It's cool by the Pool - right? [COLUMN]

Somebody save me

Smallville is an interesting series. It's the longest running superhero series on television of all time. Smallville is slated to run a landmark 9 series in all. That's more than Batman (1966-1969), Lois and Clark (1992-1996), The Adventures of Superman (1951-1958), or even Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).

Find out more about Smallville here.

You may think this in insignificant, but 9 series is essentially a decade's worth of television. Smallville started in October 16, 2001 and began its ninth season on September 25, 2009. So why is it so popular?
From MSNBC:

Some view new Superman as Christ figure
Both are heroes sent to earth by fathers to serve mankind

First there were the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Now, for many Christian moviegoers comes another gospel.

As the hype machine shifts into high gear for the upcoming release of “Superman Returns,” some are reading deeply into the film whose hero returns from a deathlike absence to play savior to the world.

“It is so on the nose that anyone who has not caught on that Superman is a Christ figure, you think, ‘Who else could it be referring to?”’ said Steve Skelton, who wrote a book examining parallels between Superman and Christ.

As one of society’s most enduring pop-culture icons, Superman has often been observed as more than just a man in tights.

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who introduced Superman in 1938 in a comic book, were Jews who were inspired by the Old Testament story of Moses and the supernatural golem character from Jewish folklore.

The Christian allusions are recent innovations that compromise the integrity of the Superman myth, she said.

I find it fascinating that the annexing of Jewish lore [which resulted in Christianity] is mirrored here once again - where a story created by Jews gets hijacked by Christians - very effectively one might add, and the lore then gets reinforced, superimposed, strengthened, as it evolves. This is why the bible seems inexplicably perfect. Well, it's first draft was far from perfect, but it was refined over time by many writers [and now filmmakers]. So the story evolves, but the worldwide audience remain opposed to the generic idea of evolution. We prefer to place our bets on iconography. See, it's more personal, and thus it seems more relevant. And when something feels relevant we may impute some reality to it. Am I talking about Superman? No, another icon - Christianity.

“Superman Returns” director Bryan Singer said the notion of Superman as a messianic figure is simply another case of contemporary storytelling borrowing from ancient motifs.

Singer, who is Jewish, said his neighbors’ Christianity played a powerful role in the community where he grew up.

“These allegories are part of how you’re raised. They find their way into your work,” he said. “They become ingrained in your storytelling, in the same way that the origin story of Superman is very much the story of Moses.”

Where Jews see Moses, and Christians see Jesus, do atheists see Superman? It's simply a case of cultural outlets that describe your world view in a language, and with cultural associations familiar to you. It's all true, from a particular cultural reference point, the values work and resonate, but is it factually true. [And even if it isn't, does it matter?] But what is the motive for using Christian allegory? Perhaps an altruistic motive aimed at evangelising audiences? Bettering them? Sorry, no.

“The way in which the Christian population can get behind a movie that they can agree with is a huge push financially,” said Skelton.

The motive for using Christian motifs is twofold:
- one, they are fucking effective
- two, they pay off financially [see above reason to find out why]

At the same time, Superman is fixed firmly enough in popular secular culture.

Which is exactly why the bible was so successful. A mishmash of tried and tested lores and myths, with some popular, modern touches. For example 'updating' the vitally important Sabbath from Saturday to the more pagan oriented Sunday. And Christmas, celebrated as a pagan festival but with a nod to Jesus. And of course the very male chauvinstic ten commandments [thy shall not covet thy neighbor's wife - meaning my wife, well what about coveting husbands] which is consistent with the entire chauvinism in the Bible where God is a father and son capable of giving birth - essentially - to himself. Jesus' not marrying is another popular adaptation, which is echoed - for the most part - by Clark in Smallville who is never in a fulfilling relationship [again, very Bruce Wayne], but Superman also remains single for much of his adventures in spite of his feelings for Mary Magdalene, er...I mean Lois Lane.

Even the repetition of consonants is worth noting. Jesus Christ essentially repeats the 'Ja' sound twice. To say 'Christ' is simply a slightly softer form of 'Ja'. So you have Jha-esus Cha-rist and Clark Kent, Lana Lang and Lois Lane, and Mary Magdelene and Simon of Cyrene, Pontius Pilate or Satan in lieu of the bald Lex Luthor. Jesus is from Nazareth, Clark is from Krypton. Jesus was born in a barn, in Smallville Clark lives on a farm. Jesus was born under a star, Superman was born out of a star.

