ENG365H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Superman Iii, Wish Fulfillment, Escapism
Document Summary
Superman as way for creators to take on hopelessness of period. Wish fulfillment, imagining heroes who would have saved lives of oppressed. Siegel control and empowerment that murder of his father robbed him of, thru. Missing father figure, calling for invention of new one. American brand of individualism, action rather than words. Superman and the golem comic books and jewish identity. Preserving anxieties to what you"re escaping to not from. Connection to moses -> jesus both sent out as babies to save world. Superman sent from krypton in cradle rocket moses sent down nile in cradle. Sacrifice parents make so child prospers locals taking them as own. Superman taking on americanized name, clark kent -> famous american actors names, both symbols of american manhood and masculinity, gentile. Superman"s kryptonian name has hebrew sound to it voice of god. Becomes typical american symbol of normalcy, literal center of nation. Only a jew would pick a name like that for himself (585)
