do you believe in superheroes essay

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The Relevance of Superheroes in Modern Society Essay

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One of the peculiarities of human consciousness observed in all eras of existence is magical thinking. This type of thinking is characterized by a tendency to believe in supernatural forces and non-human abilities of the body, primarily aimed at protecting humanity. In addition to religious elements, superheroes are examples of this type of magical thinking in the modern world. Superheroes should be understood as fictional characters in comic books, movies and TV series, books, and other information carriers of an entertaining nature who possess supernatural powers. Their powers include superspeed, immortality, immunity to all poisons, the ability to fly, physical superpowers, and any other abilities that the author’s imagination can conjure up. In particular, these powers are a reflection of human desires and exaggerated abilities (Zukoski, 2021). Typically, they allow one to fight for good against evil. Superhero is essential to contemporary media culture, creating a broad fan base around them and continuing to evolve. This essay will examine the phenomenon of superheroes in the context of society’s need for them, which means the essay will answer why superheroes remain relevant and continue to gain popularity.

The symbolic significance of superheroes seems obvious and is reflected in almost all stories. To the average person — reader or viewer — superheroes symbolize hope and the fight for good, especially in critical times. They are defenders who use their superpowers to save humanity, destroy the enemy, and preserve the world. As such, most archetypal classic superheroes reflect mostly positive traits of human character, whether faith, hope, courage, justice, or bravery. There is a parallel to the average person, as some of the superheroes grew up as ordinary people but, as a result of some external factors, acquired non-human abilities.

More importantly, the emergence of superheroes in the media was a reflection of the social and cultural problems of the community. Literary writers reflect the spirit of the times in their products. Therefore, it is often possible to determine what kind of problems a particular society faces by reading it. For example, the creation of the mutated X-Men can be linked to discrimination and segregation, while the story of Spider-Man reflects the problem of growing up as a teenager. At the same time, themes of feminism and ethnic minorities can be found in the comics and films of Wonder Woman and Black Panther. It follows that while superheroes are products of their time, they remain relevant as long as their central themes remain essential.

Moreover, the conclusions discussed above are valid in today’s society. Issues of feminism, ethnic and racial discrimination, adolescence, gender identity awareness, patriotism, and international military conflicts are ones that still concern the general public today. The existence of superheroes perfectly supports the existing demand for problems that can hardly be solved in the real world. However, superhumans can fight evil on television screens or in the pages of books. More importantly, through media products, superheroes can help people in trouble by inspiring struggle, providing emotional support, and demonstrating solutions. Thus, responding to society’s sociocultural demands is why superheroes remain relevant.

However, other factors also contribute to the popularity of superheroes. Stories about them are, primarily, ones that told in the media space. People consume such products through movies, comics, and other art forms. Such behavior allows for the realization of escapism, which is the desire to run from reality into a fictional world filled with magic and goodness. This argument confirms the popularity not only of superheroes but also of Harry Potter stories, shonen anime, and even classic literature in which characters are endowed with inhuman powers. In other words, escapism, as the desire to escape reality, is covered by cultural products that allow the reader to be transported to an unreal world.

Meanwhile, the basis for such a need is provided by the problems the individual faces in life. These include personal and family conflicts, problems at school and work, and even the pressures of the political and economic environment. These are irritants that make the consumer feel uncomfortable and thus look for a quick fix. It follows that the second reason for the continued relevance of superhero stories in today’s world is to maintain the desire to escape from problems, at least for a while.

It is also worth noting the generational connection that dictates superheroes’ importance to modern society. The first superheroes in their classic form were a response to the Great Depression and World War II (Zukoski, 2021). Both children and adults needed such symbols of justice at the time, so they began to carry the knowledge of superheroes with them. This knowledge was passed down through the generations, and the number of superheroes solving different problems continued to grow. Thus, the modern generation of consumers of such a phenomenon knows about superheroes mostly since childhood. The intergenerational connection and transmission of this art may have been additional factors in keeping the idea of superheroes relevant.

It is important to note that while superheroes are a timeless concept, they tend to evolve. Early superheroes represented many of the best human qualities, but as society matured, superheroes began to face more problems. This includes both the emergence of new superhero characters and the placement of classic superheroes in new circumstances. This allows the consumer to explore new facets of the superheroes’ personalities and show them as characters who are becoming more human. Superheroes acquire negative character traits and become more complex, which meets the demand of the times. Thus, the modernity of such characters is also facilitated by their gradual complication, which contributes to their relevance and humanity.

In conclusion, superheroes are a product of a mass culture that is consumed by a broad audience through various information channels. Superheroes reflect society’s problems and show individuals how to solve them with perseverance, courage, and bravery. This paper examines several reasons that contribute to the relevance of superheroes in contemporary society. These include addressing society’s current problems and responding to social demands, supporting the desire for escapism, generational connection, and the increasing complexity of the nature of superheroes.

Zukoski, C. T. (2021). From Captain America to Watchmen: Comic book superheroes and War in twentieth century America. The Saber and Scroll Journal, 9( 4), 5-20.

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Bibliography

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Why Do People Like Superheroes? Don't Ask a Psychologist

Our Superheroes, Ourselves botches its analysis, but its brain-expert authors unintentionally shed light on the allure of seeing superior beings bring order to the world.

