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Post by nolan on Jul 17, 2006 17:58:27 GMT -5
Is it fair to assume most superhero readers are conservative? Slightly off topic anecdote: I was once at a panel at a convention -- I can't remember if it was DC or Marvel or what, but I remember that Mark Waid and Kurt Busiek were both on the panel. Anyway, it came time for question and answer, and some from the back asked (paraphrased from dim memory: "Do you think that super-hero comics reinforce conservative attitudes and about crime and punishment?" The questioner was very pleased with his question, you could tell. Funny thing was, Busiek and Waid just looked at each other and laughed. Waid countered that many of the Marvel books were filled with former villains who had reformed -- social reform being a cornerstone of liberal politics, of course. "You know I write a team book filled with reformed villains, right?" asked Busiek. So while Golden Age heroes may have benefitted from certain conservative attitudes, the more liberal attitudes have been there for a looong time. Not to mention that Superman himself was a crusader against social injustice when he got his start. I wouldn't have called the early Superman stories "conservative." Frankly, the whole superhero genre is kind of center left right now. Partially because there aren't a lot of right leaning creators. |
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Post by davidaccampo on Jul 17, 2006 18:52:11 GMT -5
I agree -- my thought was that with more left-leaning creators, the genre itself has more elements of social reform than a purely conservative vision of the super-hero. That said, I think there are plenty of both in the readership, and most of these characters tend to be somewhat apolitical -- you can see what you want to see. If I'm not mistaken, Chuck Dixon is conservative, but he always wrote some decent action stories. And what's kind of funny is for a large chunk ofthe 90's, you had Doug Moench on one Batman book and Chuck Dixon on the other -- one conservative, one liberal. Both writing the same character each month.
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Post by nolan on Jul 18, 2006 14:50:51 GMT -5
I agree -- my thought was that with more left-leaning creators, the genre itself has more elements of social reform than a purely conservative vision of the super-hero. That said, I think there are plenty of both in the readership, and most of these characters tend to be somewhat apolitical -- you can see what you want to see. If I'm not mistaken, Chuck Dixon is conservative, but he always wrote some decent action stories. And what's kind of funny is for a large chunk ofthe 90's, you had Doug Moench on one Batman book and Chuck Dixon on the other -- one conservative, one liberal. Both writing the same character each month. Superheroes are way less political then they should realistically be. Just imagine a superhero trying to stop a guy with Apollo's power crashing in to abortion clinics like the scene from Ellis's Authority and people cheering this. |
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Post by davidaccampo on Jul 18, 2006 15:34:21 GMT -5
Superheroes are way less political then they should realistically be. Just imagine a superhero trying to stop a guy with Apollo's power crashing in to abortion clinics like the scene from Ellis's Authority and people cheering this. Good point. ANd probably due in part to the fact that they are rooted in adolescent power fantasy -- something on a small, personal scale, and not really concerned with larger political ramifications. That element was brought in in different eras (from punching Hitler to more modern deconstructionist approaching), but I wouldn't say it's inherent in the basic fantasy. |
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Post by rachelevil on Jul 19, 2006 16:51:32 GMT -5
Neither of them are on my side right now.
I'm registered as a democrat, because they repulse me less, and so I can vote in primaries.
I'm socially very far left, and not very likely to be much concerned with economical matters.
And, for what it's worth, I read superhero comics, and have done so for quite some time. I also read Vertigo comics and indie comics, as well.
I think superhero comics tend to show a variety of political views, as any genre would. Captain America, for example, has pretty much always been a Roosevelt Democrat. Most X-Men books favor liberal politics very heavily. Then you have things like most of Steve Ditko's non-Marvel work. I'd say it all varies much more with the creators than anything else.
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Post by nolan on Jul 27, 2006 1:25:34 GMT -5
I'm with the democrats only because the republicans wnat saudi america.
The democrats want a less shitty world.
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Post by berlinpoe on Aug 27, 2006 17:31:24 GMT -5
Yawn.
I think I'm a true conservative...in that I want the government to stay out of my business. If I want to do drugs, sell my body for sex, have an obortion [erm...well not ME...have an obortion] want to hear a few curse words on TV. I want the government to stop telling me what video games I can have. I'm sick of the government shoving morals up my ass.
Point of my consverative comment is this: a true conservative isn't interested if two dudes wanna get married! They want as little government intervention as possible! The end of the fist rule, my friends. If it doesn't effect someone other than yourself, why is it a law?!
GIMME LEGAL POT!!!
-BP
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Post by davidaccampo on Aug 27, 2006 18:35:31 GMT -5
Yawn. I think I'm a true conservative...in that I want the government to stay out of my business. If I want to do drugs, sell my body for sex, have an obortion [erm...well not ME...have an obortion] want to hear a few curse words on TV. I want the government to stop telling me what video games I can have. I'm sick of the government shoving morals up my ass. Point of my consverative comment is this: a true conservative isn't interested if two dudes wanna get married! They want as little government intervention as possible! The end of the fist rule, my friends. If it doesn't effect someone other than yourself, why is it a law?! GIMME LEGAL POT!!! -BP Sounds like you're a Libertarian.  |
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Post by nolan on Aug 27, 2006 21:59:51 GMT -5
Yawn. I think I'm a true conservative...in that I want the government to stay out of my business. If I want to do drugs, sell my body for sex, have an obortion [erm...well not ME...have an obortion] want to hear a few curse words on TV. I want the government to stop telling me what video games I can have. I'm sick of the government shoving morals up my ass. Point of my consverative comment is this: a true conservative isn't interested if two dudes wanna get married! They want as little government intervention as possible! The end of the fist rule, my friends. If it doesn't effect someone other than yourself, why is it a law?! GIMME LEGAL POT!!! -BP Sounds like you're a Libertarian. At this point, that would be more libertarian. |
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