4 articles about the “Men of Steel, Women of Wonder” exhibit and highlighted (bolded) parts of each article that pertains to what we’ve been discussing of representation, identity, and the pairing itself.
We have all the right to question and critique how they have been written. Their “otherness” IS what resonates and connects. So to move away from that, is what truly disconnects them. The idea of the “American Way” is not what it once was. They are not suppose to conform to these outdated ideas as they are forced to. Superman and Wonder Woman are suppose to represent that challenge and change to move forward and for the better, embracing diversity, connecting globally. This is how they are looked upon beyond comics.
“The proverbial Mother and Father of the superhero genre.”- The University Of Arkansas Press
About You Magazine:
https://aymag.com/men-steel-women-wonder/Few pop culture figures have had as much an impact on American life as Superman and Wonder Woman. Since their inception – 1938 and 1941, respectively – the pair has woven their way into the fabric of Americana. Created in times of economic adversity and world war, Superman and Wonder Woman quickly emerged as beacons of American morality. They represented cultural ideals of truth, justice and the American way.
Beginning February 9, visitors to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, in Bentonville, will have the opportunity to examine these iconic figures through the perceptions of a wide range of artists. From Depression-era works to today’s contemporary artists’ interpretations, the new exhibit entitled Men of Steel, Women of Wonder will feature over 70 paintings, photographs, installations, videos and more.
Crystal Bridges Curator Alejo Benedetti developed the exhibit in an effort to offer fresh perspectives on these cultural icons. The works of art explore national identity, American values and the concept of humanity. “It looks at how artists use Superman and Wonder Woman to talk about social politics, American identity and humanity itself, ” says Benedetti.
“I was thinking about how we could activate some of the works from our collection of 1930s and 40s labor prints in a small focus show and ran back across a print by Sam Margolies: Men of Steel,” says Benedetti of his inspiration for the exhibit. “It got me thinking about Superman’s real-world inspirations and what a small show on that topic would look like.
“Pretty quickly, this idea grew into a much larger show that looked at how this character existed in the art world,” he adds. “We added Wonder Woman into the concept for the exhibition, as together, they function as the mother and father of American superheroes. The Margolies work still remains in the show in a section called Origin Stories, along with a few other labor prints from the Crystal Bridges collection.”
Benedetti says the exhibit is the first of its kind, the first to look at an artwork response to these iconic characters. “Additionally,” he says, “because these are characters we all know from our daily lives, this show is widely accessible, but will provide a lot of new ways for guests to engage with these characters.”
While America during the time of Superman and Wonder Woman’s advent was a much different place, the two pop culture figures continue to resonate with swaths of people across the globe. Benedetti credits the characters’ malleability and vulnerability with their longstanding popularity.
“These characters are always evolving over time and constantly adjusting to the world around us and the concerns of the day,” he says. “The other part of it has to do with their vulnerabilities. Yes, these are incredibly powerful, often near-perfect beings we aspire towards, but they also have very human limitations and flaws that poke through. Every time we see those chinks in the armor, it helps us relate to those characters, making them that much more relevant to us.”
Benedetti says it’s difficult to say which of the 70+ pieces in the exhibition is his favorite, but if pressed, would choose Mike Kelley’s Kandor 17. “It’s probably the one that is most important for my own connection to Superman,” he says.
“I saw this work, along with a number of other works from the Kandor series, when I was in graduate school,” he adds. “I was instantly hooked by their strange beauty and intrigued by Kelley’s fascination with an obscure Superman reference. It was so bizarre that it got me to start looking into Superman for the first time. I ended up becoming a fan of the character, delved deeply into Kelley’s series as a researcher, and ultimately, I’m sure it’s why, years later, when I saw the Margolies print, it made me think of Superman.”
San Antonio Museum of Art website:
https://www.samuseum.org/artwork/exh...men-of-wonder/Two of the most popular icons in American pop culture Superman and Wonder Woman, first appeared in times of economic adversity and world war. These characters quickly emerged as embodiments of American morality, representing “truth, justice, and the American way.”