Comics Journal writer Tom Crippen titled an essay about Superman "The Big Dumb Dream." It's funny because it's true: Superman, and the superheroes that followed him, are, as dreams go, big and dumb. There's a kind of genius to that bigness and dumbness. If people like strong, powerful heroes, why not create a hero who is exponentially stronger and more powerful than any hero ever seen before? But the genius is also the genius of the lowest-common-denominator panderer. Siegel and Shuster, Superman's creators, figured out exactly what big, dumb thing the public wanted--and the rest is history.

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Why does the public want that big, dumb thing, though? That's a worthwhile question, and one you would think that a book titled Our Superheroes, Ourselves might set itself to answer. Edited by Robin S. Rosenberg, the volume is, as the intro says, "a collection of essays by noted psychologists in which the authors apply their knowledge of psychology to our relationship to superheroes, and to the extent to which superheroes' psychological nature reflects human nature."

This seems like a reasonable approach and a reasonable goal. And yet, somewhere along the way, most of the essays in the book go wrong. Whether criticizing superhero narratives or extolling them, the psychologists here seem to have trouble articulating why they're focused on superheroes in particular, rather than on pop culture in general, or even on something else entirely. For example, Peter J. Jordan argues that the classic '60s Marvel superhero comics are worthy of serious consideration because they presented characters whose emotions are variable depending on the situation they find themselves in--which may well explain why Marvel Comics are better than DC Comics of the same period, but doesn't exactly make a compelling case for artistic depth on any other metric. Similarly, Gary N. Burns and Megan B. Morris praise superhero stories for providing their protagonists with somewhat realistic, stressful work lives... but surely lots of other media do that too. Why pay attention to superheroes, then? The big dumb dream, for all its bigness, comes across here as oddly elusive.

In part the problem may be a matter of distance: Though many of the psychologists say that they're superhero fans, the nerd knowledge on display is often a bit shaky. (The Watchmen, for example, are not a superhero team, and mentioning Stan Lee as the architect of the Marvel age without also referencing Jack Kirby is a big faux pas.) But I think some problems also stem from the way that psychology and superheroes are too close to each other. They have preconceptions about power and morality in common, and as a result some of the authors here seem to find it hard to pull back far enough to get perspective on what is unique about superheroes, and whether or why that uniqueness matters.

Ben Saunders gets at the crossover between psychology and superheroes, and at the difficulties it imposes, in his excellent 2011 book about the intersection between religion and superheroes, Do the Gods Wear Capes? (which, in a major oversight, none of the writers here cites). In his chapter on Iron Man, Saunders discusses the 1979 story arc by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, and John Romita Jr., called "Demon in a Bottle" in which Tony Stark struggles with alcoholism. Saunders talks about the storyline in terms of the language and philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous. Tony Stark relies on the technology of the Iron Man suit to solve his problems. He relies on alcohol--which, Saunders said, AA traditionally sees as a "coping mechanism"--to manage emotional and psychological states.

Saunders argues that in the comic the armor and the drink are presented as a single problem. And the solution to that problem is, according to Saunders, "to acknowledge that the fantasies of radical independence--absolute power, total control, complete self-reliance--are just that: fantasies... Tony Stark must accept that his sense of self cannot be sustained in isolation." Saunders links this to the philosophy of AA, which, he says, does not insist that the addict acknowledge God so much as it insists that the addict admits that he himself (or she herself) is not God. Alcohol, like armor--or superpowers--is a way to grasp control. It's a tool, a technology. And that act of grasping can pull a shell around you.

In some sense, as Saunders says, the therapeutic, psychological model of AA is an alternative to this fantasy of power. It punctures the big dumb dream of godhood; it tells you that you're not Superman, and you can't control the world. This syncs with David A. Pizarro and Roy Baumeister's characterization of superhero narratives as "moral pornography" in Our Superheroes, Ourselves -- the stories allow for a continual, controlled hit of moral certainty, just as pornography (they argue) allows for a repetitious, varied array of sex partners.

But Saunders (and Pizarro and Baumeister as well) seems to overlook the extent to which the super-technology of control is native not just to superheroes but to psychology as well. Yes, AA encourages adherents to give up one attempt at attaining control. But the way it does that is through offering a 12-step system--for controlling the release of control. AA is its own kind of super-technology. It's a mechanism for regulating the soul--as is psychology in general, from lofty academic discipline to self-help piffle. Superheroes are more blatantly hubristic in their dreams of improbable powers--but then, superheroes are avowedly fiction, whereas psychology has pretensions to reality and efficacy. They're two different technologies, but they're still both building suits of armor.

You can see this throughout Our Superheroes, Ourselves , whether in Pizarro and Baumeister's satisfyingly teleological evolutionary psych explanations (we are programmed for moral evaluation, ergo, underwear outside the pants) or in Travis Langley's description of his survey project in which he asks people to rate the personality types of their favorite superheroes and supervillains. That survey seems remarkably pointless... but, of course, the point is precisely the rating and categorizing itself. You read the essay for the same reason you read a superhero comic--to see an authority carefully put everything in order.

As Saunders shows, not all superhero narratives are quite so simple--and certainly all psychology isn't. Still, though some of them blithely retail it while others struggle and question it, there are few superhero narratives or psychological studies that don't circle around this vision of control. It's in that sense perhaps that both are, as Lawrence C. Rubin suggests here, mythologies of modernity. If the big dumb dream of our ancestors was that there were gods, our current big dumb dream seems to be that there aren't, and that we don't need them because we've taken their place .

