Thanks for this thoughtful article which connects up a bit with what ive been writing about our cultural superheroes. Elvis partly modelled himself on Captain Marvel Jr. Im also not a huge fan of the self esteem movement. But sometimes the drive to be a hero is trauma based and hides an extreme lack of self esteem - despite what it looks like. Some of our greatest superheroes have broken down because of this thorn in their side.
Thank you for your comment! It’s interesting you mention Elvis & Captain Marvel Jr. I used to use that very example in a lecture on the effects of media violence. You are quite right that a hero complex can be a consequence of low self-esteem of course. In fact, it’s a nice question what the right or appropriate level might be!
Really interesting and introspective letter this week. I found this piece provocative that it's making me think about heroes and their roles. I think that you are mostly right about the new kind of heroes. I do think there is a danger in heroes/role models because they suggest archetypes and usually hide the person's flaws. One of the interesting things about Luke and other such fictional heroes is that they failed, that they have bad impulses, perhaps, that they considered being evil.
I tend to argue that we should have more accurate representations of people and recognize that no one is all "good" or all "bad." Thus, when thinking about certain heroes we should also emphasize their flaws. It seems that heroes that start at the destination have even fewer flaws.
More profoundly, I suppose, I am a little worried about role models bc they imply that there is a stationary set definition of what is good rather than an evolving one. When I taught I did not want to be a model of what students should aspire to be. Rather, I wanted to be the flawed individual that I am. An individual who hopefully makes some good choices and has some good traits, and an individual who makes mistakes, does some tasks poorly, and that is surely wrong about a lot of stuff he thinks he is right about. However, I suspect you could think of heroes as tools and as the zeitgeist changes society creates new one that reflect the new views.
Your discussion of Jung made me think that these myths may be necessary. If memory serves right Nietzsche also argues that they can be useful for society. I think myths can be healthy and important... I ask myself whether there is a difference between myths that are taken to be real or myths that are valued but that they are recognized as myths.
Thank you for all your thoughtful comments, as ever! I’ll get back to you once I’ve had a chance to mull them over some more… Meanwhile, have an excellent weekend!
Thanks for this thoughtful article which connects up a bit with what ive been writing about our cultural superheroes. Elvis partly modelled himself on Captain Marvel Jr. Im also not a huge fan of the self esteem movement. But sometimes the drive to be a hero is trauma based and hides an extreme lack of self esteem - despite what it looks like. Some of our greatest superheroes have broken down because of this thorn in their side.
Thank you for your comment! It’s interesting you mention Elvis & Captain Marvel Jr. I used to use that very example in a lecture on the effects of media violence. You are quite right that a hero complex can be a consequence of low self-esteem of course. In fact, it’s a nice question what the right or appropriate level might be!
Yes exactly. Its great to be a bit driven. As long as you can stop once in a while. As long as you can be un-driven when the situation demands it. 😀
Really interesting and introspective letter this week. I found this piece provocative that it's making me think about heroes and their roles. I think that you are mostly right about the new kind of heroes. I do think there is a danger in heroes/role models because they suggest archetypes and usually hide the person's flaws. One of the interesting things about Luke and other such fictional heroes is that they failed, that they have bad impulses, perhaps, that they considered being evil.
I tend to argue that we should have more accurate representations of people and recognize that no one is all "good" or all "bad." Thus, when thinking about certain heroes we should also emphasize their flaws. It seems that heroes that start at the destination have even fewer flaws.
More profoundly, I suppose, I am a little worried about role models bc they imply that there is a stationary set definition of what is good rather than an evolving one. When I taught I did not want to be a model of what students should aspire to be. Rather, I wanted to be the flawed individual that I am. An individual who hopefully makes some good choices and has some good traits, and an individual who makes mistakes, does some tasks poorly, and that is surely wrong about a lot of stuff he thinks he is right about. However, I suspect you could think of heroes as tools and as the zeitgeist changes society creates new one that reflect the new views.
Your discussion of Jung made me think that these myths may be necessary. If memory serves right Nietzsche also argues that they can be useful for society. I think myths can be healthy and important... I ask myself whether there is a difference between myths that are taken to be real or myths that are valued but that they are recognized as myths.
Thank you for all your thoughtful comments, as ever! I’ll get back to you once I’ve had a chance to mull them over some more… Meanwhile, have an excellent weekend!