesburg or borrowing textbooks - we just do not depend on each other for when we need something. For that to be the case I would only talk to them when I was in need of something they could offer me. Instead I spend hours at meals talking to them, call to make sure they made it home for break, and plan to go to movie premieres with one another. Friendships based on just benefit do not do things like that. We do it because we enjoy one another’s company.

            The one friendship I can see reaching the level of virtue is the one with my boyfriend. I believe for that to happen we would have to know that we will always be able to take care of the other. I do not know how that can be but I think we are on the right road for it to happen. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Nothing is as It Seems

          While working for the Communication and Theatre Departments my sophomore year Janeve West came back with a box of props from her Children’s Theatre Class. While looking through the box I was wondering why she had such random items; a stick, bandanas, and others things I that did not make since for her class. When I questioned why she had those things she said for a kid nothing is as it seems. For example, the previously mentioned stick is a wand, a sword, or anything a child could create. It is as a child the Law of Creativity is most dominant because the rules of the world do not apply.  

            I definitely remember using the law of creativity as a child. Whether it was for fun or trying to accomplish a task nothing for me was as it seemed, and if need be anything could turn into something else. I turned my Barbie Airplane into a car – after I forgot where I parked her Volkswagen Beetle – turned the Dream House into a hotel, and used a meter stick as a duster to get passed a spider web. As a child my only limitation to play time and work was my own imagination, and I had plenty of creativity.

            As I grew up the creativity began to decrease as the years went on. I did not have to think outside the box as much to solve school work, get to school, or any day-to-day activity in my adult life. However, like most things in my life when the opportunity presents itself what I need to display will come out. Normally creativity comes when I am baby sitting or interacting with people younger than me. Over many of my vacations my cousins come over for some weekends and keeping them entertained can be difficult. I do not like them to sit in the house watching television all day but paying for activities can get expensive. By putting our heads together we can come up with some fun things to do. We have gone to the park to blow bubbles, created door hangers, and played with Frisbees. It is a fun time when I am with them, and it solves the problem of entertaining them. Tapping into my creative side with younger people around is easier than trying to use it every day, but better than losing it completely.

            A superhero I believe utilizes the law of creativity is Captain America. In the film, Steve Rogers always used something around him as a shield. A garbage can lid, a taxi door and that eventually lead him to having a shield in his official costume. It also was not used as just a shield to block bullets. He used it to punch enemies, threw it as a boomerang to disarm or knock out his enemies. It essentially became an extension of his personality. He wanted to defend his country and allies so he used the most defensive weapon known to man as his symbol. It is very creative.