If Superman had an office, he’d be sitting in it right now, superfingers massaging his supertemples, staring at a phone that won’t stop ringing. "Man, oh man," he’d sigh, "everybody wants a piece of Superman. Can’t a guy just Return already?"
Everyone does want a piece of Supes, of course. Because Superman belongs to everyone. For weeks, the Superman-is-gay debate has raged, focusing on the duality of Supes’ personality, his hidden identity, his suppressed fabulousness. (No, no, no! say the filmmakers, with utter predictability.)
There’s the Superman-is-Jesus thesis, centering on his function as a "savior" and the fact that he’s a man, yet not a man. There’s also the reading of Superman-as-immigrant, or, more specifically, as the quintessential American Jew: Cast out of his birthplace, his power waxes as he assimilates. And, theologically speaking, that’s not incompatible with the idea of a Messiah. (Supes was created by two Jews, after all.)
And then there’s the idea that Superman is, well, a superman, in the Nietzschean sense, an idea best advanced by David Carradine’s Kill Bill Vol. 2 speech, which notes that Clark Kent is Superman’s chosen disguise, his imitation of the typical human: weak, cowardly, "a critique of the whole human race." On a possibly related note, Frank Miller (and others before him) saw Superman as an embodiment of the American superpower: proud, mighty, and blinkered. (He set him in opposition to Batman, the American id.)
So who/what is Superman? It seems pretty certain that Superman, like every icon, is all of the above, and more. The test of a good icon is its ability to absorb a multitude of interpretations. Like mine, for example: Superman, clearly, is a vertically challenged entertainment writer from North Carolina. What’s the Kryptonite in this metaphor? Oh, like I’m telling you.
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I don’t see the Superman-as-gay angle, but all the others are plausible. (I’m gay and a huge Superman fan, so I’m not rejecting the first interpretation out of any anti-gay bias.) Mostly, though, I just think of Superman as the ultimate hero, and that’s how I like him.
I’m with brandonk. I never thought about Superman being gay. I’m not sure why the “gay buzz” started a month ago. It could be media gay bashers seeing Brokeback behind every movie marquee.
As a straight girl with an uncanny ability to always pick a hot guy only to find out that he’s gay, can we just leave Superman alone? Give the girls a chance to have SOMEbody!
gay.
The tights, the matchy-matchy outfit, the knee-high boots… yes, the dude is gay.
I suppose Jesus was gay too.. after all, he lived with his mother his whole life, never married, never sired children (something that was expected of every male back then), peace loving, and… a young man wearing only a loin cloth ran out of Jesus’ room when they came to arrest him. (look it up, it’s in the bible!)
Jesus was Jewish, Jesus had superpowers, Superman is gay — therefore Jesus was Gay and Superman is Jesus.
I on the other hand, being Puerto Rican background, say… Superman is an immigrant. A culturally diverse individual with a fabulous (gay?) native custome, who proves why some immigrants should be allowed in the country. Because my grandfather fought in the Korean War for the U.S. Because immigrants develop a sense of pride in their new country that is rarely shown by Americans, and because, yes, immigrants would do the jobs that most American’s don’t wanna do… like saving the world and melting things with their eyes…. (My mom’s french and she can do that! I swear!)
Yes, Superman is a parable about being an Immigrant and also a parable about a gay Jesus.
Where do you people come up with this stuff? The costume denotes sexuality? The X-men all wore spandex in the comic books, and now wear tight black leather costumes! Does that mean all the X-men are gay? Superman wants to make it with Lois, come on people! You know he enjoys using his x-ray vision to peek at the goods now and again. Sheesh!
the teaser trailer… Brando’s voice-over? gazing at the world from the heavens? “They could be a great people, Kallel, if they wish to be. They only LACK THE LIGHT to show the way. For this reason above all – their capacity for good – I have sent them you, MY ONLY SON.” regardless of ultimate allegorical intentions, someone in marketing is playing the Jesus card.
gay gay gay! All superheros are gay! Please, which str8 dude would wear those awful tights? None that I know. I am waiting to see a lesbian superhero (why not the new lesbianish Batwoman???) wearing a plad logger’s jacket. Now, that’s reality!
