Greetings and Lamentations,
Continuing the thesis from last time, I was endeavoring to apply Hobbes and Locke to the Super Hero movement. Locke informs us that people are generally good, and can self manage themselves, choosing to defer to an impartial justice, instead of taking justice into their own hands.
On the other hand, we have Hobbes, who tells us that because people are generally wicked, punishment must be applied liberally, to ensure everyone learns from example that justice is swift and harsh.
Superman and Spider-man? Lockesian. Wolverine, the Punisher, and Batman? Hobbesian. With overwhelming power, we see the Lockesian heroes prevail, and "save the Earth", and inspire the common man - but only because they have superhuman powers. The Hobbesian heroes do not inspire. Without superhuman powers, they can only punish (Wolverine does have powers - but relatively minor).
Apply these thoughts to the RLSH (Real Life Super Heroes). Without powers, you to believe that they must follow a Hobbesian course. That they must, within the limits of the law, punish and make example of, wicked men. But that's not the case we see. We see these heroes, in their gaudy costumes, performing acts of charity. Helping the homeless, these people most in need of a helping hand. I want to say, leading by example (but my information gathering is incomplete). Certainly inspiring the very young, and the young at heart.
RLSH is a new movement, and is still gestating. What will it become, will it survive? What standards should our heroes meet? Having a sterling character? An extreme fitness regimen to keep them in top fighting form? Perhaps a Private Investigator's license? Minimum first aid/CPR training? Perhaps some legal briefing, and some bounty-hunter training? Will we even hold our heroes to standards? Certification - or will we have vigilantism?
What will be the evolution of the Real Life Super Hero? Will they self manage themselves, and aspire to be better, or will they NEED their Villains to push them? And this could be the seed of Supervillainy.
This counter movement is not, and should not be understood to be strictly adversarial to the Super Heroes. In fact, you may believe that if the Super Villains were ever to completely facilitate the elimination ("liquidation" - sorry, a relish there. Hello - Villain) of the Super Heroes, there would be little reason for villains to exist. Certainly, true villainy could not hope to exist in this post 9/11 world, what with so many interesting ways to monitor any and all aberrant behavior. Any such activity would be wrong, and foolish. And does the world really need any more problems? I think not.
With the history of the Super Villains just beginning, the future is a blank canvass, but it cannot be a canvass without the garish colors of the Super Heroe upon it. But where there is brightness and light, can there not also be, must there not also be, shades of darkness? Every movement must improve, develop, adapt, and evolve. Our culture with it's celebration of diversity, and freedom of thought, tells us this. We celebrate this, and rise to the challenge of new opportunities. As Villains, we must help the Heroes do good, for if left to their own devices, the Heroes may aspire only to find adequacy, or worse, find danger in their unpreparedness. The thrust of Supervillainy, must be to advocate for a better class of Superhero, which will allow the movement to continue into the next generation and find legitamacy in this country, and in others. Superhero Arms Race! - Evil, I know, but what a incentive to improve.
These then, ARE the first chapters of the history of the Real Life Super Villains. First thing - we need a better name. Minions! To work, with you. Second. I need the super power of Evil Spell checking. Minions! You know the routine by now. Will the history be self defeating, or can this be useful? Will the Superheroes take the softball criticism's thrown at them in jest, and crumble, amidst paranoid fantasies of "the world out to get them", or will they adapt, and overcome? Dicipline heroes. Aspiration! The Villains have thrown down the gauntlet. Will you pick it up and accept the challenge?
To see this same dynamic playing out, please check the Myspace blog of Zetaman, a hero who generally seems to have his act, pretty well put together. Try as I might, I can't fault him, and would not try to. He's adapted. He's surviving, and I may argue, thriving. His move away from the more dangerous activities of crime fighting, to assisting the downtrodden are worthy. (Who am I to judge? Only a hypocrite, and a fraud. Hello - Villain).