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This I Believe: Superheroes Are Real

We all need a hero. A hero is someone that we hold in high esteem, whether it be because they have superhuman strength or make us feel like superhumans with their kind words. 

Springfield High School senior Matthew Hill is one of ten authors chosen for the 2017 This I Believe Illinois essay program. He reads his essay "I Believe Superheroes Are Real." Edit | Remove

We live vicariously through our heroes because they give us the strength to achieve what we thought was impossible. Our heroes remind us of ourselves and show us all that we can be. Little black boys and little black girls need more heroes, this I believe.

As a young boy I can remember racing through my house on Saturday mornings to catch episodes of "The Justice League." "The Justice League" infatuated me because unlike other cartoons that only centered on one superhero, "The Justice League" had a plethora of superheroes! The show featured the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and many other staples of the DC Comics. However, one superhero caught my eye and spurred my imagination. His name was the Green Lantern and he possessed a power ring that gave him incredible abilities such as flight and the ability to use his mind as a weapon rather than his fighting abilities.

While all of these superpowers are amazing and would spark the interest of anyone, one particular characteristic of The Green Lantern was the one that got my attention. This superhero's skin was as darkly complected like me! He had hair that was jet black and tightly curled just as mine! Seeing this representation of a hero at a young age was very influential. DC Comics provided me with more than Saturday morning entertainment. I was provided with the valuable lesson that strong, black men can be superheroes in society.

More important than the superheroes that leap out of the page of your favorite comic book are the superheroes that offer a helpful hand or kind gesture. I believe it is important for young black children to have black role models that will leave a lasting positive influence. This mentor can come in the form of a teacher, police officer or coach. It is so important for children and adolescents to have somebody that can challenge them and evoke a message of hope at a young age. Finding an in-the-flesh superhero is something that can help to change a life forever.

This past summer, Marvel released a television series about superhero "Luke Cage." Cage fought the issues of identity and violence that plague the black community as passionately as he fought evil super villains in his home of Harlem. Throughout the series, Luke Cage's mantra was "Always forward, forward always." As I go forward with my life into college and career I will display the character that I would want others to deem as "hero worthy." You never know who is looking to you to be their superhero, this I believe.

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• Aug 31, 2021

The Superhero Exercise: A College Essay Exercise

Updated: Mar 22, 2023

You might not think it, but superheroes would be great college applicants. Why, you ask? Well, each of them have an origin story where they are the star. They also clearly show their values and how each value was forged by overcoming, enduring, and growing from obstacles. They realize that, while they are heroes, they stand for something more. Their names, costumes, and symbolism express who they are, how they think, what they value, and their role in the community. So, I challenge students to explore their own superhero origin story to gain insight on who they are, what they stand for, and what problems they want to solve in the world.

[Skip To The Exercise]

There are few things that cause panic in a student like mentioning the words, "college essay." It's understandable; our educational culture has shed an unflattering light on the word "essay." After all, in popular culture, what are "bad" students forced to do? Write. They are forced to write on the chalkboard, write an apology note, or write a reflection essay. When students are asked to write in class, they are usually forced to conform their vision to a set of rules or standards such as word counts, page minimums, page maximums, specific citation styles, or an inflexible essay structure that acts like more of a recipe than an expression of a student's thoughts and ideas.

College essays are different from any essay most students will ever write in their English class, and that's why I love them. I've spoken at length about how the college search is so much more than just an acceptance letter. The college search offers an incredibly valuable opportunity for students to turn their gaze inward and begin an important journey of self-reflection and growth. If a student approaches the college search with an open mind, they will find themselves analyzing who they are, how they became themselves, and what they hope to be in the future. That introspection provides the resources for crafting compelling and unique essays that show both authenticity and vulnerability.

Some college essays have very specific prompts that can be skillfully dissected and deciphered to discover what sort of response the college is searching for. Students tend to have an easier time with prompts, but in my experience, real growth comes from the moments where a student must choose their own topic. It saddens me to say it, but many students go through their entire K-12 education without ever writing an essay on a topic of their choosing with no restrictions on style or formatting. Because most students learn writing while confined within a cage of rules, very few know where they should even begin to compose something that is uniquely theirs. I've seen this scenario countless times with students, so today I'm going to breakdown a simple, but effective, exercise to help brainstorm ideas, topics, and themes for a college essay.

The Superhero Exercise

We created the nifty infographic above for students and families, but this blog post will delve a little deeper into explaining this exercise.

Why a Superhero?

Who doesn't like a superhero? They come from all over the world (and galaxy) and represent different ideals, creeds, backgrounds, and obstacles that many people can relate to. Superheroes have been with humanity for a very long time. We could even make the argument that ancient religions, mythology, and folklore were the basic building blocks of our modern superheroes. More recently, we tend to associate the modern superhero with comics, television, and movies. Once upon a time, Iron Man was a relatively unknown character and the Avengers team of superheroes was even lesser known. Nowadays, you can hardly pass a movie theater or browse a streaming service without running into a television show or movie based on the widely popular Marvel or DC Comics universes.

Most commonly, children use their imaginations to pretend to be a hero or have a superpower. Even if you weren't a kid who played pretend with superpowers, chances are you have at least been asked the question: "If you had a superpower, what would it be?" This common question is partly based around the idea of having fun imagining a world in which you could do something exceptional with ease. More importantly, this question allows others to make assessments on a person's values, beliefs, and character. A quick example:

Person A : If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Person B : I would want mind control!

