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Roles and characteristics of a traditional american hero
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I fully accept that I am a geek when it comes to the Marvel superhero comics. I could not help but note that after watching Captain America, my favorite from the Avenger’s series, I noticed Chris Evans capitalized on the classic iconic American Hero. Typically when we hear superhero we think of a man that begins with Bat, Spider or Super. Yet none of these men fully embody the American icon of comic heroism. While using a narrative paradigm and Bourke I will examine our icon in comparison to a Norwegian Viking through a postmodern lens. Comparing these two icons may seem as an odd comparison, however their similarity might shed light into who the American hero really is.
Our Superhero Icon
[See attached image of Captain America]
Without including the movie, or the comics, let us examine the visual imagery of Captain America. In specifically examining the picture included in this text we will see a very strong hero. His wardrobe screams fighter; as he is equipped with pockets for holding weapons, durable for fighting, and accents his very masculine stature. His getup embodies his era, WWII, and pays homage to the country he is from and represents. His costume respectfully represents America. Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America’s costume is mostly blue however; single white star on his chest respectfully represents all of the states and towards his abdomen we find vertical red and white stripes. His mask covering around his eyes and chin is all black with a white “A” on his forehead.
With arms positioned at a ready stance, as if he was staring down an opponent or ready to run he looks like a super hero. In his left hand he is holding his shield. This shield would be the most iconic accessory of his. A red stripe, white, and an...
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... cultures and hidden identities yet act as mere examples of American and European cultures.
Works Cited
Anonymous. (2011). Captain America: The First Avenger. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458339/
Captain America (Steve Rogers). (2013). Retrieved from http://marvel.com/
Universe/Captain_America_(Steve_Rogers)
City of Moorhead Hjemkomst center. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.hjemkomstcenter.com
Johnston, J. (Director & Producer). (2011). Captain America: The First Avenger. Hollywood: Paramount Films.
Lamoureux, M. (2009, March). The influence of Vikings on European culture. Retrieved from http://www.sourcinginnovation.com/archaeology/
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Stockbro, K. (2013, November 24). Interview by L. Roach. Thoughts and Views on Vikings.
USA. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.statesymbolusa.org/National_Symbols/
National_colors.htm.
" The hero within: Six archetypes we live by.
To your average white American kid, a comic book is cheap entertainment— a leisure, a novelty. Your run of the mill issue of "Superman," perhaps the most generic superhero of all, is something to be read once, maybe even merely skimmed, while in the bathroom or the doctors' office. When finished with it gets thrown away mindlessly or tossed aside to join a mounting stack of similarly abandoned stories of fantastical heroism. However in the eyes of the young Indian boy, Sherman Alexie, as depicted in his essay, "Superman and Me," a tattered comic found in a donation bin was much more than that— it was a life line.
American attribute to their culture paired with a word that denotes the lack of association with
Saving people come first, and Steve Rogers is selfless when it comes to protect innocent people. However, once he is certain everything is over and that HYDRA can't put people in harm's way, he stops being Captain America and goes back to being “just a kid from Brooklyn” – as he likes to remind it sometimes. He drops his shield which is an allegory for his duty as a soldier, a protective item, and as America's golden boy, wearing America's colors. He is a diligent soldier and a noble man, and gives up everything he built more than once for Bucky. Dropping the shield was a symbolic act that he reproduced in Civil War, when Tony Stark told him he didn't deserve
First, it is important to identify Captain America as a nonexclusive alter-ego. Isaiah Bradley, for instance, is an African American soldier who also received the Super-Serum. He later took on the role of Captain America, while still holding high moral standards. This proves Captain America is a symbol not bound by an individual, therefore not restricted by a certain demographic. Secondly, it is critical to examine virtue ethics, the moral code of Captain America, and how it can represent a whole country. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues about a person is continent, incontinent, viscous, or virtuous. A continent person knows right from wrong and usually does what is right. An incontinent person also knows right from wrong, but will easily succumb to his or her desires. A viscous person will also do what is wrong and enjoy it. A virtuous person will always do what is morally right. Using virtuousness or virtue ethics as a representation of a group is setting them up for failure, yet is advantageous for the group because they then aspire to virtuousness. To answer the initial question, Captain America is a symbol of virtue, without being constrained to a certain demographic. He or she (assuming that a female will act as Captain America eventually) serves as a moral example by which to
For many years the American Hero has filled the silver screen and wide screened television sets, along with shelves of countless bookstores. Audiences love to see the protagonist overcome great odds, defeat the forces of evil, and save the beautiful girl at the last second. The character of the American Hero however, is not a new idea. James Cooper, in the 1800’s, created the archetype of the American Hero. Natty Bumpo, also called Deerslayer, embodied many qualities of the great American Hero. Modern day heroes are simply following the example set by Cooper’s creation.
