When one looks at superhero franchises like Superman and X-Men, or fantasy works like Harry Potter, the common characteristic is the existence of a super-human class with genetic and innate traits that make them superior to regular humans. In all of these works of fiction, humans are at the complete mercy of these Ubermensch to save us because we are too weak to do it ourselves. And what's more, human attempts to level the playing field with technology are generally rendered ineffective because most superheroes and supervillains are conveniently immune to human weapons.
How can works of fiction that exist primarily to celebrate the innate superiority of one group of persons over the rest of humanity be so popular? What does this say about us? In the 19th century, some intellectuals subscribed to the flawed theory that the bulk of human progress could be attributed to the efforts a small number of "super men" through history. This worldview is related to eugenics, Social Darwinism, Randian thought, and all kinds of other superiority theories. I don't consider that crap to be much different than superhero worship.
There are no super men. Although there have been standout examples of great people through history, all of them were assisted in innumerable ways by other people. Human progress is the product of human collaboration, and not the product of a few.
The only superheroes I can abide are those who gain their powers through technology, such as Batman and Ironman. Screw Superman.
- A proud Muggle and Non-Mutant
How can works of fiction that exist primarily to celebrate the innate superiority of one group of persons over the rest of humanity be so popular? What does this say about us? In the 19th century, some intellectuals subscribed to the flawed theory that the bulk of human progress could be attributed to the efforts a small number of "super men" through history. This worldview is related to eugenics, Social Darwinism, Randian thought, and all kinds of other superiority theories. I don't consider that crap to be much different than superhero worship.
There are no super men. Although there have been standout examples of great people through history, all of them were assisted in innumerable ways by other people. Human progress is the product of human collaboration, and not the product of a few.
The only superheroes I can abide are those who gain their powers through technology, such as Batman and Ironman. Screw Superman.
- A proud Muggle and Non-Mutant