Tag: MCU

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“Way too many Spider-Man movies”?

“The Good Place”, property of Fremulon, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Universal Television

Spider-Man has been a constant in media for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I watched Spider-Man (1994-1998) and (to a lesser degree) Spider-Man Unlimited (1999-2001), the Raimi series starring Tobey Maguire (2002, 2004, 2007) and the semi-related Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003) which starred Neil Patrick Harris (BRILLIANT casting, btw). Since then, there’s been a semi constant stream of animated series and live action films: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009), Ultimate Spider-Man (2012-2017), Spider-Man (2017-present), Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), Tom Holland’s appearances in the MCU (Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and the anticipated Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)) and, of course, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018).

Tl;dr: Spider-Man has been on TV or in theaters consistently since 1994. My brother will tell you that’s almost 25 years. 


And that’s not even talking syndication or getting into the media produced prior to 1994.

So, what about the Spider-Man property makes it appeal to so many? What has made the Spider-Man character such a fixture in pop culture, often listed as the archetypal superhero beside Batman and Superman?

The original Spider-Man is Peter Parker, a high school student from Queens, New York. He’s an avid photographer who is also considered a science nerd and is often bullied as a result. After being bitten by a ‘radioactive’ spider, he gains spider powers, including the ability to walk on walls and increased strength, agility, and senses. After taking up the mantle of Spider-Man, he must balance being a normal teenager with being a superhero.

I think that Spider-Man’s continued popularity comes from his continued cross-generational relate-ability. 

Being a teenager is something we can all relate to. Humans biologically go through a change from childhood to adulthood and during this time, teenagers feel like they are different, isolated, all while struggling between the joyous irresponsibility of childhood and the desire to be seen as an adult. Peter Parker and Spider-Man have long been able to tap into and/or recapture these feelings.

For example, let’s start with the name Spider-Man. When Spider-Man was created, teenage superheroes were typically given names that ended with ‘Boy’. While Stan Lee had his own reasons for choosing Spider-Man over Spider-Boy, I think the name resonates now for different reasons. It’s a demonstration of Peter Parker’s desire to be seen as an adult and given responsibilities. That he is not an adult comes into play in a number of different ways, but that he wants to be treated like a grown up is something all teenagers experience. 

The other thing about being a teenager is that everything feels very urgent and very dramatic and very important. This is due to different reasons, the changing brain chemistry, the new/increased responsibilities, etc. The point is, it tends to be memorable period of time as a result. During the struggle for increased independence and the quest to find an identity, it’s easy to feel isolated, like no one else feels the way you do, or could possibly understand. The strong desire for more new responsibilities and freedoms results in feelings of helplessness and a desire for control that teenagers think adults possess. (We don’t, btw. We just learn to live with it.) Spider-Man’s decision to present himself as an adult reflects this desire, as well as his attempts to take control using the powers he now possess– something every teenager wishes they could do as they come to realize the amount of control their parents have over their life.

Peter Parker is an outsider at school who has the ability to take control of his circumstances and how he is seen by others when he becomes Spider-Man. I can guarantee that it doesn’t matter how ‘popular’ you were in high school, you absolutely felt like no one understood you, that you were weird and different from everyone else, that you wished you could take control and make changes. 

While Batman and Superman were adults with additional freedoms and powers, teenage Peter Parker/Spider-Man has some strong limitations. Because of his age, there are people constantly watching out for him including teachers, friends, and family. He can’t just call in sick or not come home when there are rules and expectations in place. Spider-Man has to find a way to balance his normal life and his superhero life with more variables than the adults. In recent years, this has become increasingly relatable as high school students wishing to go to college are expected to have a laundry list of extracurriculars and special skills, all while trying to connect socially and do well academically. 

In recent years, this has become increasingly relatable as high school students wishing to go to college are expected to have a laundry list of extracurriculars and special skills, all while trying to connect socially and do well academically. But, even older generations can relate to that feeling of having to constantly report back to someone.

