Controversial opinion: I can enjoy Superman as a character, but I don't find him aspirational, nor do I understand why I'm supposed to. He's a comic book character, not a household god.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcW_EaNJQSo&t=13569s
3:05 to about 3:07 in this video kind of explains it for me at least.
I feel the same way about 'Sports stars and celebrities.'
The difference is that Superman is imaginary enough that he SHOULD be inspirational. Comic book 'heroes' by their nature should represent everything we could be and everything we should want to be in a glorious black vs. white world. No concerns about about doping scandals, sex scandals, political aspirations that drag down the 'real world' people that so many look up to.
Controversial opinion/counter: No they shouldn't. Because the world isn't black and white. Not all the time at least and there is nothing glorious about an entirely black and white world. You cannot aspire to be something that has no basis in reality and if superheroes are to be inspirational then they have to reflect the real world to some extent. After all, if you don't find anything relatable or real about Superman, what is there in him to aspire to?
I don't relate to Wonder Woman at all but I find her to be someone I would aspire to be like. Simple ideals like empathy and love for your fellow man are ingrained in her character. Goodness in it's many forms are more than enough to be a symbol to look up to.
I don't have to relate to something to care about it or learn a lesson from it.
"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does? - Gaff Blade Runner
"In a short time, this will be a long time ago." - Werner Slow West
"One of the biggest problems in the industry is apathy right now." - Dan Didio Co-Publisher of I Wonder Why That Is Comics
"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does? - Gaff Blade Runner
"In a short time, this will be a long time ago." - Werner Slow West
"One of the biggest problems in the industry is apathy right now." - Dan Didio Co-Publisher of I Wonder Why That Is Comics
"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does? - Gaff Blade Runner
"In a short time, this will be a long time ago." - Werner Slow West
"One of the biggest problems in the industry is apathy right now." - Dan Didio Co-Publisher of I Wonder Why That Is Comics
I wasn't replying to that. I was replying to you saying "After all, if you don't find anything relatable or real about Superman, what is there in him to aspire to?"
To which I give you an example where relatability or realism doesn't matter when finding something to aspire to. I don't need to be the same skin color, gender, class, etc. to find a belief/character to be inspiring.
"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does? - Gaff Blade Runner
"In a short time, this will be a long time ago." - Werner Slow West
"One of the biggest problems in the industry is apathy right now." - Dan Didio Co-Publisher of I Wonder Why That Is Comics
I stand by my statements.
When people learned how to be overcome adversity and become a champion from Lance Armstrong and how to be a kind hearted family man from Bill Cosby... it's dangerous and stupid to set mere humans as heroes and inspirational goals. Every time you turn on the tv or open a browser someone, somewhere is letting you down.
Superman and Wonder Woman... Should be the best they can be. They should exemplify the morals and the goals and they don't do anything so... wrong unless a writer and an editor let them. The question was 'why should I look up to fictional characters?'
That's my answer