The Superhero Conundrum
Recently I saw the new Batman movie, the Matt Reeves version of Batman. It is probably my fifth version of the Batman interpretation, including the cartoon series and the TV show in childhood (I have not seen the Michael Keaton one). Five is a lot of interpretation for one fictional character! The common theme has always been him fighting the bad guys; however, the bad guy’s methods and interpretations have changed over the years. The villains have gotten greyer to a point that, you understand that their intentions are not wrong, but their methods are incorrect. Even Thanos in the Marvel Universe wanted to restore balance since there was a fight for resources. C’mon!!!
We have more superhero movies than ever before. And most of this generation is inclined towards one superhero or the other. The one that appeals to their feelings and emotions. We like to see that there is someone who is fighting against wrong and, that too with such style. A particular quote in the book Atlas Shrugged resonates,
“Have you ever felt the longing for someone you could admire? For something, not to look down at, but up to?”
However in our case, this character is an external person in whom we project the values of goodness and morals. In a way, it also dissolves us of our responsibility to the situation around us.
Why? We seem to think that the world is black or white as we have learnt in our childhood stories. However, the world is painted fully in shades of grey and, I am sure none of us even make it to the white spectrum anymore.
So when I appreciate the good guy on screen leading the tough life and, leave it at that. I come back and am back to the grind, staring down on someone who throws garbage on the street, talking down to the waiter at the restaurant or the guy who delivered my food late, sending out the forwarded messages that preach what and how life must be lived. I absolve myself of taking action! Why? Because, I outsourced my good doing emotions on to a fictional character and burdening him/her to clean up the mess. I always see the bad in a fictional city or somewhere in the west, but I will not clear up the fog to see the mess around. The unconsciousness nature of our actions and habits are breeding grounds for callousness and, agendas. We do not have to kick the bad guys, or take up arms, or even carry out rallies. We just have to be observant what the society needs and if my actions can fulfill it in a small way. With this I would conclude with a though which has probably stayed with me from yet another Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises.
“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
