Masculinity And Violence In Superheroes

Introduction
Cinema is very powerful when it comes to telling stories. Although each film is unique, when it comes to superhero stories, cinema has its own portrayals of narratives and messages. Because of this style, any superhero film always has a way of capturing even the most delicate eye making superhero themed films very popular among viewers. In explaining this popularity, perhaps it is because viewers see superheroes, particularly male superheroes, as the embodiment of outstanding qualities. Although superheroes are often perceived as otherworldly beings, viewers always find connections in their nature, behavior, and character. For this reason, the fascination of viewers with superhero themed films is exceedingly normal (Alorda, 2013, …show more content…
2). The manner in which superheroes dramatize and justify violence is one of the most compelling factors that draw people to these superhero characters. Moreover, the heroes are not ordinary spectacles of masculinity and power. Superheroes embody the ideals that people have always aspired to. For young men, ‘true’ or ‘real’ masculinity is represented by better than average looks, a muscular and imposing physique as well as a brave, heroic personality. The muscular body is a strong symbol of masculinity: nothing else so clearly marks an individual as a bearer of masculine power. For young superhero fans, the superhero offers an immediate and highly visible example of the hyper-masculine ideal which, according to Spencer, Fegley, Harpalani, and Seaton (2004), “is the exhibition of stereotypically gendered displays of power and consequent suppression of signs of vulnerability” (p. 234). Young children run the risk of internalizing these one-dimensional gender symbols of masculinity. According to Brown (2016), “superhero depictions of masculinity are so obviously exaggerated that they represent fiction twice over as a genre and as gender …show more content…
Superman fans all over the world went crazy over this movie. Aside from its superhero-themed concept, the film was well received because it contained a new portrayal of gender roles in superhero movies.
Synopsis of Man of Steel In Man of Steel, Kal-El (Clark Kent) son of Jor-El and Lara is sent to Earth after Krypton his home planet explodes due to an unstable core. As a young boy, he discovers that he possess extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. He journeys to find out who he is, where he came from, and why he was sent to Earth and emerges as the hero that he was always meant to be.
Stereotypic Gender Portrayals of Men in Man of Steel
In Man of Steel Zod tells Superman how he was bred to be a warrior from the moment he was born. This reinforces the gendered stereotype of being a born fighter in young boys, which according to Wood and Fixmer- Oraiz (2015) “are brave warriors who go to battle literally in war and who are ruthless and aggressive” (p. 214). When Superman and Zod are fighting, young boys see that the most effective way to resolve conflict is by

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