An argument is making its way around the internets and in particular circles right now, including movie critics and various writers of fiction. A growing number of people are concerned that the American superhero has died. Superhuman men and women still carry the weight of comics and feature-length films, but these characters aren’t as pristine as the world-saving people of the past. Superhuman abilities remain, but the moral fiber that also set these individuals aside is crumbling.
This is good social commentary.
In speaking and writing classes- communication in general, instructors insist that the most believable and therefore influential people are so because they make an effort to be just like everyone else. They let their humanity show. CEOs, political figures and religious leaders allow their audiences to see that they struggle just like every other person who ever existed. An understanding that the president yelps out a couple of four-letter words when he stubs his toe functions as a consolation to your average man. In the past, this was because we wanted to believe that we were capable of being a political leader, a millionaire or even a hero. We desire some sort of affirmation that even though most of us suck at life, we’re not disqualified from being able to save the day. Any artist, speaker or writer who can get their audience to believe this will likely have a solid hold on said group’s attention.
Back to killing our superheroes- Morphing Batman into a brooding, vengeful person with mixed motivations not only increases the masked man’s credibility, but removes an example and a standard of behavior. If he sleeps around and can still bust criminals’ faces open, then we can too. This removes any moral requisite for awesomeness.
Speaking as a Christian, I can say that we’ve all been subjected to an overly righteous person and their insufferable personality. The general response to most of these individuals is a lack of credibility. We find ourselves thinking, “Nobody’s that holy. Therefore, I will not listen to a word they say.”
We rely on humility to combat this attitude and earn the trust of the masses. Pastors, musicians and Christian writers let their humanity show to get potential audiences to let their guard down. But more and more, I’m seeing people go too far down this path. Men like Donald Miller (who I greatly appreciate) spiritualize self-deprecating statements and humor, pretending that this kind of behavior is actually some sort of humility.
Batman and Donald Miller become silly or offensive after a point, even if they are trying to help me relate to them. Some sins aren’t intended for public consumption (I dare say, most of them). If the Dark Knight has syphilis, or a harem of women he’s seduced, he becomes not less believable, but no longer a hero. As a fan or follower of sorts, I’d fall into disenchantment. When that happens, the time comes for a new hero- somebody who isn’t a tool. Or worse, I stop believing in heroes and men whose lives should be followed. But the supposed (in this case, fictional) admissions of these men were intended to gain my trust. See how that failed?
I want to believe I can do something great. That belief becomes more powerful when I don’t have to be perfect in order to achieve whatever goals I have. Lowering any standards I’d encounter along the way, reducing the loftiness of my goal might make it more attainable, but at the same time, less desirable. Tainted goals don’t sound exactly great, so we’ll try to keep them lofty and hope to rise to the challenge.
AHA! Conversation! I think there’s a balance to this thought process. People become so proud in their own righteousness but alas “our righteousness is as filthy rags”. No one is good, no not one. Which increases our dependence on the true hero, the true Archetype which is Christ.
Here’s the balance for me. When I used to see a flaw in myself I would hate myself, beat myself up (figuratively), call myself names (literally). If I felt I had sinned or missed a standard I would lie face down on the floor in despair crying “Oh, God why would you ever choose an awful piece of dirt sinner like me.” Barrelling headlong into depression.
But I’ve had to come to the realization that God knew I had flaws, sins, shortcomings. He knew I would fail when He saved me. So I’ve come to accept myself the way He accepts me, warts and all. Does that mean letting my cracks show? Only if it helps someone else out of that pit of despair that I had thrown myself headlong into.
Sorry about that wall of text, but It’s an intriguing balance in my opinion.
but I hope that didn’t came across as blatantly disagreeing with you. Because you are right. We need heroes, we need an ideal. Humanity/humility is part of that ideal.
David,
I think you’re right, but I still think that people are compromising, over-sharing or even exaggerating their sin for the sake of “credibility”. Recently, I think we’ve gone too far down that path to the point that standards mean less- for those who compare themselves to others, which is an unfortunate majority of Christians. Balance is completely necessary, but we’re prone to imbalance– throwing our effort too far one direction or the other. It’s difficult, but I want to believe that with the help of Christ, I CAN be holy, reverent, not disgusting, etc.
Funny, my last manuscript is a story of the Roman soldier at the cross of Christ who ends up guiding the tribes of Israel to the new promise land. The point is that he is a hero with super natural powers from the blood of Christ and struggles with his free will and moral responsibilities… but he makes the right choices and even when he makes the wrong ones, it’s for the right reasons.
I’m with you. We need heroes. God makes heroes, the Bible is full of them, people that do the hard thing against all odds… It’s what made this country…
I’m with you, Jake; I’m looking for a hero and hope if it turns my way God will make us strong for the task.
Thanks Floyd! We DO need heroes. I don’t expect them to be perfect, but I also anticipate that they will be better at avoiding addiction, restraining their sexual desires, not swearing etc. than the average person. Truthfully, we all benefit from having someone like that in our lives.