Man of Steel: Hope, Freedom, and Trust
Whatever your feelings regarding Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot
Man of Steel, it must be unequivocally stated that it is far and away the most
ambitious superhero movie ever created. The movie attempts with varying degrees of
success to symbolically tell the grand epic of the foremost and first superhero
of modern times, which it does spectacularly despite its weaknesses. That being
said, and all bias (I am the biggest Superman fan of all-time) aside, I can
honestly say that it is the greatest superhero movie of all time. As is common in the visual and thematic storytelling of comic books, Man of Steel featured several wonderful broad stroke thematic threads running from the beginning through to the end. Man of Steel differs from every single superhero movie and in particular from the Dark Knight Trilogy in this regard in that themes weren't specifically and laboriously explained through dialogue. That particular narrative format worked great for the Dark Knight series (though the final act is largely concerned with themes rather than lengthy exposition) but definitely lends itself better to the the detective thriller genre than the visual thematic comic book format. Man of Steel succeeds brilliantly as a genuine comic book epic in this regard in a way that no other comic book movie has.
A few days ago I had
a conversation with a friend about Man of Steel wherein I
stated just what I did above that it is the greatest superhero
movie of all time. My friend responded like most of you probably did or will, with
incredulity. I proceeded to tell my friend exactly why I think Man of Steel is
the greatest superhero movie of all time, an analysis to which she responded
positively. Maybe like her you will be persuaded of the very possibility that I
have suggested.
The Man of Steel’s story-telling deals almost exclusively in the usage of visual and metaphorical symbolism to convey its central themes.
Several themes that I specifically noticed and responded to during and after the movie include the concepts of hope, fear, uncertainty, war,
privacy, freedom, transcendent reality, choice, freedom, and trust. While the
film is not perfect it is the first of the many superhero movies that have come
before to so subtly, realistically, brutally, and honestly tell us what the
real life implications of super-heroism and super-villiany would or could be.
Most importantly however, the movie mirrors real life ethical implications concerning notions of
national security, the justifications (if any) for war, the ethical limits (if
any) of surveillance, the very real threats of weapons of mass-destruction, and
last but definitely not least importantly, the justification of and
implementation of self-defense and defense of others. However, I believe that the movies most primal
themes center on the concepts of hope, trust, and freedom. More specifically,
what the concept of trust means in a day and age where it seems to be a rare commodity, whether
in personal, societal, or institutional relationships. Additionally, the movie raised the question of what hope means in a day and age where the
constant drumming of war, discord, and disaster upset our fragile and seemingly
ever-changing notions of peace, happiness, and security. Further, the movie raised the question of what freedom means in
an age where scientific advancements and seemingly bedrock notions of human
psychology threaten traditional conceptions of agency, accountability, and morality. Man of Steel is the most ambitious superhero movie to date for its attempt to make these themes relevant in modern times while not also trivializing them with sarcasm and overt campiness. It's not perfect, but the themes presented require a level of discernment not present in other superhero movies. Man of Steel is smart because the narrative doesn't tell you what to think every second of the movie, nor does it soften its attempted seriousness with needless comic wittiness. It presents a factual scenario that stays true to its own rules and therefore presents a realistic environment where the protagonist is left to make choices in a world where there is a right and wrong choice that does not rely on simplistic notions of black and white absolutist morality. What the Man of Steel
has to say about choice and each of the other themes mentioned stands as a testament of its
ambition and achievement as the comic book movie epic par excellence.
Hope
"It's not an "S," on my world it means "Hope.""
Hope
In the context of the grand sci-fi mythology unveiled during
the opening sequence of Man of Steel we come to understand that all of the
characters exist in a larger universe filled with intelligent life. Arthur C.
