spider3 — Wed, 02 May 2007 15:37:40 +0000

Something as big as the movie Spiderman affects us in many different ways. The convergence of several different theories allows for a broader interpretation of this text. Jameson, Butler, Fanon, Horkheimer and Adorno gave us different angles to attack the same text; allowing us opportunities to further understand what was being presented to us. None of us think the same way. Although some of our ideas were similar, our final destinations were unique. Schools of theory represent voices of peoples; this collaboration of voices allows for a meaningful discussion.

Spiderman 3 Trailer

John decided to view the Spiderman 3 trailer through the eyes of Jameson in the following ways:

Gives a brief overview of pastiche and how it applies to the Spiderman phenomena
Describes how individuals cling to the idea of pastiche through the character of Spiderman
Explains the dangers of clinging to pastiche
Describes our overwhelming want/need for nostalgia

Meaghan

Meaghan described the gender roles of Peter Parker/Spiderman as well as MJ through the ideas of Butler:

Assesses the gender roles of Peter Parker and MJ
Performance of gender roles – reality vs. expectations
Spiderman vs. Peter Parker – what Peter wants vs. what Peter needs
What is manliness – the difference between Spiderman and Peter Parker
Conflicting gender roles

Michael

Michael dissected the Spiderman 3 trailer using Fanon and Horkheimer and Adorno:

Describes negritude in the eyes of Fanon
Uses negritude to describe “Parkertude”
The dominate relationship between Spiderman and Peter Parker
Horkheimer and Adorno addresses capitalist function exhibited by the Spiderman phenomena

Weaving it Together

So what does the meeting of the minds do for us? Both Butler and Fanon show us that exerting one’s true identity is very difficult. Each theorist illustrates an oppressive system. Spiderman/Peter Parker must suffer through one of them. Can we apply these theories to our lives? How are our identities ascribed to us? If the movies are like real life, as Adorno and Horkheimer point out, and we continue to buy into this need for Jameson’s Nostalgia, then do we continually throw ourselves into these cycles of oppression? Hurm…

We like Spiderman. Our enjoyment of this film transforms our ordinary cumbersome lives into this fantasy world for a brief period. The emotion heightens us to this utopian plane, one that we can only dream to exist in. If you believe in Heaven, then Jesus must always suffer for our happiness. For utopia to exist someone has to suffer. These theorists show us that Peter Parker must have to suffer for tranquility to exist; Spiderman must rule his life (his dominant identity). Real artists suffer when we get sucked into the vacuum of capitalism. Sometimes it’s just easier to be naïve about it.

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spider3 — Wed, 02 May 2007 15:13:16 +0000

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Dissecting a Spider(man)

Hello world!