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Male divine

Male divine article. Identify a scholarly article that discusses some aspect of the male divine in contemporary culture. Write a 350 word summary ofyour selected article. The article by Kozlovic on “ Superman as Christ Figure” (2002) interprets the character of Superman in contemporary American film culture as a type of “ movie Messiah.” The main thesis of the article is that the movie makers deliberately built into the films aspects of the Judaeo/Christian religious tradition. This means that viewers watching the film subconsciously absorb key religious teachings from this tradition, even if they are under the impression that the story is fictional and secular in nature. The author draws his evidence from a close analysis of elements of the plot, the script, the acting and the way that the films are produced visually. Key features of the character Superman are mapped on to Biblical texts. So, for example, Superman is descended from non-human holographic entity called “ Jor-El” and destined to find a new life among strangers in a strange land (Earth) “ like a diaspora Jew” (p. 5). A clear parallel is made between the extra-terrestial Superman and “ an intelligence greater than our own.” (p. 6) Depiction of the infant with outstretched arms recalls the crucifixion, and the piercing blue eyes of Christopher Reeve are “ part of a long tradition of celluloid saviors having blue eyes” (p. 8) The color blue, which is the main color in Superman’s costume is also linked with heaven, since the sky is blue. A number of stylistic references link Superman with Jewish culture, for example the mock religious oath “ Holy Mackerel” and the ending “ man” in “ Superman” which is “ a suffix common to many contemporary Jewish names e. g. Silverman, Freedman, etc)” (p. 13) . The author makes a rather far-fetched connection between the Hebrew word “ Sopher” which means “ scribe”, even though most people would assume that the word Super is from Latin meaning “ above, superior.” In the conclusion the author underlines the importance of subtext in modern film. The Superman subtext is the underlying code of masculine divinity that exists in western societies. The author reads a divine message in the secular American nationalism of Superman, and reproduces and promotes a patriarchal religious heritage. It is in effect “ a monomyth” with no room for other perspectives in its wholesale acceptance of male supremacy. Reference Kozlovic, Anton Karl. “ Superman as Christ-Figure: The American Pop Culture Movie Messiah.” Journal of Religion and Film. 6 (1) (2002). Available online at: https://www. unomaha. edu/jrf/superman. htm

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