Men of Steel, Women of Wonder, organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, examines the art world’s responses to Superman and Wonder Woman, ranging from their Depression-era origins to today’s contemporary interpretations. The exhibition features more than seventy works including paintings, photographs, photographs, installations, and videos by a wide range of artists, such as Layla Ali, Dara Birnbaum, Renée Cox, Mary Beth Edelson, Fahamu Pecou, Pope.L, Mel Ramos, Norman Rockwell, and Jim Shaw, among others.
"Most of us connect to superheroes. They might be a touchstone of our childhood; we might like to intellectualize the myths, symbols, and narratives embodied in their character and actions; or we might respond emotionally to their superpowers and abilities to destroy the bad guys and save our world," said Suzanne Weaver, Brown Foundation Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. “This exhibition—and the artists who have interpreted these cultural icons with fresh eyes—goes deeper by exploring the relationship of Superman and Wonder Woman to national identity, American values, social politics, and the concept of humanity.”
The University Of Arkansas Press:
https://www.uapress.com/product/men-...men-of-wonder/Saturated in patriotic colors, Superman and Wonder Woman are about as American as baseball and apple pie. Superman, created in 1938, materialized as the brawny answer to the Great Depression, and when Wonder Woman arrived three years later, she supported her adopted country by fighting alongside Allied troops in World War II. As the proverbial mother and father of the superhero genre, these icons appeared to a society in crisis as unwavering beacons of national morality, a quality that lent them success on the battlefield—and on the newsstand.
As new crises arise our comic-book champions continue to be called into action. They adapt and evolve but remain the same potent, if flawed, symbols of the American way. The artists in Men of Steel, Women of Wonder, an exhibition organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, wrestle with Wonder Woman’s standing as a feminist icon, position Superman as a Soviet-era weapon, and question the immigration status of both characters. Featuring more than seventy artworks that range from loving endorsements to brutal critiques of American culture, this exhibition catalog reveals the enduring presence of these characters and the diverse ways artists employ them.
Kiss My Tulle:
https://www.kissmytulle.com/2019/01/...n-antonio.htmlAs many of you know, as for my house and I – we are HUGE comic book fans. My husband and I are also passionately about raising a new generation of empathetic, non-gender role specific children.
We are drawn to comic and depictions of superheroes who push the boundaries of what men and women are “supposed” to be. I love that this exhibit wants to offer fresh perspectives on the traditional ideals of truth, justice, and the American way.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
This exhibition features over 70 paintings, photographs, installations, videos, and more by a wide range of artists. The concept is simple – how can artists offer a fresh perspective on the dual cultural icons – Superman and Wonder Woman?
The artists featured in “Men of Steel, Women of Wonder” strive to explore the concepts of Superman and Wonder Woman as they relate to national identity, American values, social politics, and the concept of humanity. What they achieve is exciting, thought-provoking, unforgettable!
WHAT WILL I SEE?
The exhibit will showcase over 70 artworks including: paintings, prints, photography, textiles, mixed media, video/film, sculptures, and ephemera.
It features over 50 artists including: Mel Ramos, Peter Saul, Fahamu Pecou, Jim Shaw, Norman Rockwell, Mike Kelley, Renee Cox, Emma Amos, Sarah Hill, Dara Birnbaum, Roger Shimomura, Desiree Navab, and Jacky Tsai.
Recognize a few of those names? Don't recognize others? AWESOME. The exhibit strives to introduce visitors to contemporary artists they may not know while leveraging their voices to tell their own stories.
“Men of Steel, Women of Wonder” allows visitors to see how the artists from different regions and mediums are exploring complex societal issues, such as: social justice, national identity, American values, and humanity.
Visitors will see up close both passionate endorsements of Superman and Wonder Woman's heroic ideals presented next to intense critiques of issues currently affecting American society.