...Aryan Shankar Catherine Thomas English I 2 November, 2015 Iron Man and its Role in Creating a ‘Positive Geek Culture’ Superheroes are everywhere these days. Although, the origin of superheroes can be traced back to the comic books of the 1930s and even earlier, they have been depicted in media like film, television shows, video games, radio broadcasts and graphic novels. They even find their place in apparels like t-shirts, sweatshirts, socks and underwear; stationery items like pencil boxes; accessories for electronic gadgets like cell phone covers and laptop skins; and various home furnishing items. Originally confined to a certain class of comic book fans, the popularity of superheroes has reached a wider audience with a lot of different people being happily associated with them. This phase of increasing infusion of superheroes into the mainstream culture started in the 1990s and the early part of the 21st century but it was only after the release of the film Iron Man that superheroes reached their present level of popularity. Therefore, it can be argued that Iron Man has led to the creation of what can be called, a ‘positive geek culture’. ‘Geek culture’, as it is popularly understood, has many different facets and it is not always associated with being a superhero fan. Geek culture includes interest in board games like Dungeons & Dragons, the film series Star Wars and martial arts films of the 1980s, and television series like Star Trek, Battlestar...
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...Are we waving goodbye to the superheroes? We all know them, and we all love them. But the era of the superhero movies are maybe coming to an end. Why is that? And will we no longer be looking at buff men and women dressed in slim tights and colourful capes? A dominating and very unique genre of movies saw it’s first light of the day back in the 00’s. It all started with the Batman-movie who was published in 2002 and became a massive success. If we look at the cold facts we can see, that in the list of best selling movies are The Avengers from 2012 and The Dark Night from 2008 present. This is an independent genre, although it’s got a lot in common with the action-genre. In both genres, we have an outstanding hero who saves the day and is unbeatable. But in the action-genre we have heroes like Harry Callahan and John McClane, who comes home at the and of the day and still remains the same hero. Unlike Spiderman and Batman who comes home in the end of the day and becomes a whole other person when they take their masks of. Often, when they get home, the superheroes turn into the opposite of a superhero- someone that you would never expect to save the world. And someone you could identify yourself with. And that is one of the most important parts in a superhero movie, because the hero stays anonymous and that creates an exiting story and a different view on the heroes. These superheroes are also different, because they take care of business by them selves. They do...
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...As the narrator of Beowulf describes the hero, he sets up a scene for whirlwind adventure of superhuman abilities. “In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats, greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (Line 90-93). An epic hero is someone who is a larger-than-life figure who often embodies the ideals of a nation or race. Epic heroes take part in dangerous adventures and accomplish great deeds, many undertake long difficult journeys and display great courage and superhuman strength. In the poem Beowulf, the author describes Beowulf as an epic hero through his actions and adventures that are similar and different to those of a modern day superhero such as Iron Man. Beowulf possess superhuman abilities when he describes his ability to drive five giants into chains and defeats Grendel with his bare hands. “Heard in his home: of heroes then living/ he was the stoutest and strongest/sturdy and noble”(line 8-12). Through these experiences that the author tells about in the epic, it is obvious that Beowulf is more than an ordinary man. His strength is tested by mythical beings that Beowulf has easily defeated. He also has some of the mental characteristics that are common to an epic hero including, his lack of self-righteousness and his perseverance while in battle. In the story Beowulf, Beowulf takes on a responsibility of fighting a dragon, this responsibility resulted in him dying at the end of the story. In Iron Man, Tony Stark...
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...Mapping the “Super” Supply Chain for Comic Books MKT/421 Introduction The supply chain is a vital part of the economic system as a whole. This system is responsible for the availability of medicine, foods, fuel and other necessary elements of life. But, more importantly the supply chain allows the movement of one of the life's essential items, comic books. This paper will map the supply chain and introduce you to three new comic book superheroes in the process. Each step of the supply chain will be detailed. These steps are manufacturing, distributing and retail (Cohen, 2011). The Manufacturer: AKA The Amazing Artist Man More powerful than Superman, cagier than The Amazing Spiderman, he is the first hero we will meet. He is the beginning of the vast comic book universe. Our first hero is known as the Amazing Artist man. He/she is the beginning of this storied process. The Amazing Artist Man gets the creative ball rolling. He or she is integral in setting the proper direction that the story will go. They also have other responsibilities that they are responsible for. Such items include:. * Design the layout and story board of the comic book * Spark the creative flow/process for continuity of the storylines. * Improves story designs based on customer feedback. * Establishes branding to amplify the quality of the product. For the largest comic book companies (DC and Marvel) creating and sustaining a brand image that focuses on excitement and...