Person C : I would want the ability to heal!

Now, if I asked you to judge Person B and Person C , what would you say? Most people don't like the idea of their mind being controlled, so you can bet there's going to be some pushback and judgement toward Person B . At the same time, most people would see Person C 's answer as selfless, noble, and magnanimous, perhaps even associating the choice with being a medical professional helping others. But, what if Person C had the ability to heal, but chose to only use the power to heal themselves or secure eternal life? What if Person C wants to use mind control as a form of therapy to help people confront their traumas or fears? All of a sudden, Person C is looking a lot less charitable than Person B . It's important to realize that it's the person's intention with the power, not the power itself, about which we want to gain insight.

What is the Superhero Exercise?

When asking students to participate in the Superhero Exercise, I'm looking to help them discover details about themselves. In particular, I'm looking for three pieces of insight:

How has your past helped shape you in the present and the potential future? Who were you? Who are you? And who do you want to be?

What do you care about? What are your values, ideals, and beliefs? How do these ideas influence your decisions, and how do you express these ideas?

How do you think? Are you creative, thinking outside of the box? Are you logical, thinking in systematic and clearly defined bounds? How much have you really explored your life and personality?

While working on this exercise, it is important to keep in mind that the questions about superpowers and superheroes are only surface-level. The real insight we're hoping to gain comes from analyzing responses to those questions. When a student is digging deep to uncover answers or insight, the single most beneficial question that can help them is: why? Why that superpower? Why a purple costume? Why the name Bubble Person?

How to Use the Superhero Exercise?

One drawback to the Superhero Exercise (as opposed to the Animal or Prism Exercises) is that participants need to know at least a little about the fundamental nature of superheroes and their stories. If you are a superhero neophyte, then I'm going to give you a breakdown of a typical superhero story:

The Origin Story : Every hero has an origin story. These stories can vary widely in starting point, length, subject matter, emotional responses, etc. Likewise, every person has an origin story. We're not looking for a biography. Rather, we are looking for a theme that ties the past to the present, or we are looking for a specific moment that caused a significant change in a person's life. Here are three classic examples :

Superman 's origin story typically begins as a child fleeing from a dying alien planet. When he arrives on Earth, he is only an infant, but already has superpowers. He is raised by Johnathon and Martha Kent, who help establish the moral compass that Superman is so well-known for. Unlike many superheroes, Superman's journey is not about growing in strength, but rather learning to control and conceal his strength. His origin story is about learning to accept his differences, developing the restraint to not use his powers, and grappling with being a Kryptonian (Superman's people) raised by Earthlings.

On the other side, we have Peter Parker (AKA Spider-Man ). Peter begins life as a normal person raised in Queens, New York by his loving Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Peter is your typical high schooler without any notable athletic or social aptitude, although he does have some innate talent in science. Peter is bitten by an experimental radioactive spider, which gives him the superpowers we traditionally associate with Spider-Man: superhuman strength, speed, sticking to surfaces, generating webbing, and the famous heightened Spidey Sense. While the spider bite might turn him into a superhuman, it is not the event that makes him a superhero. It is only after Peter intentionally lets a criminal escape, and that same criminal murders Uncle Ben, that the superhero core of Spider-Man is formed: "With great power comes great responsibility."

Lastly, we reach Bruce Wayne (AKA Batman ). Unlike the other examples, Batman isn't born with a superpower and never acquires one. Batman is born to a wealthy family and raised by his two loving parents, Dr. Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne (no relation to Martha Kent). As a boy, his parents are murdered by a criminal and thus begins his journey to becoming a superhero with no superpowers. Batman could have spent the rest of his life burying his sorrows via his trust fund, but instead he chooses to hone his physical, mental, and technological prowess in the pursuit of justice. While he might not be lifting trains or swinging from webs, rest assured that Batman is one of the most capable superheroes to ever grace comics.

The Superpower : An important part of the origin story is the discovery of a superpower. There is an abundance of superpowers in fictional worlds, but I often encourage people to create new ones from scratch. Here are some superpower questions to consider :

What superpower would you want?

What would be your weakness?

How would you use your superpower?

Would you want complete control from the beginning, or have to practice to get stronger?

How would this superpower reflect your origin story, values, beliefs, character, or personality?

The Costume : You'll be hard-pressed to find a superhero without any semblance of a costume. The costumes may change or adapt over time, but they are a core part of a superhero's identity and recognizability. Here are some costume questions to consider :

What colors would your costume be? Why those colors? How do you think others will interpret your costume's color?

Will you hide your identity? Why or why not? How will you hide it? Will you use a mask, makeup, helmet, etc.?

If you hide your identity, what will your superhero name/persona be?

Will you have a cape? Why or why not?

Will you have an image or symbol associated with you as a superhero on your costume?

Will your costume only be for show or will it help you use your superpower?

What is your real life superpower? What makes you unique amongst others?

What do you stand for? You can have superpowers and not be a superhero. What do you stand for? What do you believe in? Who, what, or where would you focus your energies? Here are some examples of what superheroes stand for :

Superman defends both Earth and the city Metropolis because both are his home (despite his alien origins) and his adoptive Earth parents helped established a strong moral code to protect the innocent.

Because Spider-Man tends to be more localized, he is commonly referred to as the "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man." Spider-Man is looking out for the "little guy" and historically fights criminals on the city or regional level, as opposed to a global threat.