Clark the famed science fiction novelist and theorist arguably said it
best (as he understood it) regarding the
concept of extra-terrestrial life that, “Two possibilities exist: either we
are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” The
premise of Man of Steel offers a third hopeful possibility that embraces the
terrifying nature of the two he envisioned. Science fiction as a genre runs the
spectrum of storytelling based on the assumptions of strict empirical rationalism to those that embrace utter
metaphysical spirituality. Both qualify as science fiction in the same sense that
Clarke understood "magic" as being technology yet understood, internalized, and directed by its
witnesses. Man of Steel traffics heavily in both of these conceptions visually, metaphorically, and
literally. In this sense Superman or Kal-El (the name Superman is given by his birth
parents, Jor-El, and Lara-Lor-Van) is a product of the convergence of the third
option and possibility mentioned before, which I will call "organic transcendence." Those familiar with LDS theology should be familiar with the concept, though not
necessarily based on the name that I’ve given it. Simply put it is the idea
that all matter whether seen or unseen is spiritual but matter which is more
highly refined (and presumably invisible) can only be seen with greater discernment and ability. That
which is available, readily understood, and sensed is not necessarily of a
different quality but is simply less refined and is therefore more easily perceived. Science, and more specifically scientific theory, works exclusively in the
realm of making that which is not understood understandable by way of logical reasoning
and application of technological advancements that facilitate empirical discernment. A similar theoretical framework exists for that which is considered metaphysical or spiritual but requires discernment of the conceptual rather than the empirical. Literary, visual, or sensory displays of the conceptual are conveyed through symbolic representations found in metaphors, allegories, and typification. This is evidenced in Man of Steel by the symbolic meaning of the family crest of the House of El, the S shield symbol. During the highly symbolic first meeting/initiation scene Kal's biological father Jor-El explains Kal's origin and that their family crest means “Hope," in Kryptonian.
The concept of giving or taking a name is arguably the most simple example and proof of the symbolic literacy with which we are endowed. We give and take on names on the basis of their symbolic imagery, that is that they inherently mean something or convey concepts and ideas. In Man of Steel this same conception is most evidenced by the fact that the planet Krypton (Kal-El's birthworld) is a technologically advanced society (to the point of achieving organic bio-engineering, space travel, and terraforming) whose empirical scientific achievements have led its people to the outlawing of natural births in favor of genetic bio-engineering. This, it is inferred, is for the purpose of population control, efficient allocation of resources, and the establishment of an orderly caste/class based society (interestingly during a flashback sequence Clark is shown reading Plato). Jor-El as the leading scientist of the planet advocated this system in the past but had since come to the conclusion that its implementation and continued use was the product of a degenerative and controlled society, one that underlied the cause of the imminent destruction of the planet. Scientific advancements like terraforming (making previously uninhabitable planets habitable) and genetic bio-engineering are intertwined in this sense as the cause and symptom of Krypton's destruction. Later this concept is brought home more pointedly when after attempting to find the key to Krypton’s genetic survival at the Kent farm home, one of General Zods Lieutenants hints at the guiding Kryptonian theoretical worldview to Kal during a fight in Smallville. Faora-Ul a Kryptonian soldier produced by biogenetic engineering which funneled her into a a class system designed to create warriors physically manhandles Superman. She is clearly trained, dangerous, focused, in a way that Superman is not. Further, it can be inferred that this is so because she is instintinctively committed to the same cause which Zod professes he was created solely for, the survival of the Kryptonian race. In the penultimate scene of the movie Zod states that all of his actions no matter how violent are specifically to that end. This mindset is alluded to be a necessary product of their bioengineered design. During the fight with Fa-Ora and while brutally beating Superman she menaces that she is the product of "evolution," and that “if history has taught us anything, it is that evolution always wins.” Implicit in the story then, is the concept that evolution leads directly to this particular scientific advancement with all of its intended and unintended consequences. This concept is extremely relevant in our time where technocratic science relies heavily on the assumptions underlying Darwinian evolution. The technocratic elite go so far as to assert that strict empirical rationalism will lead to the inevitable merging of man and machine (bioengineering) in the next 35 years and that terraforming will eventually be the salvation of the human race (go listen to a few TED talks). This conceptual thematic idea is part of the reason why Jor-El's consciousness explains that Kal needed to learn what it meant to be human first. this is so he could discern between the possibilities that a Kryptonian type produces and how it could lead to a similar type of destruction on Earth. Faora is therefore an end result of the evolutionary design and is apparently faster, stronger, and better because she has been predetermined to be so by design.
