(This post was originally posted to the SuperHERo Tales blog.)
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| illustration by Samuel Dixon for "SuperHERo Tales: A Collection of Female Superhero Stories (Volume 2)" |
Superhero stories give us something to believe in. There are 4,200 recorded religions in the world. People with no religious affiliation now make up the third-largest group in the world. Whether you hold a religious belief or not, most people have a set of morals that they adhere to. Superheroes are known for standing up for what is right. They give us someone to look up to.
Superhero stories give us hope. The world is changing fast, and people are becoming more cynical every day. When we can't trust our politicians and leaders, who can we trust? The news shows us every day that there are people in the world who do awful things. But superhero stories show us that there can be good people in the world too, and that the world and the people in it are worth fighting for.
Superhero stories are inspirational. They give us ideas and the urge to do better. Their stories inspire us to make our own lives into something more worthwhile. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word "inspiration" means "something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone." Superheroes do this for us.
Superhero stories are aspirational. According to the Oxford dictionary, the word "aspiration" (in this context) means "a hope or ambition of achieving something." Superhero stories make us want to achieve more, for ourselves and for the world.
Superhero stories let us see our potential for positive change within ourselves. Superheroes struggle too, maybe not in the same ways that normal humans do, but making the right choices can be just as difficult for them as it can be for your every day non-super-powered person. We get to see the journey they take as they become a superhero, and we get to see how they change for the better throughout that journey. Superhero stories show us that, despite being difficult, it is always worth doing the right thing.
Superhero stories let us see our potential for positive change within the world. Comic book superheroes have changed over the years to reflect the changes in society. But one thing most of these superheroes have in common is the desire to make the world a better place, a safer place for the people in it. For us, this can mean working towards more equality in the workplace, fighting towards more environmentally-friendly corporate policies, or helping feed the homeless. The world is constantly changing and superhero stories show us that, sometimes, it's up to us to make sure that those changes are for the better.
Superhero stories bring light to a sometimes dark world. One thing that superhero stories tend to have in common is that good always wins out over evil in the end. The villains get their comeuppance and the hero saves the person they love and the world. No matter how dark the superheroes story gets, it will brighten by the time the story wraps up.
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Give-away
One signed-up member of the challenge who comments on this post will win a Catwoman Bendable Figure. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator on April 30th, 2017. (If the figure becomes unavailable, another superhero may be substituted.)
I missed this post! Superheros are great, though I haven't tried writing a superhero story before.
ReplyDeleteFrom the early days humans have told stories of quests, of battling gods and monsters, of the ordinary person becoming extraordinary. It's a part of the human experience. We want to know that we are not alone (regardless of our spiritual beliefs). Some people dream of the day they would develop powers so that they could stop someone hurting them. Some dream of being rescued by someone that will also mete out appropriate justice.
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