Batman fights crime and corruption in Gotham City because a criminal murdered his parents. He chooses to protect those who can't protect themselves, and pursues those who are outside the reach of the law.

Who is the antagonist of your superhero story? Most superheroes have an arch-nemesis, villain, or societal-level problem against whom they are fighting. The answer to this question often mirrors what a superhero might stand for. For example, if Captain Planet is fighting for the planet, then he is fighting against things like reckless industrialism, pollution, and possible man-made natural disasters. Here are some antagonist-based questions to consider :

What is your antagonist? Is it a person? Is it an idea? Is it a part of yourself that you are looking to improve on?

How does your antagonist hinder your progress?

Have you beaten your antagonist or is the antagonist still an obstacle you face?

While an antagonist might hinder your journey, it also has the potential to help you grow. In what ways has your antagonist helped you grow?

Two of our core principles at Virtual College Counselors are authenticity and transparency. We believe that the college journey requires some vulnerability on the student's part. How can we ask students to demonstrate vulnerability if we don't do the same in return? So, as an example, I have created my own Superhero Exercise to give students an idea of what the final product might look like:

Some of the answers are very revealing of my values, personality, and ways of thinking, while others might not seem to provide too much information. If an answer feels surface-level, hollow, or inauthentic, that is when it is most important to dig deeper and ask "why." Look at your answers that have no explanation and explain your thought process and reasoning. Think of some hypotheticals that might occur for a superhero to see how you think and react to certain scenarios. Lastly, look for common themes or elaborate on formative events in your past. After the exercise, you should have a better idea about how your values tie into the past, present, and future, while also uncovering personal anecdotes to help support your beliefs.

The goal of this post is to give students, parents, and college counselors another tool in their toolbox to help craft an authentic application that promotes self-reflection and growth for a student. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out or schedule a free consultation through the link below. As always, I wish you the best of luck with your journey, wherever it might take you.

With all my support,

Sawyer Earwood

Independent College Counselor

Co-Founder of Virtual College Counselors

[email protected]

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Why the world needs superheroes

Senior Media Studies Lecturer, Swinburne University of Technology

Disclosure statement

Liam Burke receives funding from the Australian Research Council for the Linkage project Superheroes & Me.

Swinburne University of Technology provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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Superheroes were born in the United States in the late 1930s as a four-colour rebuttal to the misery of the Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe. Today, superheroes are no longer confined to America, or even the comic book page. From Marvel movies to convention cosplay, superheroes have never enjoyed greater visibility.

Earlier this year, for instance, parts of Sydney were shut down as the Make-a-Wish Foundation and NSW police worked together to help nine-year-old Domenic Pace become Iron Boy. After rescuing a “kidnapped” reporter and facing down baddies on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, Pace was awarded a Commissioner’s Award for Gallantry before a cheering crowd.

In anticipation of the upcoming Superhero Identities Symposium in Melbourne, we interviewed 100 fans and celebrities to better understand why the world needs superheroes. We wanted to find out what these icons mean to people, as the genre reaches heights of popularity not seen since its origins on the comic book page.

“An escape” is how superhero devotee Melanie explains their popularity. The traffic control administrator, who is also president of Australia’s longest-running Star Trek fan club , argued, “We’re constantly bombarded with negativity in the media. These characters may be flawed, but they’re positive people”.

As many political orthodoxies across the world seem to fall away, comic book writer Tom Taylor agrees that these characters speak to modern anxieties:

We’re getting more and more jaded by politicians, people in power, and businesses. We want to have an ideal that we can actually look up to, and I think that’s why everybody’s flocking to see all these Marvel movies about people wanting to help.

Comic book characters such as Batman and Wonder Woman have been in constant publication for more than 75 years, and they enjoy a unique cross-generational appeal. One father, who was reluctantly brought to Oz Comic-Con by his children, described how the superhero jamboree provided an unexpected hit of nostalgia: “It brought back a lot of memories from when I was a kid.”

For some, watching the movies isn’t enough; they want to don their favourite character’s costume (cosplaying). As one Doctor Strange cosplayer explained, “I work in an office. I don’t get to save the day very much”, but cosplay “allows me for a day or two, even a couple of hours, to really be that hero”.

While it may seem niche, one Ghostbuster cosplayer argues, “It’s no different to supporting your local football team or wearing a Hawks jersey”. While another fan who divides his attention between superheroes and footy joked, “I love both. Talk bad about DC Comics or Carlton and you’re dead”

Following the success of Suicide Squad, many fans are gravitating towards the anarchic Harley Quinn (whose creator Paul Dini is a special guest of the symposium). Wonder Woman artist Nicola Scott describes the chalk-faced antihero as a “great entry point for female fans”, while one cosplayer who arrived at Supanova as “her own version of Harley” credits the character’s troubled relationship with the Joker for helping her recognise the “obsessive compulsive relationships that you can get into”.

Many fans point to the police and other uniformed public servants as “real world superheroes”, yet the fantasy figures they celebrate act outside the law. Even at their most noble, superheroes are vigilantes, while no-holds-barred crime fighters like Deadpool, Green Arrow, and Harley Quinn are, by any standard definition, criminals.

When asked about this tension most fans struggled to justify the actions of their (anti)heroes, with one suggesting of maladjusted Vietnam War veteran The Punisher, “It’s because he’s doing it for the betterment of the world, that he still stays on the side of a hero”.