The concept of giving or taking a name is arguably the most simple example and proof of the symbolic literacy with which we are endowed. We give and take on names on the basis of their symbolic imagery, that is that they inherently mean something or convey concepts and ideas. In Man of Steel this same conception is most evidenced by the fact that the planet Krypton (Kal-El's birthworld) is a technologically advanced society (to the point of achieving organic bio-engineering, space travel, and terraforming) whose empirical scientific achievements have led its people to the outlawing of natural births in favor of genetic bio-engineering. This, it is inferred, is for the purpose of population control, efficient allocation of resources, and the establishment of an orderly caste/class based society (interestingly during a flashback sequence Clark is shown reading Plato). Jor-El as the leading scientist of the planet advocated this system in the past but had since come to the conclusion that its implementation and continued use was the product of a degenerative and controlled society, one that underlied the cause of the imminent destruction of the planet. Scientific advancements like terraforming (making previously uninhabitable planets habitable) and genetic bio-engineering are intertwined in this sense as the cause and symptom of Krypton's destruction. Later this concept is brought home more pointedly when after attempting to find the key to Krypton’s genetic survival at the Kent farm home, one of General Zods Lieutenants hints at the guiding Kryptonian theoretical worldview to Kal during a fight in Smallville. Faora-Ul a Kryptonian soldier produced by biogenetic engineering which funneled her into a a class system designed to create warriors physically manhandles Superman. She is clearly trained, dangerous, focused, in a way that Superman is not. Further, it can be inferred that this is so because she is instintinctively committed to the same cause which Zod professes he was created solely for, the survival of the Kryptonian race. In the penultimate scene of the movie Zod states that all of his actions no matter how violent are specifically to that end. This mindset is alluded to be a necessary product of their bioengineered design. During the fight with Fa-Ora and while brutally beating Superman she menaces that she is the product of "evolution," and that “if history has taught us anything, it is that evolution always wins.” Implicit in the story then, is the concept that evolution leads directly to this particular scientific advancement with all of its intended and unintended consequences. This concept is extremely relevant in our time where technocratic science relies heavily on the assumptions underlying Darwinian evolution. The technocratic elite go so far as to assert that strict empirical rationalism will lead to the inevitable merging of man and machine (bioengineering) in the next 35 years and that terraforming will eventually be the salvation of the human race (go listen to a few TED talks). This conceptual thematic idea is part of the reason why Jor-El's consciousness explains that Kal needed to learn what it meant to be human first. this is so he could discern between the possibilities that a Kryptonian type produces and how it could lead to a similar type of destruction on Earth. Faora is therefore an end result of the evolutionary design and is apparently faster, stronger, and better because she has been predetermined to be so by design.
"What if a child dreamed of becoming something other than what society had intended? What if a child aspired to something greater? "
In contrast, Jor-El’s answer to the imminent destruction of Krypton was a return to a radical notion long since passed in his scientific age, that of a natural, organic live birth of a child. It is inferred and stated directly that organic live birth provides the most fundamental and important quality of humanity, (and apparently beyond) that of moral agency or choice. Intertwined with this concept is the notion of creationism, that self-contained organic creation is transcendent or superior to the empirical scientific assumptions underlying evolution. Jor-El’s family crest, the S-shield symbol means “Hope” and the live birth of his son Kal-El (who is later imprinted with the genetic DNA of all Kryptonian) sent to Earth as the last survivor of Krypton, is the symbolic message and physical embodiment of that Hope. The symbolic message is undeniably steeped in messianic imagery and symbolism but the actual meaning is far more pointed than most seem to understand. The message of Hope that Man of Steel revels in is that human interaction, organic, raw, and as yet undefined is undeniably essential, and fundamental as a human quality. Further, as explained by both Jor-El and Jonathan kent, organic transcendence is the necessary precursor to choice. It is only with that fundamentally simple state of being that meaning, morality, and true purpose can exist. Simply put, choice is what allows for consequence, and consequence is the basis for distinction between right or wrong. It is evident that Krypton had lost the quality and ability to sense beyond what was immediate for maintaining the status quo, so much that they could not see what was truly at stake and how much it had cost them. When Jor-El’s consciousness says to Kal-El, “You can save all of them,” he is referring to not only the empirical results based notion of cause and effect but also the spiritual transcendent notion and value of choice and moral agency. Additionally, when Faora says that evolution always wins, she is specifically referring to the idea that Kal-El and his father’s notion of organic creationism is inferior both physically and spiritually. In this sense salvation is not only a metaphysical concept but also a literal physical clash of ideas and worldviews. In Man of Steel Kal-El represents the ideal of transcendent creationism, that a being from another planet understands and embodies the dangers that unfettered scientific so-called progressivism has on individuals and society as a whole. Jor-El's last plea to Kal is that he will be the bridge between the two peoples and that he will show them a better way.