Return of Superman
Scott Brown of Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch just managed to do something unheard of: he made Superman sound interesting to me. Check out his summary of theories about Superman: Superman as gay (parallels to recent X-Men conversations), Superman as…
if you start a rumor about supes being gay, then you will generate more buzz about the movie. Simple as that.
Please, Superman is not gay, not a parable for Jesus, Jews, or Immigrants…he is just a Superhero. Plain and simple. Let’s not over-analiyze him, please. He was created as what he was, a guy in tights who fought crime, back in the 1930s.
While he does have a legacy and history, the only way to describe is, he’s a symbol of doing things right, using (rather than abusing) his power to help people, and someone all religions, races, countries, etc, should follow.
STOP trying to find things wrong with superman, he is Jerry Sinefelds hero and thats good enough for me………………..Rotten Ron
george dewd, it’s all in fun that I theorized the immigrant. You know what ultimately is, a money making machine that has made lots and lots of people rich.
“Superman Returns” …to Cleveland???
An open letter to Warner Bros. and Bryan Singer, director, of “Superman Returns”
The id and I – “Can I have 10% of my paycheck sent back to my mom in Smallville-?”
http://www.theidandi.blogspot.com
some people need to get laid… though I’m not sure how that’s going to earn them a sense of humor.
Oh well, too bad it’s not something you can buy because I know of several posters on here that could use a little dose.
This whole ’superman is gay’ thing sounds like Marvel sabatoge!
From what I remember of interviews with Supes late creators -who were Jewish, by the way- Superman was meant to challenge the Nazi idea of a superior race. He was someone who was darn near perfect, but never wielded his superiority to conquer or harm, but only to protect those weaker than him. So then, I would say ‘none of the above’.
Let’s look at who the most outspoken people are making claims….1. Homo-sexuals who are desperate for acceptance. Latching on to the biggest pop culture icon ever is a good way to push their cause. Hell, Bryan Singer is gay and even he says Supes isn’t gay. And if Supes gay isn’t Spidey gay for all the same reasons?
2. Christians are not exactly having a lot of success in the mainstream media these days. George W. has been constantly bashed for his religion. So why not try to get an incorruptable icon under your banner in Superman?
The fact of the matter is Siegel & Schuster were straight Jewish men. They did not make Superman gay or Jesus. They did indeed take the name from Nietzchea. But Superman is not a doing a critique like “Kill Bill” suggests either.
These people are grasping at straws to get attention. Leave Superman alone and let him be who he is. Stop trying to make him what he clearly is not.
The Other Kyle:
you said: “Leave Superman alone and let him be who he is. Stop trying to make him what he clearly is not.”
One could say the same of the conservative right. If the gays want to be gay, let them be gay. Why is it important that they not be gay? Why does it matter to anyone that doesn’t have to have sex with them?
Why are people pushing for bill that would outlaw gay marriage? If it doesn’t affect your marriage or my marriage, why does it matter to us? Why do people oppose civil unions? Oh.. that’s right.. because people are insecure and need to oppress others to feel superior.
as an after thought: If people are giving bush (yes, with a lower case b as he doesn’t deserve an upper case B)a hard time, it’s not because of his religion but because of his inability to lead the country properly. The man was a failed businessman that has no business in the white house, his entire cabinet is made up of war criminals (Rummie, Cheney, Pontenegro .. to name a few) and his policies benefit corporate america and special interests instead of the AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Looks like Mario knows everything about everyone.
So that explains it…Mario is a liberal….that explains it ALL.
your posts also explain a lot about you, Elyse.
Sheesh. This is what happens when a simple thing becomes so famous that people run out of things to say about it (if you ever need a laugh, try reading some of the theories about the “hidden meanings” in “The Wizard Of Oz”). Seriously, folks, no matter how iconic he has become, Superman is a comic book character. One who wears bright, primary colors because they show up well on the page and appeal to the kids who were the target audience, and who has a secret identity and a specific weakness because they provide narrative tension. It is the nature of icons to be adopted by various groups and given meanings that they find relevant, but that doesn’t change the intent of the creators.