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...Marvel's The Avengers[4] (classified under the name Marvel Avengers Assemble in the United Kingdom and Ireland),[1][5] or simply The Avengers, is a 2012 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.1 It is the sixth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film was written and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård, and Samuel L. Jackson. In the film, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor to form a team that must stop Thor's brother Loki from subjugating Earth. The film's development began when Marvel Studios received a loan from Merrill Lynch in April 2005. After the success of the film Iron Man in May 2008, Marvel announced that The Avengers would be released in July 2011. With the signing of Johansson in March 2009, the film was pushed back for a 2012 release. Whedon was brought on board in April 2010 and rewrote the original screenplay by Zak Penn. Production began in April 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving to Cleveland, Ohio, in August and New York City in September. The film was converted to 3D in post-production. The Avengers premiered on April 11, 2012, at Hollywood's...
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...Yu 1 Yue Yu (Jasmine) Kat Gonso ENGW 1102 October 5, 2013 The audience of this review should be those people who like watching science fiction movie or fans of super heroes. My intended publication would be online blog, which is special prepared for sci-fi movies and TV shows, such as the blog Atomic Anxiety on website WordPress, and so on. Review of the Avengers: Numerous Figures but Distinct Characters Recently, a new TV series was released, called The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. As a loyal fan of science fiction movies and S.H.I.E.L.D, how can I miss these episodes! However, it is really a pity that there are only few episodes right now, I have to be patient to wait for the next story. And I am sure that most fans would be like me to wait for next episodes. So, in order to make waiting time more interesting, I would like to introduce a movie, which also happened in S.H.I.E.L.D, and fans would like it. It is called Avengers. Unlike normal agents using high technology to solve various troubles in TV series The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, super heroes in the movie Avengers uses their own abilities to protect their homeland. It is true that the TV series looks more like a reality, but I think superpower makes a science fiction movie more fantasy and mysterious. So, there is no doubt that when it first showed on screen, it received a warm welcome in a large amount of fans. The poster of the Avengers Yu 2 For me, the movie attract me most is that many of audiences’ familiar heroes would...
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...Jess Jones Persuasive Paper: Marvel vs. DC November 3, 2015 One of the most controversial topics for teenagers and adults alike is the topic of which comic brand is better, Marvel or DC? DC and Marvel fans have been at each other’s throats since the 1950’s. “The battle between DC and Marvel is eternal. First it was in the comic shop, then it was on the Internet and most recently, it’s on the big screen (Lussier).” says Tsujihara. DC characters are better because their status is more realistic and attainable, they are more popular among the children, and DC characters work hard for their strengths and powers and use them for good. There are two categories within DC: the gods, such as Wonder Woman and Superman, and the iconic underdogs, such as Batman and Green Lantern. The gods are from another planet or universe and are normally the ruler’s child. They use their powers to protect their land. The underdogs are the favorite in any story and work the hardest. They are not born with any powers, but they want to help so they make a way. The underdogs are the people we look up to and admire the most. They are good men and/or women whom we strive to be like. Everyone looks up to Bruce Wayne because he is a good guy who wants to turns the bad events in his life into profit for others. Marvel literally has no characters that work for their superhero status. People love Marvel and support it and they wonder why their children do not want to work for what they get. Children start...
