He's Returned? Whence?

[capri0mni]

Okay. So I've started to see the t.v. commericial for the new Superman movie: Superman Returns. And I have two reactions:

1. I didn't know he ever left!

and:

2. My! laying the religious Christian symbolism on a bit thick, aren't we, lads? (The commerical opens with Superman hovering above the Earth, in an apparent tance, while we hear the voice of people calling out for help. Then, he wakes up at the last minute and dives down to Earth to save them).

#2 strikes me as ironic, at the very least, since I'm under the impression that the original Superman comic was created by a pair of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany (But I could be mistaken).

Also, on a completely differennt note: This morning I dreamt that I disappeared from existance for 11 hours. I wasn't kidnapped by aliens, and I didn't get trapped in a time loop; I simply ceased to exist. And then I was back, and the dream was about everyone (and me) trying to figure out what happened, and why. ...It may have been someone out to get me, or us. I don't remember if we ever figured it out that far. But "Rock-a-bye, baby, in a tree top" was part of it, and the mechanics of hanging a cradle from the upper branches of an oak tree.

Yes. I have wierd dreams.

I've also been sleepy all day today. I may go to bed early.

Comments

[pedanther]

He's Returned? Whence?

I am given to understand that, in the movie, he's been off helping other planets or something for a few years, and that's what he's returning from.

But of course we all know that really what he's returning from is the limbo he's been in since Superman II was released in 1981.


#2 strikes me as ironic, at the very least, since I'm under the impression that the original Superman comic was created by a pair of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany (But I could be mistaken).

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were both born in North America, years before the Nazis came to power - but, yes, Jewish immigrant families. It's been remarked before that Superman's story is very much that of the immigrant coming from the old world to start a new life in America.

A less ironic way of looking at it is that Superman and Jesus both draw from a common well of mythical symbolism that is older than both of them.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Superman and Jesus both draw from a common well of mythical symbolism that is older than both of them.

This is true. But, really, how deeply into that well do you think the makers of this movie, its advertising, and the audience they're pitching to, are lowering their bucket?

...What? Nah, I'm not saying 21st century American culture is shallow, not at all!!

[scarfman]

1. At the beginning of Superman Returns, I hear, Superman has just been on a sabbatical of five years. I think the title also is meant to evoke second-film-ness, since the second Batman film was titled Batman Returns, and since this film is set after Superman and is meant to replace Superman II.

Well, you asked.

2. If you think that trailer has overt Christian overtones, you ought to have seen the first one. Its soundtrack is Marlon (Jor-El) Brando's dialog from Superman that goes something like, "They could be a great people, Kal-El. They need only to be shown the way. It is for this reason - their capacity for good - that I have sent them you, my only son." And it has Williams' Krypton fanfare behind it. I'm not a devout Christian, but I'm a devout Supermanian, and that trailer moves me to tears.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

heh. Well, Nietzsche may not be rolling over in his grave, but I bet he's at least rolling his eyes...

[scarfman]

I'm sure. I read that the creators of the character pretty much did it to thumb their noses at Neitzsche.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

I've read that the Nazis did use Nietzsche to justify their "Supior race" thinking, but to be fair to Friedrich, through, they twisted what he really meant into knots.

He's still far from my favorite philosopher, though (I'm a Lao Tzu fan, myself).

[barbarafett.livejournal.com]

You're right about the creators being Jewish immigrants. For an extremely detailed account of the creation and history of Superman, go here: http://www.monitorduty.com/mdarchives/2005/09/kistlers_profil.shtml

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

okay. Thanks!