superheroes game
4/14/2019 Why the world needs superheroes
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Autor
Liam Burke Senior Media Studies Lecturer, Swinburne University of Technology
Rigor académico, oficio periodístico
Why the world needs superheroes 1 diciembre 2016 03:03 CET
Superheroes were born in the United States in the late 1930s as a four-colour rebuttal
to the misery of the Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe. Today, superheroes
are no longer confined to America, or even the comic book page. From Marvel movies
to convention cosplay, superheroes have never enjoyed greater visibility.
Earlier this year, for instance, parts of Sydney were shut down as the Make-a-Wish
Foundation and NSW police worked together to help nine-year-old Domenic Pace
become Iron Boy. After rescuing a “kidnapped” reporter and facing down baddies on
the steps of the Sydney Opera House, Pace was awarded a Commissioner’s Award for
Gallantry before a cheering crowd.
In anticipation of the upcoming Superhero Identities Symposium in Melbourne, we interviewed 100
fans and celebrities to better understand why the world needs superheroes. We wanted to find out
what these icons mean to people, as the genre reaches heights of popularity not seen since its origins
on the comic book page.
Superheroes – and villains – are more popular than they’ve ever been. Author provided
1 diciembre 2016 03:03 CET
Why the world needs superheroes
What is a Superhero with Eka Darville, Allison Mack, and Rose MWhat is a Superhero with Eka Darville, Allison Mack, and Rose M……
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“An escape” is how superhero devotee Melanie explains their popularity. The traffic control
administrator, who is also president of Australia’s longest-running Star Trek fan club, argued, “We’re
constantly bombarded with negativity in the media. These characters may be flawed, but they’re
positive people”.
As many political orthodoxies across the world seem to fall away, comic book writer Tom Taylor
agrees that these characters speak to modern anxieties:
We’re getting more and more jaded by politicians, people in power, and businesses. We want
to have an ideal that we can actually look up to, and I think that’s why everybody’s flocking
to see all these Marvel movies about people wanting to help.
Comic book characters such as Batman and Wonder Woman have been in constant publication for
more than 75 years, and they enjoy a unique cross-generational appeal. One father, who was
reluctantly brought to Oz Comic-Con by his children, described how the superhero jamboree provided
an unexpected hit of nostalgia: “It brought back a lot of memories from when I was a kid.”
For some, watching the movies isn’t enough; they want to don their favourite character’s costume
(cosplaying). As one Doctor Strange cosplayer explained, “I work in an office. I don’t get to save the
day very much”, but cosplay “allows me for a day or two, even a couple of hours, to really be that
hero”.
While it may seem niche, one Ghostbuster cosplayer argues, “It’s no different to supporting your local
football team or wearing a Hawks jersey”. While another fan who divides his attention between
superheroes and footy joked, “I love both. Talk bad about DC Comics or Carlton and you’re dead”
Harley QuinnHarley Quinn
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Following the success of Suicide Squad, many fans are gravitating towards the anarchic Harley Quinn
(whose creator Paul Dini is a special guest of the symposium). Wonder Woman artist Nicola Scott
describes the chalk-faced antihero as a “great entry point for female fans”, while one cosplayer who
arrived at Supanova as “her own version of Harley” credits the character’s troubled relationship with
the Joker for helping her recognise the “obsessive compulsive relationships that you can get into”.
Many fans point to the police and other uniformed public servants as “real world superheroes”, yet the
fantasy figures they celebrate act outside the law. Even at their most noble, superheroes are vigilantes,
while no-holds-barred crime fighters like Deadpool, Green Arrow, and Harley Quinn are, by any
standard definition, criminals.
When asked about this tension most fans struggled to justify the actions of their (anti)heroes, with
one suggesting of maladjusted Vietnam War veteran The Punisher, “It’s because he’s doing it for the
betterment of the world, that he still stays on the side of a hero”.
What many fans seem to celebrate is the ability of these heroes to transcend the limitations imposed
on us, be it gravity, social norms, or the law. From virtual reality games like Batman: Arkham VR to
convention cosplay, the industry is increasingly offering opportunities to enact this escapist fantasy.
However, while superhero fandom may be positioned as an underground culture, two of the world’s
largest entertainment conglomerates, Time Warner and The Walt Disney Company, own the majority
of superheroes. Thus, whether wearing a retro Batman T-shirt or cosplaying as a Guardian of the
Galaxy, fans are also serving as mascots and walking billboards for larger corporate interests.
On the other hand, many of the enthusiasts we spoke to see this as a mutually beneficial relationship,
parlaying their superhero interest into ambitious careers. For instance, self-described “geek musician”
Who is your Favourite Superhero with John Barrowman, Rose MWho is your Favourite Superhero with John Barrowman, Rose M……
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Superman Batman Superheroes ACMI Wonder Woman
Meri Amber has amassed a fan following writing songs with titles like My Superman and Work It Out
Like Goku.
Similarly, a fan with aspirations of becoming a TV presenter began a YouTube channel, Luka Online,
dedicated to cosplayers. Initially he hoped to “learn on the job, but it actually turned into the job that I
was aiming for”.
More altruistically, Scott Loxely of the Star Wars fan club 501st Legion raised A$100,000 for charity
by walking across Australia dressed as a Stormtrooper. Scott recognises how these fantasy figures can
bring visibility to a cause: “everyone loves a Stormtrooper”.
Despite their fantastical abilities, what many fans celebrate is the connection to their heroes’
humanity. Jessica Jones’ star Eka Darville described growing up in the Northern Rivers of Australia as
the only black kid in his school:
When we’d play Power Rangers they were like, ‘You have to be the black Power Ranger,’ but
I secretly wanted to be the red one [traditionally the leader]. So when I booked the role of
Scott Truman, Red Ranger, I was, like, ‘Yeah, vengeance is mine’.
Such diversity is necessary given the superhero’s increasingly important role as escapist fantasy,
cross-generational icon, and aspirational figure. One fan, heroically braving a Melbourne winter in a
Little Mermaid costume, articulated the feelings of many:
I think superheroes today are a symbol of hope, making yourself a better person and using
that in your everyday life.
The Superhero Identities Symposium takes place at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image
(ACMI) on 8-9 December, 2016.