Mario:
Nobody is saying gays can’t be gay. But let me be very clear about this: SUPERMAN IS NOT GAY. IN NO INCARNATION EVERY HAS SUPERMAN EVER BEEN ATTRACTED TO MEN. He’s loved three women, Lana Lang, Lori Lemaris and Lois Lane. Never a gay moment.
And as far as Bush goes? Yes he WAS attacked for bringin his religion into his politics. But he also has been attacked for his politics as well. BUT SEPARATELY.
So obviously you don’t like his policy. That’s fine. But for the sake of this particular Superman debate, Bush was indeed attacked for his religious views regardless of the outcome of his decisions. It’s fact.
The Other Kyle: Ever heard of a little thing called “sense of humor”?
Obviously, the entire thread was in total jest.. surely, you can see that.
If you want to get into a debate of presidents being attacked for their religion, we could also talk about President Kennedy. He too was attacked for bringing religion into his politics, by the conservative right no less, so that entire argument and trying to demonize others who criticize bush is moot and laughable at best.
There’s no problem with people believing what they believe, that’s the beauty of living in a free, democratic nation but when those beliefs start to interfere with others rights to be who they want to be, loving who they want to love, marrying who they want to marry.. then it is a problem, and rightfully so.
No one attacked Bush on his religion until he let his religion get in the middle of politics and how efficiently he is running this country. You can’t really blame those who attack him on his religion, especially if it affects them directly.
So you’re telling me your previous post was in jest?! I didn’t even see the faintest joke in it.
And yes this blog was tongue-in-cheek but the information contained in it is absolutely real and has been reported by many other news outlets.
And did I miss something? When in my posts did I “demonize” anyone who criticized Bush? All I said is that Bush has been one of the factors weakening the publics view on Christianity. All in relevance to why they want Superman to be associated with their banner.
Where am I saying being either gay or criticizing Bush is wrong?
My whole point summed up in one sentence is thus: It’s sad that certain groups, be they gay or christian or whatever, feel the need to twist a legendary beloved character in ridiculous ways to fit their agendas.
People can think whatever they want, it’s a public character, but to put forth a campaign that has no basis in fact much like “The Advocate” has done and many Christian organizations have done is cheap and offending to fans of the character.
Superman is not gay; he is UBER-GAY !!!!!!!
The Other Kyle:
Boo hooo… I’m a fan, you can’t say my idol is gay.. boo hooo…
^ — that’s how you come accross.. Get over it dude, if people want to joke around that Supes is gay.. big deal! It’s not like it’s costing you any skin off your back.
oh.. and grow some sense of humor already, will ya? life is waaay too short.
Sense of humor?? The stuff I was saying yesterday afternoon was funny but you took it way to serious….so maybe mario should follow his own advice.
Why does Superman have to be scrutinized so closely?
He is obviously not gay. In a comic released in December of 1996, he married his long-time girlfriend, Lois Lane. If you research the creators of the comic, Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, both created Superman’s alternate persona, Clark Kent to be shy around women and only admire them from a distance. This was because these two straight men shared these characteristics and they wanted Clark Kent to represent certain things about themselves. As “The Other Kyle” said, he has only ever had girlfriends.
He is also not Jesus or even a representation of. No where in the biographies of the creators (unless I missed something major), have they ever been listed as following the Messianic Jewish faith. If they had, they would have believed that Yeshua (Jesus) was the Son of God and the long awaited Messiah. If they did not subscribe to this faith (which I don’t believe that they did), they would not have believed that Jesus was indeed God’s son, sent to save the world and would probably not have based the character on Biblical references, although parallels can be drawn today between the two characters for those that look for them.
Also, Mario, before you state something as fact you need to back it up with evidence. Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 18 all give accounts of Jesus’ arrest and not one of them say that he was arrested right after a boy wearing just a loin cloth ran out of his room.
After writing this “book”, I want to know why Superman just can’t be good. Why do we have to turn him into a political or religious statement? Isn’t it enough that he is someone that defeated evil? He was written as someone to aspire to- someone that did the right thing and stood up to injustice. That, to me, is the only thing that I really need to know about him.