Exploration 5 — Myth of Superman

Exploration 5
Understanding Comics chapters 6-9
“The Myth of Superman” (electronic reserve)

Due: 10am Wednesday February 18th

In Eco’s essay, “The Myth of Superman,” he analyzes the comic book figure of Superman, exploring the most salient aspects of the comic for literature, culture, society, and our understanding of ourselves as human.

Since 1962, when Eco first wrote the essay, much has changed in comics and in our narratives of and about superheroes. But much remains the same. For this Exploration take a superhero narrative (from comics, graphic novels, television, movies, radio, or any other media/medium with which you might be familiar) and analyze that superhero narrative according to Eco’s discussion of Superman.

You may find that your narrative is quite similar to Eco’s 1960s Superman, or quite the opposite. Finally, meditate briefly (~1 paragraph) on what the similarity or difference you have found means to the readers/watchers/listeners of your superhero narrative, and to its time (that is, the culture and society that existed when the narrative was created).