Essentially, Spider-Man is the ultimate teenage fantasy– what we all wish we could be. He is free and powerful all in between schoolwork and other responsibilities. This is why the character never seems to leave our screens for long. And, with castings such as Tom Holland and new takes such as Spider-Verse, it’s easy to want more.

“The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, property of Netflix and NBCUniversal Television Distribution

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Looking Back On 2018…

In just a few short hours we will be in 2019! It’s kinda hard to believe. This year feels like it’s lasted at least a decade, so let’s take a second to look back…

Here’s a short list: Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, Doctor Who Series 11, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir season 2, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Deadpool 2, Disney bought Fox, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 lost its director, Red Sox won the World Series, Game of Thrones dropped the trailer for its last season, we got a sequel to Mary Poppins over 50 years later, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Incredibles 2, American Horror Story crossover, Life-Size 2 almost 20 years later… the list goes on.

Once again it was a big year for revivals and nostalgia. In addition to She-Ra, Sabrina, Mary Poppins, and Life-Size, we saw the revival of Roseanne/The Conners, Murphy Brown, Magnum P.I., American Idol, Tomb Raider, Oceans 8, Charmed, Titans, and Halloween. Now, I may have been a little lax with my viewing. When I was in college, I once had a couple months where I was seeing a new movie each week. Right now, my life is not in a place where I can do that, so that will not be my New Years Resolution. No, instead, I will attempt to put out a blog entry each week and on time! (And I can promise that I will be seeing Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame the weekends they open!)

We’re also currently riding on the wave that is the aftermath of #metoo and its effecting the industry. People are speaking out and its becoming a wise marketing choice to use female and minority filmmakers. Wonder Woman did amazing things for female directors in 2017 and this year Black Panther opened the door for minority filmmakers and superheroes.

TV also got very political this year, with liberal Hollywood speaking out against President Trump and his policies (a trend I expect to continue). This was true even for shows like Doctor Who, which is a British program. His racist and sexist remarks have inspired plot points, such as Who‘s “Rosa” and the political and racial backgrounds of characters on primetime TV shows such as Charmed and Rosanne/The Conners.

So, what does this mean for the entertainment industry? Well, Disney is slowly but surely monopolizing the film industry and cornering the market on mega franchises. It’s no longer just Princesses, there’s Star Wars and the MCU– now with the addition of Fox’s character library (and making us all nervous about Deadpool 3). Meanwhile, Netflix went and canceled a bunch of programs, including all of its Marvel programs (save for Jessica Jones and Punisher), but also released 3 seasons/20 episodes of Nailed It!. NBC is making a comedy comeback with lineups that include The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Will & Grace, while ABC stands by The Conners and snatches up American Idol, with no end in sight for Grey’s Anatomy. America’s Next Top Model is on VH1 now and Black Mirror just released a “Choose Your Own Adventure” episode…

2018 has been a year for reinvention and creativity. It’s been about branching out as production companies try to nail down what audiences are after. While many of us are reading news headlines with dismay, the entertainment industry is actually starting to step up with female and minority representation. Shows like Steven Universe, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Doctor Who (as played by Jodie Whittaker) are upping the ante on gender and sexuality representation. It’s an exciting time for TV and Film, with even more to come in 2019!



…Okay, so this is another late post, and once again a bit ramble-y, but as I stated above, New Year’s Resolution! For those of you who have taken the time to read my idle thoughts, thank you! This has been a labor of both passion and discipline and I’m really excited I’ve kept it going this long– and plan on more to come!

I’m expecting 2019 to be a big and happy year and wish you and those closest to you the same! Happy New Year!

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The Role of Witches

Halloween is my favorite holiday. Typically, I spend the month of October, attempting a month-long marathon in the vein of FreeForm’s “31 Nights of Halloween” (formerly 13). So, originally, I had intended to make this post about that, focusing on some of my favorite Halloween TV specials and movies. However, in light of certain events, I decided I wanted to look at the role of women in Halloween culture.

