One of the peculiarities of human consciousness observed in all eras of existence is magical thinking. This type of thinking is characterized by a tendency to believe in supernatural forces and non-human abilities of the body, primarily aimed at protecting humanity. In addition to religious elements, superheroes are examples of this type of magical thinking in the modern world. Superheroes should be understood as fictional characters in comic books, movies and TV series, books, and other information carriers of an entertaining nature who possess supernatural powers. Their powers include superspeed, immortality, immunity to all poisons, the ability to fly, physical superpowers, and any other abilities that the author’s imagination can conjure up. In particular, these powers are a reflection of human desires and exaggerated abilities (Zukoski, 2021). Typically, they allow one to fight for good against evil. Superhero is essential to contemporary media culture, creating a broad fan base around them and continuing to evolve. This essay will examine the phenomenon of superheroes in the context of society’s need for them, which means the essay will answer why superheroes remain relevant and continue to gain popularity.
The symbolic significance of superheroes seems obvious and is reflected in almost all stories. To the average person — reader or viewer — superheroes symbolize hope and the fight for good, especially in critical times. They are defenders who use their superpowers to save humanity, destroy the enemy, and preserve the world. As such, most archetypal classic superheroes reflect mostly positive traits of human character, whether faith, hope, courage, justice, or bravery. There is a parallel to the average person, as some of the superheroes grew up as ordinary people but, as a result of some external factors, acquired non-human abilities.
More importantly, the emergence of superheroes in the media was a reflection of the social and cultural problems of the community. Literary writers reflect the spirit of the times in their products. Therefore, it is often possible to determine what kind of problems a particular society faces by reading it. For example, the creation of the mutated X-Men can be linked to discrimination and segregation, while the story of Spider-Man reflects the problem of growing up as a teenager. At the same time, themes of feminism and ethnic minorities can be found in the comics and films of Wonder Woman and Black Panther. It follows that while superheroes are products of their time, they remain relevant as long as their central themes remain essential.
Moreover, the conclusions discussed above are valid in today’s society. Issues of feminism, ethnic and racial discrimination, adolescence, gender identity awareness, patriotism, and international military conflicts are ones that still concern the general public today. The existence of superheroes perfectly supports the existing demand for problems that can hardly be solved in the real world. However, superhumans can fight evil on television screens or in the pages of books. More importantly, through media products, superheroes can help people in trouble by inspiring struggle, providing emotional support, and demonstrating solutions. Thus, responding to society’s sociocultural demands is why superheroes remain relevant.
However, other factors also contribute to the popularity of superheroes. Stories about them are, primarily, ones that told in the media space. People consume such products through movies, comics, and other art forms. Such behavior allows for the realization of escapism, which is the desire to run from reality into a fictional world filled with magic and goodness. This argument confirms the popularity not only of superheroes but also of Harry Potter stories, shonen anime, and even classic literature in which characters are endowed with inhuman powers. In other words, escapism, as the desire to escape reality, is covered by cultural products that allow the reader to be transported to an unreal world.
Meanwhile, the basis for such a need is provided by the problems the individual faces in life. These include personal and family conflicts, problems at school and work, and even the pressures of the political and economic environment. These are irritants that make the consumer feel uncomfortable and thus look for a quick fix. It follows that the second reason for the continued relevance of superhero stories in today’s world is to maintain the desire to escape from problems, at least for a while.
It is also worth noting the generational connection that dictates superheroes’ importance to modern society. The first superheroes in their classic form were a response to the Great Depression and World War II (Zukoski, 2021). Both children and adults needed such symbols of justice at the time, so they began to carry the knowledge of superheroes with them. This knowledge was passed down through the generations, and the number of superheroes solving different problems continued to grow. Thus, the modern generation of consumers of such a phenomenon knows about superheroes mostly since childhood. The intergenerational connection and transmission of this art may have been additional factors in keeping the idea of superheroes relevant.
It is important to note that while superheroes are a timeless concept, they tend to evolve. Early superheroes represented many of the best human qualities, but as society matured, superheroes began to face more problems. This includes both the emergence of new superhero characters and the placement of classic superheroes in new circumstances. This allows the consumer to explore new facets of the superheroes’ personalities and show them as characters who are becoming more human. Superheroes acquire negative character traits and become more complex, which meets the demand of the times. Thus, the modernity of such characters is also facilitated by their gradual complication, which contributes to their relevance and humanity.
In conclusion, superheroes are a product of a mass culture that is consumed by a broad audience through various information channels. Superheroes reflect society’s problems and show individuals how to solve them with perseverance, courage, and bravery. This paper examines several reasons that contribute to the relevance of superheroes in contemporary society. These include addressing society’s current problems and responding to social demands, supporting the desire for escapism, generational connection, and the increasing complexity of the nature of superheroes.
Reference
Zukoski, C. T. (2021). From Captain America to Watchmen: Comic book superheroes and War in twentieth century America. The Saber and Scroll Journal, 9(4), 5-20.