This is a comment by J.G. te Molder and Lori Ann on the post “Confronting the Superhero Myth“.
J.G. te Molder said:
“One should notice a recurring theme in all heroes, super or not: they are appliances, they are disposable, they are useful tools and no more. Superman is merely more durable than the rest.
“And the hero, the super hero, is the ultimate societal male ideal, it’s what society demands of men: to appliances, robots, tools that does their bidding and goes to die when convenient.
“Since the dawn of time, this is what men have been socialized to be, not just with their parents, but with stories, myths and legends.”
Lori Ann added:
“It’s as if culturally the western world modern man and woman have lost touch with the heart-felt inner call of hero and heroine. And that doesn’t mean to be strong all the time. It can be heroic to cry, when crying is called for; heroic to take charge when that is needed. There is so much distortion around manhood today, and what is clearly emerging is a consensual drive among both men and women to discover the inherent goodness, strengths and qualities of a masculine and feminine expression sourced in wholeness.”
Photo credit: Flickr / TimothyJ