The Edge

Moses and Superman?

2010-03-08T08:22:00.003-06:00

Bruce Feiler has a great new book out called "America's Prophet." In it, he explains how Moses has promoted American ideals for centuries. From Herman Melville to Woodrow Wilson, Roosevelt, and Brigham Young, he provided a narrative for escaping oppression.

He explains an influential use of Moses in pro-American propaganda through the comic book hero Superman. Siegel and Schuster, submitting Action Comics #1 under the pseudonym of Bernard J. Kenton, were Jewish kids channeling their religious anxieties through comic books. Borrowing from Greek mythology, Arthurian legend, science fiction, and Edgar Rice Burroughs, principal themes are drawn from the Old Testament with a backstory almost point by point:

1.) Moses born into a world where people faced annihilation; Krypton faced extinction;

2.) Baby Moses is put into a small basket and floated down the Nile by his mother; Kal-El is put into a rocket ship and sent to Earth;

3.) Moses is rescued by a daughter of the pharaoh; Kal-El is rescued by Martha and Jonathan Kent;

4.) Like Moses, Superman is raised in an alien environment where he must conceal his true identity;

5.) Moses receives a calling from God to use his powers to liberate his people from tyranny; young Clark discovers the green crystal in the shed in Smallville, it "calls" to him and his trek north. The crystal creates his home where he learns who he is and receives direction/wisdom from Jor-El where “the son becomes the father; the father the son”. He uses his powers to assist humanity.

Feiler goes on to report that Superman’s name reflects his creators’ biblical knowledge. Moses is the leader of Israel or Yisra-el in Hebrew---translated as “one who strives with God.” El was a common name for God in ancient Near East and appears in the Bible like Elohim, El Shaddai. Kal-El means “swift God” in Hebrew.

"The Calling"

BlogTalkRadio

2010-02-27T10:39:00.000-06:00

100th Anniversary Special of Conversations with American Heroes

Dr. Kinnaird returns to discuss superheroes as symbolic expressions and solutions for inspiration and hope

Psychology of Mythology

2010-02-26T09:55:00.001-06:00

Jungian psychology (which is a discipline used in Parallel Universe), looks at mythology as culturally-based, collective dreams (a communal expression of our anxieties, hopes, and goals), while dreams are our personal myths---unconscious issues that play out in our mind. When you go to see a movie (superhero, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, etc.), the hero or protagonist is part of our collective unconscious in American culture. We identify with the hero story because they embody what is good, right, moral, and we wonder how we would respond if put into the same situations. Would we make the right choice or the wrong choice? What would those consequences be?

That personal identification (like with Bella or Edward from Twilight, Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, Superman or Batman......maybe even the contestants on American Idol), makes the hero psychologically powerful and THAT is the transcendent experience we love to fantasize about or escape to. Like going to church, we commune with the rest of the audience in the theatre to affirm or re-affirm our shared understanding of facing odds, achieving hope, what is good and evil, overcoming personal doubts, fears, and anxieties (including death and the afterlife). Cool huh?

Superhero movies are currently at the zenith of their popularity...trust me...there are a lot more coming. I theorize that this has much to do with what is going on in society--domestically and globally. Superhero and sci-fi adventures (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, about 25 superhero flicks, and vigilante and/or earth destruction-type movies) have quadrupled since 9/11 and with increasing political and social unrest, war and terror, and anxieties with the economy and job stability, it certainly makes sense. Who are we and where do we fit into the scheme of things?

YouTube Video for General Audiences

2010-01-26T17:33:00.003-06:00

Video

YouTube Video for Law Enforcement

2010-01-26T17:33:00.000-06:00

Video

Part Badge. Part Tights. All Hero

2010-01-22T12:30:00.001-06:00

Metropolis and Gotham City have always had watchful guardians. Comic book civilizations are full of them—extraordinary people who choose to share their authentic gifts to help people.

Comic book superheroes, as contemporary symbols of heroism, have long been known in our law enforcement community to be a source of inspiration and moral guidance for a life served to protect. For the first time, a literary source has tapped into this archetype by examining "existence over essence."

Backed by interdisciplinary research, cop stories, and infused with personal interviews from the actors and directors from our superhero genre, Parallel Universe takes flight to explore superheroes as an allegory for contemporary criminal justice!

BlogTalkRadio

2010-01-22T12:29:00.000-06:00

Fans and Friends:

Be sure to visit our Watchman Books homepage and click on "Listen" to hear the BlogTalkRadio interviews that you'd like. Hosted by various radio personalities around the country, the programs are thought-provoking and fun!

Award Competitions

2010-01-22T12:24:00.003-06:00

The 2009 publication of Parallel Universe was entered for nomination for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Letters. Columbia University awards Pulitzer Prizes in Letters annually on the recommendation of The Pulitzer Prize Board, which acts on the nominations of distinguished committees of Pulitzer Jurors. The prizewinners and nominated finalists are announced during the spring.