What many fans seem to celebrate is the ability of these heroes to transcend the limitations imposed on us, be it gravity, social norms, or the law. From virtual reality games like Batman: Arkham VR to convention cosplay, the industry is increasingly offering opportunities to enact this escapist fantasy.

However, while superhero fandom may be positioned as an underground culture, two of the world’s largest entertainment conglomerates, Time Warner and The Walt Disney Company, own the majority of superheroes. Thus, whether wearing a retro Batman T-shirt or cosplaying as a Guardian of the Galaxy, fans are also serving as mascots and walking billboards for larger corporate interests.

On the other hand, many of the enthusiasts we spoke to see this as a mutually beneficial relationship, parlaying their superhero interest into ambitious careers. For instance, self-described “geek musician” Meri Amber has amassed a fan following writing songs with titles like My Superman and Work It Out Like Goku .

Similarly, a fan with aspirations of becoming a TV presenter began a YouTube channel, Luka Online, dedicated to cosplayers. Initially he hoped to “learn on the job, but it actually turned into the job that I was aiming for”.

More altruistically, Scott Loxely of the Star Wars fan club 501st Legion raised A$100,000 for charity by walking across Australia dressed as a Stormtrooper . Scott recognises how these fantasy figures can bring visibility to a cause: “everyone loves a Stormtrooper”.

Despite their fantastical abilities, what many fans celebrate is the connection to their heroes’ humanity. Jessica Jones’ star Eka Darville described growing up in the Northern Rivers of Australia as the only black kid in his school:

When we’d play Power Rangers they were like, ‘You have to be the black Power Ranger,’ but I secretly wanted to be the red one [traditionally the leader]. So when I booked the role of Scott Truman, Red Ranger, I was, like, ‘Yeah, vengeance is mine’.

Such diversity is necessary given the superhero’s increasingly important role as escapist fantasy, cross-generational icon, and aspirational figure. One fan, heroically braving a Melbourne winter in a Little Mermaid costume, articulated the feelings of many:

I think superheroes today are a symbol of hope, making yourself a better person and using that in your everyday life.

The Superhero Identities Symposium takes place at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) on 8-9 December, 2016.

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Ethics and Morality

Superhero ethics in society, an interview with dr. travis smith about his book, "superhero ethics".

Posted June 11, 2020

Superheroes hold a special place in the imagination of society. In fact, they can often indicate what a particular society values and aspires to. Understanding the social and ethical responsibilities exemplified in superheroes can give us a better grasp on how we want to live our own lives.

Travis D. Smith holds a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University and is Associate Professor of Political Science at Concordia University in Montreal where he teaches political theory. He is the author of Superhero Ethics (Templeton, 2018) and co-editor of Flattering the Demos (Lexington, 2018).

JA: Why did you set out to write your book?

TS: You learn a lot about a society by looking at how it depicts heroism. You see which talents and actions it finds most praiseworthy and which values it regards as worthy of our sacrifices. Stories about heroes also show us how we want extraordinary individuals to relate to the rest of us.

Some people dismiss superhero stories as juvenile amusements. I don’t think the stories we tell about right and wrong should be treated with contempt or indifference—especially if they are popular among children.

I think it’s fascinating that our democratic society loves stories about superheroes so much. Our egalitarianism leads us to hope that individuals with superior attributes and abilities will defend our freedoms and fight for equality instead of dominating and abusing us.

We are prone to seeking champions and saviors among politicians. We readily look to technological genius to save us from hardship and suffering. We even seek guidance from famous entertainers. Whether it is to the military and other exemplars of professional bravery like community leaders and activists, we call on individuals who exceed us in daring and a sense of duty to protect our way of life and strive to improve it. Superhero stories take this indispensable and inescapable aspect of society and project it into an exaggerated, fantastical realm, where our troubling love affair with hero types is put into relief.

JA: What is the primary takeaway you hope readers will learn from reading your book?

TS: In Superhero Ethics , I interpret superheroes and their powers as metaphors for familiar personality types offered up as models for admiration and emulation in the real world. This makes their stories more applicable to our lives than if we see them only as preposterously implausible figures far exceeding anybody’s reach or experience. Looking at them with a friendly yet critical eye, I use them to scrutinize our culture today—especially the pressures it puts on us to celebrate or denigrate certain people, or speak and behave in certain ways.

For example, characters like the Hulk and Wolverine challenge us to examine how and why we express outrage and exact revenge as we insist upon ourselves and advocate on behalf of others in public. My analysis of Iron Man and Green Lantern calls into question our determination to compel the world to conform to our will and imagination. I compare Batman and Spider-Man to ask whether there are limits to our responsibilities toward ourselves and society.

Doing the research for this book, my biggest takeaway was that you can gain in self-knowledge by identifying your role models’ shortcomings. You can gain a better understanding of people you dislike or disagree with, too, by learning to appreciate what makes their heroes so appealing to them.

JA: What are some lessons from your book that can help people live more resiliently?

TS: Distinguishing reality and fantasy is essential to resiliency. One wants to see some evidence of meaningful success in one’s efforts in order to stay confident and keep motivated. One needs some reasonable expectation that continued perseverance pays off and gradual improvements are within reach. This means telling the difference between what’s in our power and what’s not, and knowing what means are available to us to acquire new strengths and abilities, socially and personally.

Superhero Ethics includes a criticism of delusions of control in our lives and relationships. Sometimes we demand permanent or systemic fixes to our problems as if we cannot start to take care of ourselves and others until things are more perfect. That attitude is debilitating. My book encourages people to do what they can with what they’ve got in the world they’re in.

