Comments on: A New American Mythology

By: cretts

cretts — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:43:48 +0000

Hey, sorry about the lateness of my reply re: the connection between the superhero myth and the demonization of American Indians (Mission and Menace 35-37), and the glorification of figures like John Brown (118-122). If you’re still interested.

By: aaronhuffman

aaronhuffman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:35:04 +0000

I also enjoyed this post. Since I was little I have loved the superhero genre. I agree with creets about how Jesus’ story is unlike the common superhero story. I also loved the Dark Knight and all the story was trying to point to.

However, I feel a different superhero might connect more to the Christian faith than that of a Batman, Superman, or Spider-man. That superhero is a group of individuals called the X-Men. I love this story because they group is a part of the marginalized people, called mutants, and that the group is only strongest when they work together as a team. Another connection is that the X-Men are striving to bring peace between humans and mutants; which means they must fight against both mutant and human to find peace. As Christians we are only strong when we all work together as the body of Christ. We are also the bringers of peace and have to bring light not only to the outsiders but sometimes to the insiders who have fallen away.

Anyways great post and bring more like it. I also want the Dark Knight to get an Oscar!

By: kellydd

kellydd — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:25:52 +0000

Where did you find the earlier connection Jewett made? I see the point about the dark parts and violence. I think that is what Jewett was getting at in the quote I took from his book but didn’t really have time to completely go into it.

I also like your addition to the contrast of Jesus and the superhero myth- Jesus’ loss is the difference. I think we did see allusions to that in The Dark Knight- as Batman chooses to lose in a way in the end, a death of reputation.

The Dark Knight is my favorite movie this year as well. I’m hoping for an Oscar nod!

By: cretts

cretts — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:02:56 +0000

Sweet post. I love movies too. The Dark Knight was absolutely my favorite movie this year, thus far. I think it’s worth noting, too, that one of the most profound differences between the story of Jesus and the hero myth, is how the catharsis (resolution, victory, etc.) is brought about in each story. In the story of Jesus, there is this sacrifice. He in effect, loses, against his Roman and Jewish capters allowing himself to be brutally murdered by them. I’d like to see a superhero movie end that way! (of course, the reason we have hope is that we believe Jesus’ story didn’t end that way either, but it serves the point).

Earlier in the book Jewett makes a strong connection between the superhero myth, and to fairly dark parts of our nation’s history, such as our demonization of the American Indian, and our lauding of figures who employ sacrificial violence such as John Brown. The success of the super hero myth in our culture, should say more to us than simply that we like a certain genre for its entertainment value, but rather that these films and stories betray deeply held ethoses, that resonant very strongly for us as Americans, and which have very real implication for our public and foreign policies.

As an aside, I thought the Dark Knight was nearing a subversive myth in this arena. Very interesting that Batman refuses to kill anyone, and though I won’t give anything away, I think the final scene between the two ferries, is a very strong comment on the myth of sacrificial violence.