Superheroes and Vigilantes
Marvel is planning to release 3 to 4 superhero movies a
year, with possibly 23 in the pipeline . Solo superhero movies – Superman, Spiderman, Hulk, Iron Man, seeming inadequate as evil grows, gives way to collective forces - X Men, Transformers, Guardians of the Galaxy
and the Avengers .
What has created this obsessive need for Superheroes? From the earliest recorded literature, the
gods, angels and heroes were always invoked at times of war or natural
disasters. Gilgamesh, Odysseus, the
Knights of the Round Table or Rustum have epitomized courage facing fierce
opponents and supernatural beings.
We all have a deep-seated need to be taken care of – by a
parent, a teacher, a friend, a spouse or a government. The perceived powerlessness of governments
and their justice systems is compensated by the fantasy of heroes with
extraordinary powers who can protect us.
Psychologists suggest that superheroes validate the
collective moral values of humanity. They calm fears, lift spirits, and develop
resilience. At a time when so much is
said about society, especially the young, losing its values, the extraordinary
popularity of superhero films is strong evidence that belief in the triumph of
Good against Evil remains unshaken.
Justice once seen as a Divine responsibility, gradually
became the role of government judicial systems. One can argue these institutions rather than
society lost faith in the power of Good to overcome Evil.
Parallel to the Superhero, the Vigilante emerged - ordinary people who while lacking the special
powers of superheroes , step up to punish wrong-doers who are beyond the reach
of the law.
In 1905 novelist Edgar Wallace introduced The Four Just Men - respectable citizens , an anthropologist, an
artist, a chemist, and occasionally, a highly skilled criminal engaged after
the death of the original fourth Just Man. Together they take law into their
own hands to rid society of criminals. Batman, introduced by DC Comics in 1940 not possessing supernatural powers , was
a vigilante, Bruce Wayne, who trained himself to combat criminals after his parents were killed by common
thieves and the corrupt police of Gotham City ( New York) were unable to provide
justice.
Paul Hoffman calls vigilantism, “the last resort of the
unprotected”, and vigilante groups or individuals operate in many countries of
the world. Some protect the helpless such as Nyx or the Gulabi Gang, while
others instigate violence such as the Klu Klux Klan or Modi’s Cow
protectors.
Karachi’s vigilantes, Jameel Yusuf and Nazim Haji,
established the highly respected CPLC in
the 80s when a spate of kidnappings could not be managed by the police.
Individuals within the Karachi police force also controversially resort to
extra-judicial killings, fearing criminals will slip past the judicial system.
Vigilantism has its modern origins in San Francisco in 1851,
at the time of the gold rush when lawlessness was rampant and law enforcers could
not cope. Their motto “Let Justice be Done though the Heavens
Fall” became part of the school
curriculum. Annika Hagley in her Guardian column “America’s need for superheroes has led to the rise of Donald Trump”,
writes the US need for superheroes is “ steeped in the uniquely American
pop-culture belief that vigilantism is sometimes better than the law.” It may explain the mayhem the USA creates
across the world with its ill-conceived international vigilantism. Politics and
fiction even reinforce each other as in the film “Batman VS Superman”, where Batman
references a statement by ex-Vice President Dick Cheney, when he says “If we
believe there’s even a one percent chance that he is our enemy, we have to take
it as an absolute certainty and we have to destroy him.”
Durriya Kazi
May 27, 2019
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