The most obvious figure, is the witch. In Salem 1692, these were individuals who supposedly were in league with the devil. Over time, they have become almost exclusively women and, for a long time, almost exclusively evil. In 1939, the Wicked Witch of the West was the frightening antagonist with the green skin and hooked nose who was thwarted with help from Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. This beautiful ginger got a name and a sparkly pink dress and crown, while our anonymous friend looked severe and dour in the traditional dour black dress and conical hat.

In The Wizard of Oz, good and evil are both represented by witches/strong female characters (although protagonist Dorothy later needs to be saved by her men). In typical fashion, they are characterized by their appearance, but they both demonstrate a great amount of power. Almost 54 years later Disney released another good example of strong women on both sides: Hocus Pocus (1993).

In Hocus Pocus, the Sanderson sisters are three witches who cast a curse just before they are hanged in 1693 Salem. The curse enables them to be resurrected 100 years later to exact their revenge. Played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, these witches are not so obviously “ugly”, and, in the case of Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, she’s actually quite beautiful. Instead, the “ugliness” is in their actions and personalities and in how they aren’t especially intelligent.

In contrast, there’s our protagonists, siblings Max and Dani Dennison, Max’s beautiful crush, Allison Watts, and 17th Century Salem resident-turned-cat, the immortal Thackery Binx. Although the protagonist is decidedly Max (and to some extent, Binx), he is often outshined by Dani and Allison’s intelligence and resourcefulness. Max is the one who starts the trouble, and while he finishes it with his bravery, the beautiful girls more often than not prove to be the more intelligent characters.

Hocus Pocus and The Wizard of Oz share some key similar traits in how they portray women, with good and evil females on both sides, and the evil ones less beautiful or intelligent. However, where The Wizard of Oz, also gives its strength and intelligence to the male protagonists, Hocus Pocus reflects the changing times by making the females the more capable characters.

In the years since Hocus Pocus, witches have more and more often been portrayed as forces for good: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992, 1997-2005), Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003), Charmed (1998-2006, 2018-), Harry Potter (1997-2007, 2001-2011), The Good Witch (2008, 2015-) … the list goes on. The point is, women have been taking back that word. Because, let’s be realistic, what is a witch but a woman who has power beyond male understanding? Witches don’t need men and cannot be controlled by them (which is why some of them choose romantic partners that are not your standard human man: Willow and Tara, Scarlet Witch and The Vision (a cyborg created by an alien intelligence and hyper-sophisticated AI)).

Today, witches are again being threatened. See, it’s no longer just witches threatening the patriarchy. More than ever, women are standing up for injustices that have previously gone unacknowledged, but also/still receiving pushback. Women are looking for the same autonomy, power, and resources afforded to men; the right to feel safe and secure. While women have been restricted and vilified as witches, (wealthy, white) men continue to exhibit poor behavior and decision making skills without consequence. For centuries, women have been silenced, burned at the stake (physically, mentally, emotionally, socially). It’s never been okay and now that people are voicing that opinion it’s even more important that we keep standing up and saying it. Because these voices are having an impact, the opposing side is becoming more frantic and eager to silence them. While this message seems to be gaining ground socially, it seems to be stagnating politically. For the first time in my life, I am actively encouraging political participation. Vote, take a stand; things are never going to change when we have politicians who want them to stay the same. Find the power within yourself to be a witch; someone who cannot be controlled and expects respect and equality.

Consider what kind of world you want to live in: one where Dorothy needs to be rescued by a Scarecrow and the hero is a boy who summoned a trio of evil witches (NEVER light the Black Flame Candle), or one where Captain Marvel is supposedly going to be the most powerful character in the MCU and Wonder Woman and Patty Jenkins’s success is leading to the DCEU actively recruiting female directors for female-lead superhero films? (A historically male-oriented genre wants to explore powerful women without asking them to wear a sexy outfit.) This October, almost 55 years after its pilot aired, we’re even getting a female Doctor on Doctor Who! (Seriously, I could go on…)

 

So this year, rather than be a sexy witch for Halloween, be a powerful one all the time.

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