With reference to characters like Captain America and Thor, I discuss the benefits that come with getting actively involved in one’s community in a spirit of civility and respect. We should rebuild relationships of trust and interdependence rather than either insist upon a vain conception of independence or clamor for comprehensive solutions that engender conditions of total dependency.

Thinking critically about superheroes has made me wary of our tendency to catastrophize and yearn for powerful people to come to our rescue in grandiose, conclusive fashion. It has also made me suspicious of our readiness to cast people as villains to justify treating them accordingly and feel righteous for doing so.

JA: What are some insights from your book that help readers support a friend or loved one?

TS: Superman, who could live self-sufficiently, surrounds himself with colleagues and pals, experiencing loss without losing hope. Mister Fantastic, who could live entirely in his own head, is defined most by the love he shares with his wife and family. Gotham City may need Batman, but Batman himself needs Robins, Batgirls, and Alfred.

Few superheroes operate alone. Those who try typically turn out miserable. So, they team up. Their stories are as much or more about the way they look out for each other and struggle to resolve quarrels among themselves as they are about fighting for justice and coming to the aid of strangers. Taking superheroes as metaphors for ourselves, they can inspire us to be better friends to our loved ones, with full recognition of just how risky and difficult loving is.

That said, I try to have some fun with my subject matter in Superhero Ethics and not take it too seriously. I don’t pretend that superhero stories are going to solve our problems. But as good fiction should, they remind us of truths we’re apt to forget or try to deny, reassuring us that we’re not alone in confronting them. That these stories prove so popular across diverse cultures worldwide suggests they must communicate something about our shared human experience.

JA: What are you currently working on these days?

TS: I am working on a talk at McGill University scheduled for April about superheroines, and whether their valor is somehow distinctive on account of their gender . Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers, not Shazam) has been my favorite superhero for some 15 years, so I look forward to discussing her among other characters. As a professor of political theory, I’m also conducting research into the role of wit in politics , the relationship between love and justice, and magic as a political metaphor. So, an eclectic bunch of things.

JA: Anything else you would like to share?

TS: May I recommend Katie Ditschun’s debut album Spare Skirt ? I co-wrote some of the songs on it, including her recent single, “Here We Are,” which is about living with the distance between one’s dreams and one’s reality—a theme that will resonate with readers of Hope + Resilience .

Smith, T. D. (2018). Superhero ethics: 10 comic book heroes; 10 ways to save the world; which one do we need most now? Templeton Press.

Jamie Aten , Ph.D. , is the founder and executive director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College.

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Essays About Heroes: 5 Examples And Topic Ideas

Here, we’ll look at examples of essays about heroes and questions that can be used as topics for essays about an imagined or real hero.

A few different images likely come to mind when you hear the word hero. You may imagine Superman flying above the world with his superpower of flight. You may imagine a personal hero, a real person who has made a significant impact on your life for the better. You might think of a true hero as someone who has shown heroic qualities in the public eye, working to help ordinary people through difficult situations.

When writing an essay about your life hero, it’s important to consider the qualities of that person that make them stand out to you. Whether you choose to write an essay about how your mom got you through tough times and became your role model or about a political figure who made a difference in the lives of people in history, it’s key to not just focus on the person’s actions—you’ll also want to focus on the qualities that allowed them to act heroically.

Here, we’ll explore examples of hero essays and potential topics to consider when writing about a hero.

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Examples Of Essays About Heroes

• 1. These Are The Heroes Of The Coronavirus Pandemic By Ruth Marcus
• 2. Why Teachers Are My Heroes By Joshua Muskin
• 3. Martin Luther King Jr.—Civil Rights Activist & Hero By Kathy Weiser-Alexander

4. Steve Prefontaine: The Track Of A Hero By Bill O’Brian

5. forget hamilton, burr is the real hero by carey wallace, topic ideas for essays about heroes, 1. what makes a hero, 2. what are the most important characteristics of heroes in literature, 3. what constitutes a heroic act, 4. is selflessness required for heroism.

1.  These Are The Heroes Of The Coronavirus Pandemic  By Ruth Marcus

“Is this what they signed up for? There is some danger inherent in the ordinary practice of medicine, but not this much. I confess: I do not know that I would do the same in their circumstances; I am not sure I am so generous or so brave. If my child were graduating from medical school, how would I deal with her being sent, inadequately protected, into an emergency room? If my husband were a physician, would I send him off to the hospital — or let him back into the house in the interim?” Ruth Marcus

Healthcare workers have had no choice but to go above and beyond in recent years. In this essay, Marcus discusses the heroism of those in the healthcare field. He delves into the traits (including selflessness and courage) that make doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers heroes.

2.  Why Teachers Are My Heroes   By Joshua Muskin

“Teachers are my heroes because they accept this responsibility and try extremely hard to do this well even when the conditions in which they work are far from ideal; at least most do. Our jobs as society, education systems, and parents is to do our best to be strong allies to teachers, since their success is essential to ours.” Joshua Muskin

In this essay, Dr. Muskin discusses the many challenges teachers face and what parents, administrators, and education researchers can do to help teachers support students. Muskin explains that most teachers go above and beyond the call of duty to serve their classrooms.