"You're not just anyone. One day, you're going to have to make a choice. You have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. Whoever that man is, good character or bad, it's going to change the world."
Freedom
The debate rages on in the university psychology classes
about which factor is supremely formative in human development, either nature
or nurture. After coming out of the university programming system, it is
undeniable that no one has the complete answer. The only answer that is legitimately
backed by studies, authority, and reason, is that there are too many factors to say for
sure. One subject, however, that you will not find (or find little on) in the psychology books is the concept of free will and what if
any great affects or problems it poses to the discipline. Man of Steel attempts to engage in the debate but ultimately settles on the importance of the concept of free will (choice) and like real life and the implications of choice in real life, leaves a somewhat complex and perhaps unsatisfying picture of what
it entails. However, some of the greatest moments in the movie are those that
show the early life and development of Clark. In nearly all of the appropriately interceding flashback sequences we
are shown that Clark is an outsider as a result of the onset of his powers. In
one particular sequence young Clark starts to develop his super sensory
abilities during an elementary classroom discussion of Kansas history. We are shown his reaction as all of his senses become heightened in what is apparently a first instance. He responds to it with fear and
uncertainty. As a child coming to grips with his maturation his reaction to
hearing diverse and numerous sounds while the muscular and cardiovascular systems of his fellow classmates are revealed to him causes him to flee the classroom and take refuge in a storage room. His reaction leads to
alienation by his classmates. Particularly interesting, his reaction and response
called to mind the actions and seeming response of special children, specifically those with Autism. Clark in this version of Superman is an individual struggling
to come to grips with his differences and place in a world hostile to
differences. However, what is most profound about these flashback
sequences are the words of wisdom, comfort, and understanding that come from loving,
modest, and humble parents. If such things as families and good parents are
ideal for the proper development of children then there was no one better for Clark than Jonathan and Martha Kent. The
Superman mythos has always understood and championed the concept that children always need
good parents. In every flashback sequence Jonathan and Martha are there for Clark in each of the circumstances he finds himself in, to comfort him when experiencing pain and fear, providing simple unsullied truths, and coping mechanisms to deal with the problem at hand and which later inform the man. His goodly parents are there to help him come
to understand who he is at the same time that he is able and ready to
understand it. His goodly parents are there to help him understand the consequences of his actions. His goodly parents are there to teach him that he is valuable and is on
earth for a reason and that it is up to him to find that reason. His goodly parents allow him to make his own decisions (with advice) for better or worse but are there
with him to deal with the aftermath. His goodly parents are there to teach him
that all situations require judgment and discernment. His goodly parents are
there to teach him that there is a time for patience and a time for action. His
goodly parents are there for him to teach him that fighting bullies generally
does not solve anything. His goodly parents teach him that sacrifice is the
ultimate form of love. It is from this particular environment that the Man of Steel comes from which allows him a level of moral discernment that is both flexible as it is certain.