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...real situations with some superhuman powers thrown in for good measure. The heart of the conflict is an ideological difference of opinion between the two sides, and in a surprising turn of events, it’s our very own law-abiding, orders-following Captain who’s opposing the decisions of the Government to pass the Sokovia Accords in the aftermath of their epic battle in Sokovia as shown in Age of Ultron. Thus, the Avengers, for the first time in Marvel history, stand divided, but it is heart-warming to see that despite it all, there exists zero animosity; it’s friends against friends, and no Accord can strain that relationship over a single night. But add to that a conspiracy involving Cap’s Achilles Heel, Bucky (played by the dashing Sebastian Stan), and you have Captain and his team rallying to protect him from being wrongfully tried for a crime he didn’t commit, turning them into outlaws, vigilantes, criminals…you name it. Jaw dropping action sequences have always been Marvel’s plus-point, and Civil War does not fail to disappoint in that (or any) category. Love Bucky or hate him, but you can’t not emit a gasp when he punches off a guy driving a motorcycle in full speed , and then hops astride it in one swift move. IN SLOW MOTION. And you can’t not grip the armrest (or...
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...Grant Morrison, famed comic book writer/enthusiast, automatically has extrinsic ethos. This is because he is an internationally famous authority on comics, which is the ideal credibility to have when writing Supergods. Morrison, being well-versed in comics, describes these with such detail and personal-opinion that the reader can’t help but feel they are in the time period. For example Morrison says, “With the world on the verge of war, readers couldn’t get enough of the superheroes, especially in the comic books.” (SG47) Morrison speaks from almost a first person view of what was transpiring. Morrison creates his sense of good moral character through his countless examples and descriptions throughout the novel. “During the years of the Second World War, the superhero concept spread like wildfire, but then died as rapidly and mysteriously as it had begun. Mass popular interest dwindled sharply after 1945…” (SG52) Morrison uses a myriad of examples and facts which support the fact that he is well informed on the subject. He establishes his knowledge constantly, and the way in which Morrison describes these scenes sets up his intrinsic ethos. Morrison’s intrinsic ethos was decidedly apparent in chapter four. Morrison states, “The race to create superheroes with fresh gimmicks crashed headlong into one spectacular dead end with the Red Bee, the crime fighting persona of a man named Rick Raleigh.” (SG47) Morrison uses words like “crashed” next to words like “spectacular” which displays...
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...and most people will know who Stan Lee is. Jumping into fame as the mind behind the tremendously successful ‘Marvel Saga’ of movies, said franchise has - at the moment - raise more that $500 Million dollars in just three movies, with the last one being ‘Avengers: Infinity Wars’ raising more than $250 Million dollars in just the initial opening. At this moment Stanley Martin Lieber (later Stan Lee) may appear as a colossus of the entertainment for the big screen, nevertheless this is a man that has rise from the shadows, appearing out of the blue to capture the hearts of millions of people around the globe, and to create the greatest movie franchise of this decade, in this biography we shall...
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...Odin and Thor, along with the later mentioned Loki, are prominent characters within the 21st centuries society. Anyone familiar with the Marvel extended universe are well acquainted with these formidable gods, gods of whom go embarking on adventures and quests with other super heroes within these films. The significance of these three no longer remain solely within the mythological stories they once were solely held to. They now exist in another wholly unique world of gods mixed with super heroes. The average, modern-day human does not particularly think of them in terms of mythological deities who were of an entirely other realm, instead now viewing them from the theaters, fighting with, against, and amongst humans and non-gods alike. Their significance now heeds on entertainability. Baldr, son of Odin and born second to Thor, as well as a fellow Aesir god of light and purity, was the first god to ever die, as mentioned previously (Lindow 247-248). Murdered by Hod, his blind, half-brother, he was left to suffer in the “world of the dead,” with his death being labeled as “one of the most important moments” within Norse mythology that historians know of (Lindow 65-67). The gods were shocked and dumbfounded, especially considered revenge could not be taken upon the site of sanctuary where Baldr was stricken dead with a mistletoe spear crafted by Loki. Another son of Odin, Hermod, volunteers to go to Hel upon Frigg’s request to perhaps hopefully retrieve Baldr. Traveling perilously...
