Reflection #2

Superheroes have a moral code that they honor when taking care of the issues that surround them and their communities.  For example, Batman will never kill anyone because that is part of his moral code.  I think Peter Parker may have had a lapse in morals when, in The Amazing Spider-Man  he taunted the school bully Flash by embarrassing him in front of the school after gaining his powers.  Over the years I have tried to develop a moral code for myself.  In high school, I hung around a group of people that may have not been the best crowd in the school.  They did drugs, stole, and took advantage of me.  In the beginning, I was too immature and so caught up in the moment of having a group of friends that i was participating in these terrible actions.  As high school went on, I began distancing myself from these "friends" and taking my own route. A route that didn't involve doing bad things, lying to my parents, etc, and I started to feel better.  I began feeling freer, healthy, and just all around a better person.  I started hanging out with different people who were always nice to me and that I knew were not taking advantage of me. It was a good feeling.  I try to honor my parents even though at times it is very hard.  I try not to judge or talk bad about people, go to all my classes, and get my homework done.  Layman's article discussed power and its ties with satisfaction.  I try to satisfy myself by honoring my moral codes, and for the most part, it works.  I know Superman and Spider-Man struggle with their moral codes from the fact that they have to hide who they are to people and their loved ones, leaving them dissatisfied at times but in real life as long as I value the important things and be strong and true to myself and to other people, I will always be satisfied.  :)

Keeping a secret identity is a very valuable thing to posses.  A secret identity protects the superhero while they’re in their human form and it also protects their family.  Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne can walk among the public safely because their enemies do not know that they are superheroes.  In Spider-Man 2, Doctor Octopus found out that Peter was Spider-Man and he came after them while Peter and Mary Jane were in a cafe and Dr. Oct was able to capture Mary Jane.  Secret identities also prevent the media and public harassing them while they are trying to live semi-normal lives.  I would say that I do have multiple identities in my own life only when it is appropriate to have a multiple identity.  When I am around my friends, I act 100% myself but when I am in the classroom and talking to my professors I speak more formally and not a single curse word.  Depending which side of the family I am around my identity changes too.  My mom’s side is more conservative so I have to watch my language and actions when I am around them.  When I am around my dad’s side of the family I can relax more and be more of myself because they aren't so uptight.

Reflection #1

(this blog is my knowledge on Spiderman strictly from the movies)  
 
"With great power comes great responsibility" is a very famous quote spoken by Peter Parker's uncle Ben. Now, I have never been a huge fan of superheroes, however, this quote stood out to me while watching the movie and this quote was taken into account by both Peter Parker and Spiderman. When Peter was in human form and in superhuman form, he was able to be responsible. Sometimes I find it hard to take responsibility for my actions and the actions of others, therefore, I could not begin to imagine the feeling of responsibility that Peter took on when he transformed into Spiderman. To look after one's self and thousands of others would be a huge task and a great deal of responsibility that is why I pick Spiderman and my favorite superhero.

Since I was a little girl, my old brothers and I couldn't wait for my mother to get home from the grocery store so we could grab a plastic bag, shove our arms through the handles, and jump off the couch like we were flying. As I have gotten older, my aspirations towards becoming a superhero have dimmed at the fact that well, Superheroes do not really exist. Normal people do not have super strength, the ability to fly, or lasers coming out of their eyes. To make up for my dreams being crushed (kidding!) I have looked to Spiderman to give me my dose of superhuman qualities and abilities.

Peter Parker is an average Joe for the most part. He is very smart, quiet, and like a lot of us, has a crush on a fellow peer that that person has no idea about. These factors and the fact that he is around my age attracts me to him. He has a strong family bond between him and his aunt and uncle and I like that about him. I am very close with my family and my parents so I can't help but to feel sorry for him and sad for him that his parents aren't around. After he gets bitten by a radioactive spider and turns into Spiderman, he upholds the standards he has towards himself and his family values and for the most part, remains a caring individual with all the love in the world towards his family. He may be different on the outside when he puts on his costume and turns into Spiderman but on the inside he is still the same caring, family oriented, lovestruck teeager that I can totally relate to.

In Loeb's and Morris's article, Hereos and Superheroes, they discuss how superheroes portray what the human way should look like. Humans should be concerned about the world and the community they live in. Humans should aspire, inspire, push to achieve goals, and be the best person they can be. Superheroes give the human race ideas on how we should live and be prosperous. They're almost like guidelines set for us to try to mimic and to all around make the world a better place. In my personal life, I am sometimes not nice to myself and others around me. I can be lazy, demotivated, and take the easy route. I also curse like a sailor. If Spiderman can tackle the hand of cards he was dealt, take responsibility for himself and others, and not speak a single curse word throughout a whole string of movies, then I should and can do the same thing.