And Smallville taps into this mythos that is core to the human condition. The idea that through some mystical superpower we can be saved from our ordinary troubles by something from out of this world. Really? In fact the theme music [from Remy Zero] is probably a central reason, one of a handful, supporting the success of the series:

I feel the wings have broken in your hands,
I feel the words unspoken inside…
And they pull you under,
And I will give you anything you want, oh
You are all I wanted,
All my dreams are fallin’ down,
Crawlin’ round and round and round

Somebody save me!
Let your warm hands break right through it,
Somebody save me,
I don’t care how you do it, just
Stay (with Me), stay
C’mon, I’ve been waiting for you,

You're not going to like hearing this, but the lyrics and the mythos of the story correspond in one vital sense. The narcissism involved in waiting for someone to save you, no matter how or why, whether it's deserved or not. While the Superman mythos is generally preserved in Smallville, Clark Kent nevertheless indulges in numerous fictional departures from the absolute honesty of his character. Of course one could argue that he doesn't deviate a lot. Over 9 series, Clark lies, murders, and goes rogue as a playboy. This is explained via the influence of Black Kryptonite, but whatever the excuse, it reflects the demands society makes on us to...well...lie. Even to ourselves.

Unlike Batman, the Superman mythos is meant to be pure, represented by vibrant colors. These symbolise solid virtues of honesty. In Smallville, Clark is troubled and secretive, a Batman trait.

Nevertheless, the original mythos has served Smallville well enough to last 9 series, and brand new characters like Chloe Sullivan - created for the series - have proved more enduring [and more endearing] than die-hard fans of the original are probably willing to admit. But what does all of this mean? Our fascination with the character who is secretly all-powerful speaks to our inner religious yearnings, for salvation, for escape from pain, suffering and death. And of course it confirms our suspicions that appearances aside, we are far greater than we appear. In some ways this is true, but in many, this is not so.

Probably one of the most fascinating, if divisive insights to be gained from the series, is the extent to which we're bewitched by stories. So long as a few fundamental parameters are observed, we're willing to believe almost anything. And I think one can make the case that what we believe and ideas we entertain, are essentially the same thing. That is why you can fill in an entire spectrum of fiction, starting from fairy tales, which are very powerful, viral creations, all the way through to classics, and then to the epics, which have a quasi-religious significance.

Take Superman. He's not from our world. He comes from the sky. His parents are not his parents. He protects the innocent and the weak. He's a saviour that cannot die. There are a bunch of films that share this mythos, from The Matrix [here the saviour is NEO], to Star Wars [which has an overt religious message] to the Lord of the Rings. Going further into antiquity, there are myths, and lores, idols, various legends and faiths [from Arthur to Robin Hood to Zeus]. There are literally thousands of individual faith systems for various tribes, from the Egyptians monotheism, to the more animistic and ritualistic faiths. By the way, animism is based on the idea that not only humans can have souls but animals too. Animism may further attribute souls to abstract concepts such as words, true names or metaphors in mythology. Even Hindusim - which survives today - maintains an ancient tradition that blood sacrifice earns fortune. Hence the current slaying of some 200 000 animals [pigs, chickens, ducks and what not] in the name of faith? Yes, faith and greed, and faith for greed and faith in greed.

My point in that if we have invented all these stories to amuse, inspire and entertain ourselves, why should the bible be any different? And of course it isn't. Well it is in the sense that it has this great amount of significance ascribed to it, organisations run in its name, but the same is true for Scientology, or the Harry Potter fanclub. Many are immune to seeing the same viral campaign at work in Smallville, as in the bible. A formula has been developed which summarises the 22 hero traits.

1. His mother is a royal virgin
2. His father is a king, and
3. Often a near relative of his mother, but
4. The circumstances of his conception are unusual, and
5. He is reputed to be the son of a god.
6. At birth a attempt is made, often by his father, to kill him, but
7. He is spirited away, and
8. Reared by foster parents in a far country.
9. We are told nothing of his childhood, but
10. On reaching manhood he returns or goes to his future kingdom.
11. After a victory over the king and/or a giant, dragon, or wild beast,
12. He marries a princess, often the daughter of his predecessor, and
13. Becomes king.
14. For a time he reigns uneventfully, and
15. Prescribes laws, but
16. Later he loses favor with the gods and/or his subjects, and
17. Is driven from the throne and city.
18. He meets with a mysterious death,
19. Often at the top of a hill,
20. His children, if any, do not succeed him.
21. His body is not buried, but nevertheless
22. He has one or more holy sepulchers.