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...The impression shapes our nature Obviously, when it comes to the talking subject of superheroes, boys are always the more exciting ones in our childhood. They admire their power and are wild about acting as one of them when doing the games. In contrast, girls are typically ones who have paid more attention to fairy tale that express friendship, love or whatever sentimental feelings. And when I memorize to consider that if there is a superhero that affects my childhood, or what we say, the formative years, I cannot even remember a superhero’s name except Monkey King, who is the character in one of great Chinese masterpiece and is famous enough for every child in China to know. So the point here is clear. It is definitely not a big part of my childhood and I wasn’t affected by it that much, at least not more than the influence The Little Mermaid had on me. I conclude the reasons why most of girls, at least in my age, don’t have such deep connect with superheroes are various. One of the reasons is that heroes are always male. And since kids prefer to substitute themselves into the stories they read and imagine that they are the protagonists, the fact of less or no female superheroes in most of stories prevents that action and leads to less sense of emotion resonance. And in some degree, the fact of less or no female superheroes does give us the hint that male should be the ones who protect and female should be the ones being protected. So, does it shape my perception of gender...
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...BUS 568 Marketing Communications April 6, 2014 I selected to write my article about Evian when I came across their advertisement in Adweek.com. The article caught my attention because it was featured as Adweek’s ad of the day titled “Evian Spins a Familiar Web with a Dancing Baby Spider-Man BETC gets heroic in the latest outing”. The title grabbed my attention and I was curious to read the article and of course watch the YouTube video. I have always been a fan of the Evian commercials and their use of Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) babies coming together in a group to swim, dance, roller skate, etc. and therefore I was curious to learn more. I’m sure most people have the same reaction as I do when I see a cute baby, but a cute one year old performing in the commercials is even better. I hadn’t seen The Amazing Spider Man 2 commercial but after viewing the YouTube video, I was even more in love with Evian’s marketing by using the CGI babies, however, I do agree with the author Emma Bazilian in that the Spider Man 2 commercial is very similar to Evian’s “Baby & Me” commercial just different characters. “Baby & Me” starts when pedestrians walk by a man dancing in front of a mirror to the song “Here Comes the Hotstepper” except his reflection is not of him as an adult but as a baby. All the other pedestrians that come to observe also see their reflection when they were a child and they all join in on the party. Since music is universal and it’s a great way...
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...A Modern Day Allusion The Elizabethan era, once filled with long dresses, courtship and theatre has now transitioned into a time when less clothing is considered better and with some teenagers, dating is a quick as a game of musical chairs, switching partners when the music stops. Teenagers are more interested in social media and texting than interacting with other people. There a two allusions that can be switched into Hamlet to allow it to appeal to a young and modern audience. Updating the term Termagant and Hercules could appeal to a more modern audience. Termagant was originally “a deity erroneously ascribed to Islam by medieval European Christians and represented in early English drama as a violent character.” This original allusion is used to describe a nasty or violent person and in Hamlet is it used in Act III Scene ii, before Hamlet performs his play. It is used in the context of “I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant. It out-Herods Herod.” Hamlet was telling the actors not to overdo their performance and to not have violent outbursts. Many teenagers would not know what this word meant unless they had to look it up for a project. The word bully would be a better fit for a modern audience, because for years, teenagers and kids have been taught about the definition of a bully and what it means to bully another person. The new line would read as “I would have such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing a bully. It out-Herods Herod“ By making this replacement...
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...Performance Critique The play I chose to see for this review was Marvel Universe Live. It was an action packed thrill ride of an experience and a great play. The entertainment company who created this act is Feld Entertainment they’ve had multiple other players like Disney on Ice, and the Barnum & Bailey Circus. This play includes a lot of Marvel identities that everyone is familiar with and some may not be like Black Widow, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Cyclops, Electro, The Falcon, Green Goblin, Hawkeye, The Hulk, Iron Man, Loki, Nick Fury, Red Skull, Rhino, Spider Man, Storm, Thor, & Wolverine and also many other characters in the Marvel universe .The plot of the play is about Thor shatters the cosmic cube and the pieces scatter across the world and the bad guys get a hold of these pieces and of course the good guys have to stop them. The actors in the performance you could hear them very well in the BJCC even when we sat at the tip top of the arena. The actors had great chemistry on the stage and you can tell they’ve been acting for a very long time. They villains moved like they were big and bad and the heroes moved like well no one can mess with them. The stage which they performed on was the court of the BJCC and the stage was awesome there was a lot of props. Like I said the stage was huge so there was a lot of room for character interaction and it all made sense for the performance. The set was pretty epic with the props the special effect the lighting and everything...
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