Open Topic - Reflection #9

For this weeks open topic, I decided to reflect on the upcoming superhero movie, The Avengers. More specifically, I wanted to discuss some of the foreseeable problems some of the superheroes/characters might have when they are forced to work together in order to save the world. Each character on the team has some sort of flaw that will effect the team's overall ability.


Iron Man
Iron Man is sort of a complex character. Born average, he grew up into a super genius who develops a highly advanced suit that gives him the ability to fly, protects himself, and gives him advantages in combat. Although his "powers" seem perfect and controllable, the character behind Iron Man is far from that. Tony Stark is, deep down, a very arrogant, controlling, and selfish individual. He strives on attention and attempts to show off at any possible moment. This will be a huge issue for the team, especially if the task cannot be handled by one man. Tony has never had the experience of sharing the glory and working with others, so that will be an issue he has to face in the film. After pushing through these issues, I see Iron Man being one of the main leader figures.

Thor
Thor's character had a bumpy development throughout his film. First he was a show-off, battle-ready, power-hungry son of a god, then very soon learned that his previous characteristics caused him to be banished from his home. In order to gain his powers back, he was forced to prove himself worthy and change his attitude about life. This development will help the team in the long run, because they won't have to focus on teaching Thor to be a "team player". Thor will be ready to make the morally sound choice for the betterment of the team. His father was able to show him that fighting isn't always the right thing to do, but there are times when it is necessary. I feel this characteristic will show through in the new film.

Captain America
Captain America is going to have a much different experience working on the team compared to the other members. This is because he has a disadvantage that none of the other characters face: culture shock. Captain America is nearly perfect in his character's morality and control of powers. He gained his powers because of his personality, and he excels at every heroic task handed to him. The only problem he will face in the new film is the culture shock. Being asleep for 70 years, things in society have changed dramatically. Some stories tell that people who face a massive culture change often go into shock and turn "crazy". Although I don't think this would ever happen in the movie, the fact that Captain America is in a foreign time will certainly prove to be a drawback. However his personality and powers will certainly be positive for the team.

My lack of knowledge of the other characters of the team prevented me from commenting on their contribution and the problems they might face. Hulk will probably experience anger issues and troubles coping with the team members. As for Green Hornet, I have no previous knowledge of the character, so will be unable to comment on him.


Overall, the movie should be filled with character development, plot twists, and plenty of action.

Real-life Heroes - Reflection #8

When I think about a superhero costume, I think primarily about utility. A costume should not only look "decent," but it should have some functionality, otherwise it seems mundane. With this being said, here are my responses regarding the reflection.

1.  I would construct my costume out of something strong, but lightweight as well. A Kevlar vest would be ideal for protect, as it is rather lightweight for it's strength. Underneath the vest, I would probably wear spandex, or some similar type of material. It doesn't seem very protective, but it is lightweight and skin-tight, so it won't be loose and in the way during running or fighting. I would also probably wear some type of leather (or other strong material) gloves, some elbow and knee padding, and some running shoes. Along with the costume, I would also have some sort of utility belt, much like batman, so that I am ready for any situation. The belt could include weapons like pepper spray, a pocket knife, a taser gun, and possible a real gun, if the law permits (carried/concealed license). I would probably also sport a mask, as the identity of a superhero should always be preserved, to protect loved ones. I would not want my adversaries to know my true identity and possible meddle with my real life. 
   
   
2. There are not very many visible homeless people in my home town, so it would be more useful for me to deter crime. I'm not very familiar with the crime rate of my hometown, but it is a rather large city, so I would assume that there would be enough, if not more crime than I can handle. If this was the case, I would advocate for more people to join me as superheroes to keep the town and it's citizens safe. 
   
   
3. The hero I relate to most from the Superhero documentary is Zimmer. I relate to them because of what he and his team stands for, and what they do for the community. Everyone should be proud of who they are, and I feel this is the key idea Zimmer portrays. He doesn't hide from his sexuality, and in fact uses it to his advantage, along with the skills he learns for aiding physical harm. At night, he and his team patrol the streets looking for crime, and in one case, end up giving first aid to a man who was a part of a hit-and-run. This team, most notably Zimmer, seems to have good morals and work for a good cause, which is why I feel I relate to them most. As a superhero, I would be sure to fight for the right causes, and protect the people from harm.

Mutations - Reflection #7

When I imagine having internal vs. external powers, I see two completely different things. When imagining having a power like Storm, I see more happiness inside. There is a feeling of joy that I don't see when imagining having a power like Beast or Rogue. When I imagine having a power like Rogue, I feel a lot of bitterness and resentment toward my power due to not being viewed as "normal" by the general public. I stand out in a crowd, in a bad way, which I view negatively. As far as similarities, in both imaginations, I feel powerful and helpful. With either power, I feel like I can do some good for the world. As far as relating it to groups in "real-life" society, I can see two different relations. Looking at the internal/external powers as a whole, I can see them relating to a police force, FBI agents, Firefighters, etc. The fact that they can use their powers for good, makes me see them as groups in our society that out for the greater-good of mankind. However, if I look at the two powers separately, I can see some differences. When thinking about having external powers, I still view them as being good and trying to help people overall, however I see them more as people view handicapped people today. No matter how much we should not judge others, whenever people see handicapped individuals, they usually don't look past their disability, but rather feel sorry for that individual. If I were to have external powers, I feel that I would be viewed like a handicapped person - not necessarily felt sorry for, but viewed differently and judged, because I am different than the majority of society. 

X-Men comics, TV shows, and films might help groups or individuals find their place in society because the stories told in those mediums express one key thing: that it is okay to be different. That message isn't expressed enough in real-life society, and so individuals don't understand that being different just means you are unique and your own individual. X-Men stories do a great job of expressing this idea because that is basically the very idea of X-Men. It is a group of unique people who don't know their place in the world, and don't know whether to accept themselves as mutants. They work together and learn together to understand their place and how they can help society with their special abilities.

I would relate most to Cyclops. I am a very serious person, and take things I do very seriously, much like Cyclops. However, I do have a soft side, and take things to heart, much like Cyclops. If I were to have mutant powers, regardless of whether they were internal or external, I would not seek for a cure. The mutant powers would be an extension of who I am as a person. Everybody should strive to be their own individual and to be unique in their own way. If I were to have mutant powers, that would be what makes me different from everyone else, and that would define who I am as a person. Rather than hiding my mutations, I would use them to my, and society's, advantage. I would be sure that I was trying to make a difference in society by using my uniqueness.