Jesus has some 19 of these traits, some like Oedipus have all of them, but Robin Hood, Luke Skywalker, Superman, John Connor and Jeanne d'Arc all have high numbers. If you want to write a bestseller, one that everyone will intuitively accept, endorse and support, this is it. It's endured through millenia and we have become programmed to respond to this tapestry of suggestion and metaphor.

So the question emerges, is Superman for real?

As to the truth of his powers, the fundamental question was posed by a TV reporter at Superman's first public appearance in S1: "Your guess is good as anybody's. True or false? Miracle or fraud? The answer is up to you. Man or myth". The same questions are asked about Jesus Christ.

Our susceptibility to these stories means that we're reluctant to deal with hard truths. Climate change is a boring and controversial topic. Actually, it's not as controversial as we'd like to believe. Right now there are 1000 year floods in England and Ireland, all time record temperatures in Australia [causing uncontrolled fire hazards] and icebergs running amok around New Zealand. There are other places experiencing change. California. South Africa.

Good storytellers are aware of our susceptibility, which is why Bryan Singer pressed the Superman-as-Christ theme in Superman Returns. In visuals Singer represented Superman hovering above the Earth, listening to people's thoughts and prayers.

You think it isn't intentional?

Time magazine wrote, “Earlier versions of Superman stressed the hero's humanity…The Singer version emphasizes his divinity…He is Earth's savior: Jesus Christ Superman.” However, certainly Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie stressed the parallels to Christ. Do you see your version as different or similar in that regard?

SINGER: It celebrates that notion. These stories are told in so many different ways. From Sunday School to pop culture…

But if you’re going to have lines like Marlon Brando saying, “I send them you—my only son.” And they’re being spoken with absolute seriousness, then when you carry it forward and you have him return after five years, face an immeasurable conflict and then… I mean, if you’re going to tell that story, you’ve got to tell it all the way. You’ve got scourging at the pillar, the spear of destiny, death, resurrection—it’s all there.

THE PIETA…

SKELTON: At the first of the movie, after Superman crashes back to Earth, he collapses into his mother’s arms. The scene recalls the Renaissance images of the dead Jesus in Mary’s arms.

SINGER: Yes. The night of shooting that scene, Eva, Brandon and myself knew it was a mother cradling her son, but certainly an aspect [was of Mary and Jesus]. There were certain key frames that were very special, important to me artistically, and that was one that was very much inspired by that image.

THE VILLAIN…

SKELTON: Just as Superman is a Christ figure, do you see Lex Luthor as a Lucifer figure?

SINGER: Yes. Because he doesn’t care. He just cares about land. And he muses about billions of people being drowned. But he’s very much the opposite of Superman…

SKELTON: Last question: in Entertainment Weekly recently, when asked if Superman was relevant, you said “Look around. Aren’t we crying out for him?” How are we crying out for this kind of a savior figure?

SINGER: I think people right now, more than ever have become, we’ve become a individual, selfish culture, at times…I think he represents that kind of character that can walk among us, but has a selfless side…And when there is so much bad happening, it’s very, very important to be able to look at a character, even if he is in tights [laughs] and say, Hey maybe I can be a good guy like that.

SKELTON: He’s the light in the darkness. He’s the light to show the way.

SINGER: “They can be a great people, Kal-El. They only lack the light to show the way.” He is that light. And that’s something he’s maintained for seventy years. He’s always been the good guy.

Now you might think Christianity is dead, or dying. A movie like this breathes life into the Christianity franchise, and vice versa. Because it's a formula that works. As long as we, as the human race, fail to grow up, we'll be looking outside of ourselves, ultimately, for rescue. And that propels us along a path where we will almost certainly have to be rescued. From ourselves. The good news is, when things are really really bad, there will always be stories to tell like this that fill us with hope. Of course, the implication is that we deserve to be saved fundamentally in spite of our narcissism. I think in the fullness of time this view will prove to be fundamentally flawed, defective. It may even spell the end of our species. Then again, whatever we may dream up, perhaps that is a reality worth avoiding, in fact, a reality worth raging against.

Whatever is the case, what is abundantly clear at the present moment, is that we are in increasingly dire need of saving. And if we do not save ourselves, what then?