Growing up watching the likes of Superman, going to the cinema was a method of true escapism. I could forget the bullying, my awkward appearance and lack of cape and focus completely on the image I aspired to be. The Clark Kent alter ego added that splash of fragility which was essential in keeping a true hero that side of believable.
Recently however this portal into my as yet unachieved form seems to be getting slightly twisted. Enter the anti-hero. The frankly slightly resentful, middle aged man with an addiction to pornography. If I wanted to identify with that character I would save my cinema ticket and stare in a mirror for an hour and a half. Ok I’m not that bad, yet.
I should state the anti hero should absolutely not be confused with the Tragic Hero, the character who aspires to greatness despite a fundamental flaw. [I find the notion of this irresistibly sexy, particularly with heroines!].
Back to the anti hero, yes you will laugh and be thrilled, but perhaps only through identifying with this character. It is no longer about “Wow look what he can do, I would love to be able to do that” but more so “Wow, I do that, a lot”. Surely this, although hugely entertaining and self-affirming to some degree, has to end? However, I should state that if you watch these characters and are appalled as opposed to enthralled, please share the secret to salvation with me.
Bring back those other worldly superheroes, if not for our deliverance but for our children’s. Seeing Superman fly I dare say gave me the inner strength to aspire, to hope, to dream and build a reserve of true positivity which, although not enabling me to spawn wings or gain super human strength, helped me through some pretty unpleasant situations. I shudder what kids these days would do if faced with a difficult situation, “What would my anti hero do? Ok I’ll have a beer with my friends, go to a strip club and smoke a joint”. Ok you do that, and when the situation goes completely out of control don’t say I didn’t tell you to put on your cape or at least wish you had one.
My cape doesn’t work. In fact, my cape barely fits. But it is my only source of hope, my aspiration and my saviour. Ok so my self-depreciating humour is a testament that I secretly adore the antihero, but will I ever admit it? No. Apart from here.
Has this erosive movement begun to instil itself everywhere? Surely its various strata can be seen in places such as current media, in which hapless celebrities are “celebrated” despite behaving appallingly. So bring back the superfast, super strong, irresistible types I fell in love with – because frankly with the [anti]heroes of today, we are surely doomed, aren’t we?
Recently however this portal into my as yet unachieved form seems to be getting slightly twisted. Enter the anti-hero. The frankly slightly resentful, middle aged man with an addiction to pornography. If I wanted to identify with that character I would save my cinema ticket and stare in a mirror for an hour and a half. Ok I’m not that bad, yet.
I should state the anti hero should absolutely not be confused with the Tragic Hero, the character who aspires to greatness despite a fundamental flaw. [I find the notion of this irresistibly sexy, particularly with heroines!].
Back to the anti hero, yes you will laugh and be thrilled, but perhaps only through identifying with this character. It is no longer about “Wow look what he can do, I would love to be able to do that” but more so “Wow, I do that, a lot”. Surely this, although hugely entertaining and self-affirming to some degree, has to end? However, I should state that if you watch these characters and are appalled as opposed to enthralled, please share the secret to salvation with me.
Bring back those other worldly superheroes, if not for our deliverance but for our children’s. Seeing Superman fly I dare say gave me the inner strength to aspire, to hope, to dream and build a reserve of true positivity which, although not enabling me to spawn wings or gain super human strength, helped me through some pretty unpleasant situations. I shudder what kids these days would do if faced with a difficult situation, “What would my anti hero do? Ok I’ll have a beer with my friends, go to a strip club and smoke a joint”. Ok you do that, and when the situation goes completely out of control don’t say I didn’t tell you to put on your cape or at least wish you had one.
My cape doesn’t work. In fact, my cape barely fits. But it is my only source of hope, my aspiration and my saviour. Ok so my self-depreciating humour is a testament that I secretly adore the antihero, but will I ever admit it? No. Apart from here.
Has this erosive movement begun to instil itself everywhere? Surely its various strata can be seen in places such as current media, in which hapless celebrities are “celebrated” despite behaving appallingly. So bring back the superfast, super strong, irresistible types I fell in love with – because frankly with the [anti]heroes of today, we are surely doomed, aren’t we?
Thunder Cats did it for me mate. I'm still singing the theme tune when I get into a difficult situation. "Thunder thunder thunder cats"
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