Batman is an inadequate, hardly super “hero.” Batman has all sorts of fancy trinkets and tricks, but he lacks one crucial thing. According to Encyclopedia Heroica, Batman lacks any actual powers. In order to mask his defects, he resorts to atrocities known as “Batarangs” and “Bat-Darts” that he carries around in his utility belt. In my eyes, these utilities are nothing more than crutches. What
While the Batman character grown into an international franchise, many of his fellow superhero peers have fallen by the proverbial road side. Riding on his mysterious and dark persona, he is one of the most famous fictional characters of modern times. It is a unique blend of super-hero fantasy and realism that has allowed him to be accepted by such a wide audience, and it is to the credit of his producers that they have been able to mould the character the character to fit their needs while capitalizing on the character’s essence.
Also a very important aspect that greatly describes how the Involved with society is the fact that originally was seen as a liberal. In one comic the States I'm loyal to nothing general except the dream and he is seen holding the flag in his hand. In America our rights represented along with our freedom by the flag showing that he supports the true ideals of America. The cover significant in that it relates to what was happening at that time in history. Also the captain was open and warmer character really representing the American dream. In the 1950s Captain America changed is good America. America was going to the Cold War it was on trusting even from the inside America question anyone and everyone who seemed even release it suspicion or displayed any sort of communist characteristics. During this era the captain became more conservative and aggressive and was really a communist fighting machine as was the government at the time. Catching America fights Conyers and several issues of which if you are entitled captain
Captain America. Wonder woman. Superman. Nightshade. All superheroes immortalized in graphic novels. All masked vigilantes charged with saving humankind from danger and from themselves. We perceive them as god-like creatures, ethereal beings who literally hold the power of life and death in their hands. It is what draws us to them, the idea that there is something larger than us…someone tangible and of pure intention and heart to constantly defend the rights of the persecuted and forgotten. One who would gladly give up their own lives to save ours.
Are heroes important? This is the question that Scott LaBarge, a philosophy professor at Santa Clara University, tackles in his article “Heroism: Why Heroes are Important.” He encourages teachers, parents, and students to realize that heroes are tremendously significant in society by using references to factual and historical details, personal association, and various examples of different types of heroes. LaBarge effectively uses the rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos, and kairos to convince his audience that heroes are important.
Wilhelm, Jeffrey D., et al. A Brief History of Heroes. 2004. Glencoe Literature. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009. 69-72. Print.
To conclude, the graphic novel Watchmen presents the non-fantastic representation of a superhero, implying that not all heroes are like Superman. This notion is explored within the novel by mentioning the realistic motives of the characters choosing to become superheroes, by Rorschach’s representation and through the heroic reactions of the New Yorkers to a street crime. These elements all contribute to Watchmen’s uniqueness and complexity as a superhero comic.
Captain America is not like the average superhero. Captain America, or his alter ego Steve Rogers, was a frail young man who was chosen by scientist Abraham Erskine to be tested with his experimental serum. That experimental serum made Rogers from a weak, bony young man to being to the peak of human perfection. Right after that, a Nazi spy appeared and shot Erskine, killing him. “In order to keep Nazi spies from obtaining the serum, Erskine hadn't written down the serum's ingredients, along with much of the procedure, having instead committed it to memory.” (Comic Vine) Rogers was the only super soldier manifested. Given a patriotic costume and a shield that not only is nearly indestructable but is used as a weapon, Captain America was born.
In the inky blackness, glistening lights shone bright. Making it easy to see the towering buildings of Gotham City. Overlooking the glittering city, stood the dark brooding hero known as Batman. His black, slick cape billowed with the breeze, as his alert eyes watched for trouble. His costume was charcoal gray, with his his yellow and black emblem on the top center of his chest. The emblem was of the creature of the night, the cave dweller, the bat. His cowl, just like his cape was dark black. He wears his dark yellow utility belt, it's contents have saved him more than can be counted. Now his eyes, they're cold and dark. If you were to look at his eyes, they would make you stop dead. He wore all of his attire, not just to hide his identity, but to also strike fear in the hearts of criminals.