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.