In contrast to the concept of nurture, Man of Steel attempts to show that genetic inheritance does matter, in that Kal-El is not only a product of his environment but a literal genetic offspring of a superman and superwoman in a galaxy far, far, away. Lois Lane hones in on this aspect of Superman’s character as she is first introduced to him at the grave of his adopted father. The conversation centers around her desire to tell the world about him and what the implications of the idea that we are not alone in the universe will have. Kal-El is not so sure that it is the right time based on the wisdom his adopted father Jonathan imparted and sacrificed his life for, that the world would reject such a being out of fear. She suggests that eventually someone else will find out who he is as she has and that the only way to stop that from happening is if he stops helping people altogether. She senses correctly that this is not an option for him and they are left at an impasse until he explains himself further. The idea that this suggests is that Kal’s sense of duty to help others is a quality that is innate. We see this alluded to many times throughout the movie as comparisons are made to Kal and his father Jor-El. In one particular flashback sequence Clark saves a bus full of children from drowning and is later slightly scolded by his adopted father for it. While many have disliked this conception of Jonathan Kent, I believe it is used specifically to show that Kal’s innate goodness is in him as a result of genetic inheritance. The movie draws heavily upon messianic Christic symbolism for this point as well, as we are shown Clark as a fisherman, going about doing good, helping people in miraculous ways, in almost near secret. Those familiar with the Savior's childhood know that he eschewed the idea that his true father was a carpenter. It is in Clark’s DNA to help others. The seeming clash of nature and nurture comes in particular in the flashback sequence where Jonathan suggests that Clark "maybe" should have let the other children die to protect his secret, that is the need to protect oneself for a higher purpose, or to act on one’s own instinct and predisposition. However, as I suggested a third way above, the issue is ultimately resolved by the advice that when the time is right Clark will need to choose the kind of man he will be. The situation inevitably comes that presents Clark with the choice he was prepared for and he makes it completely of his own free will, not because or despite nature or nurture, but as a result of the experiences, wisdom and maturity it gave to him. This allowed a truly free choice in the matter. Clark goes on to make several important choices throughout the remainder of the movie that will be the subject of the next entry however, we see just how important freedom to choose is by the purposeful sacrifice of Jonathan Kent to preserve Clark’s secret until the right time, until his son had the time, the experience, the maturity, and the purpose to step out into the light as a symbol of hope and trust.
In contrast to the concept of nurture, Man of Steel attempts to show that genetic inheritance does matter, in that Kal-El is not only a product of his environment but a literal genetic offspring of a superman and superwoman in a galaxy far, far, away. Lois Lane hones in on this aspect of Superman’s character as she is first introduced to him at the grave of his adopted father. The conversation centers around her desire to tell the world about him and what the implications of the idea that we are not alone in the universe will have. Kal-El is not so sure that it is the right time based on the wisdom his adopted father Jonathan imparted and sacrificed his life for, that the world would reject such a being out of fear. She suggests that eventually someone else will find out who he is as she has and that the only way to stop that from happening is if he stops helping people altogether. She senses correctly that this is not an option for him and they are left at an impasse until he explains himself further. The idea that this suggests is that Kal’s sense of duty to help others is a quality that is innate. We see this alluded to many times throughout the movie as comparisons are made to Kal and his father Jor-El. In one particular flashback sequence Clark saves a bus full of children from drowning and is later slightly scolded by his adopted father for it. While many have disliked this conception of Jonathan Kent, I believe it is used specifically to show that Kal’s innate goodness is in him as a result of genetic inheritance. The movie draws heavily upon messianic Christic symbolism for this point as well, as we are shown Clark as a fisherman, going about doing good, helping people in miraculous ways, in almost near secret. Those familiar with the Savior's childhood know that he eschewed the idea that his true father was a carpenter. It is in Clark’s DNA to help others. The seeming clash of nature and nurture comes in particular in the flashback sequence where Jonathan suggests that Clark "maybe" should have let the other children die to protect his secret, that is the need to protect oneself for a higher purpose, or to act on one’s own instinct and predisposition. However, as I suggested a third way above, the issue is ultimately resolved by the advice that when the time is right Clark will need to choose the kind of man he will be. The situation inevitably comes that presents Clark with the choice he was prepared for and he makes it completely of his own free will, not because or despite nature or nurture, but as a result of the experiences, wisdom and maturity it gave to him. This allowed a truly free choice in the matter. Clark goes on to make several important choices throughout the remainder of the movie that will be the subject of the next entry however, we see just how important freedom to choose is by the purposeful sacrifice of Jonathan Kent to preserve Clark’s secret until the right time, until his son had the time, the experience, the maturity, and the purpose to step out into the light as a symbol of hope and trust.
"My father believed that if the world found out who I really was, they'd reject me... out of fear. He was convinced that the world wasn't ready. What do you think? "