Rambling mode is switching off, and the theme continues next time,
-M
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ReplyDeletePST,
ReplyDeleteThank you, and exactly the questions I wish to address. I think the challenge must be above board, and cannot be criminal. You've got some really good questions, and it's important to ask and answer these questions. I can't speak, and would not dare to speak for others, but this is the time to start talking. We can't have heroes getting killed, or villains causing mischief. We have to get out in front, and lead into productive, safe directions. Why a villain you ask? Villains are better organized, a little unconventional, and challenge the status quo. I like the haunted house challenge you site, and I believe that is a very good example of what we need to be about. I bet there are other ways also. I'm looking for a Win/Win way of getting this started. Where the enjoyment of doing good things (however you want to dress, or be ADressed) can be overlooked. A lot of people need help, and if a villain can do it, and prod the heroes some, all the better.
Keep up the Evil work,
-M
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ReplyDeleteGreat points here, as in the previous entry; I'd like to throw my own hat in here to define the RLSV movement.
ReplyDeleteWe have no problem with those heroes that are devoting time and resources to helping the downtrodden and homeless. It would be a heartless individual indeed that denied them that.
We're here to purposely bring attention to the crazies, the unbalanced ones within the RLSH community. For every DC Guardian, there's a Master Legend these days... and it's not as if the order is dying out. On the contrary, there are newer cape-wearers every day.
While I'm not fond of blaming the Media (because I like to believe that most people aren't that susceptible to the power of suggestion,) I do have to admit that the upswing in Hero activity started around the same time as Spiderman and X-Men first came out in the theaters.
In the decade since then, we've seen Superhero movies grow progressively darker and more violent; for every Superman there's a Dark Knight, as it were... or a Watchmen. You get the point.
Likewise, we've seen heroes turn from bright colors and capes to... well, to Insignis and his crew. Sure, they might do good in the community, but is it really necessary to have me crap my pants every time I catch a glimpse of them? Darker, scarier costumes are merely a symptom; quite soon, I believe, we'll see vigilantes begin to run rampant in the RLSH community, hurting people, taking the law into their own hands, simply because they believe that in an evil world, violence is the only answer.
Those are the people that necessitated the formation of the RLSV (Which, by the way, I'm just tickled pink that the RLSH community chose to dub us as such).
The world does indeed deserve a better class of hero; that's why we do the things we do. To answer PST's comment, no, we don't plan on merely hiding behind our keyboards forever; we have plans to move forward, gain public awareness, and get our message out.
Much like the 501st Legion, we're the Villains that might not do as much evil as one might suspect.
That's all I'm saying for now lest the Potentate banish me back to the DAMOCLES for spilling too many of his precious beans.
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ReplyDeletePST and White Skull,
ReplyDeleteA host of ideas, and opportunities to explore. Real Change in a positive direction, and guiding our erstwhile foes to betterment. The Internet provides opportunities for Avatar's (naturally) and communication. And the sheer volume of participants, means from a broad audience, a membership can be created. An Evil Organization if you will. And of course, here the Villains allow themselves to throw back their heads and cackle. I think most everything you've both said is entirely actionable, and I believe we COULD establish a way to challenge the Heroes to out do (to "Defeat us") the Villains in a productive way. And for the Villains? The chance to give the smug heroes their comeupance. It's a Win/Win, and some fun at the same time. AND it's all "thinking outside the box". Deferring to the Potentate, of course. (None dare cross his smokey will). I don't want to see anyone hurt, either hero or perp w/a lawyer, because it will shutdown an opportunity that could have otherwise done some good.
-M
An incredibly insightful entry, Lord Malignance, a true dissection of what it means to be villainous. You are correct, the term "Real Life Super Villain," does seem a tad verbose. Frankly, the term Real Life doesn't seem entirely necessary; if we were truly villainous, the real life part would just seem superfluous. People should be aware of just how “real life” we are if we do our jobs right.
ReplyDeleteStay classy.
About Classy. Since the Cheesiest name would HAVE to be "Doctor Doom" which was already taken, I snagged this classy piece of real estate: "Lord Malignance". If Foxfire doesn't stalk you, there is no no justice (which would be a crime - so point to the Villains!)
ReplyDelete-M