3.  Martin Luther King Jr.—Civil Rights Activist & Hero   By Kathy Weiser-Alexander

“During this nonviolent protest, activists used boycotts, sit-ins, and marches to protest segregation and unfair hiring practices that caught the attention of the entire world. However, his tactics were put to the test when police brutality was used against the marchers, and King was arrested. But, his voice was not silenced, as he wrote his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to refute his critics.” Kathy Weiser-Alexander

In this essay, Weiser-Alexander details both the traits and the actions of Dr. King before and during the civil rights movement. The author touches on King’s commitment to justice, persistence, and willingness to stand for his beliefs despite difficult circumstances.

“I remember this so vividly because Prefontaine was a hero to me, a hero in a way that no one was before, or really has been since. A British commentator once called him “an athletic Beatle.” If so, his persona was much more Lennon than McCartney. Actually, I thought of him more as Mick Jagger — or ultimately James Dean.” Bill O’Brian

A hero to many in the running world, Prefontaine’s confidence, unique style, and unmatched athletic ability have been heralded for decades. In this essay, O’Brian shares how he, as a distance runner during the era of Pre, related to his struggles and ambition.

“Burr fought against an ugly tide of anti-immigrant sentiment in the young republic, led by Hamilton’s Federalist party, which suggested that anyone without English heritage was a second-class citizen, and even challenged the rights of non-Anglos to hold office. In response, Burr insisted that anyone who contributed to society deserved all the rights of any other citizen, no matter their background.” Carey Wallace

In this essay, Wallace explains why Aaron Burr, the lifelong nemesis of founding father Alexander Hamilton, should be considered a historical hero. This essay exposes someone seen as a villain but much of society with a different take on their history. 

It can be interesting to think about your definition of a hero. When describing what the term hero means to you, you may want to choose a person (or a few people) you look up to as a hero to solidify your point. You might want to include fictional characters (such as those in the Marvel universe) and real-life brave souls, such as police officers and firefighters.

A word of caution: stay away from the cliche opening of describing how the dictionary defines a hero. Instead, lead-in with a personal story about a hero who has affected your life. While talking about a public figure as a hero is acceptable, you may find it easier to write about someone close to you who you feel has displayed heroic qualities. Writing about a family member or friend who has shown up as a heroic main character in your life can be just as exciting as writing about a real or imagined superhero.

From Beowulf to Marvel comics, heroes in literature take on many different traits. When writing an essay on what trait makes a hero come alive in a short story, novel, or comic, choose a few of your favorite heroes and find common themes that they share.

Perhaps your favorite heroes are selfless and are willing to put themselves last in the name of sacrifice for others. Perhaps they’re able to dig deep into the truth, being honest even when it’s hard, for the greater good. There’s no need to list endless heroes to make your point—choosing three or four heroes from literature can be a great way to support your argument about what characteristics define heroism in literature.

When someone is named a hero in real life, we often picture them saving people from a burning building or performing a difficult surgical operation. It can be difficult to pin down exactly what constitutes a heroic act. When writing about what constitutes a heroic act, think about people who go above and beyond, performing feats of courage, honesty, and bravery to support themselves or others. When writing about what constitutes a heroic act, discuss real-life or literary examples of heroes at work.

To many people, being a hero means giving back to others. While giving something away or trading in one’s well-being for others can certainly be seen as a heroic act, many people wonder if selflessness is required for heroism or if a hero can serve the greater good in a way that also supports their happiness. When writing about whether selflessness is required for heroism, choose examples from literature and real-life to support your point.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

If you’re still stuck, check out our available resource of essay writing topics .

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Why Heroes are Important

The impact of role models on the ideals to which we aspire.

When I was 16 years old, I read Henry David Thoreau's book Walden for the first time, and it changed my life. I read about living deliberately, about sucking the marrow out of life, about not, when I had come to die, discovering that I had not lived, and I was electrified. Somehow he convinced me that living deliberately meant becoming a philosopher, and I have not looked back since. And I try as often as I can to remind myself of Thoreau's warning to all philosophy professors: "There are nowadays professors of philosophy, but not philosophers. Yet it is admirable to profess because it was once admirable to live. To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust. It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically, but practically." If - horrible thought - I should fail to earn tenure here, I would largely blame that damned quotation. But even if that disaster should strike, I know I would find solace by asking how Henry would respond to such a setback, and I know I would be a better man by following his example. Thoreau is one of my dearest heroes, and I do not know who I would be without him.

The term "hero" comes from the ancient Greeks. For them, a hero was a mortal who had done something so far beyond the normal scope of human experience that he left an immortal memory behind him when he died, and thus received worship like that due the gods. Many of these first heroes were great benefactors of humankind: Hercules, the monster killer; Asclepius, the first doctor; Dionysus, the creator of Greek fraternities. But people who had committed unthinkable crimes were also called heroes; Oedipus and Medea, for example, received divine worship after their deaths as well. Originally, heroes were not necessarily good, but they were always extraordinary; to be a hero was to expand people's sense of what was possible for a human being.

Today, it is much harder to detach the concept of heroism from morality; we only call heroes those whom we admire and wish to emulate. But still the concept retains that original link to possibility. We need heroes first and foremost because our heroes help define the limits of our aspirations. We largely define our ideals by the heroes we choose, and our ideals -- things like courage, honor, and justice -- largely define us. Our heroes are symbols for us of all the qualities we would like to possess and all the ambitions we would like to satisfy. A person who chooses Martin Luther King or Susan B. Anthony as a hero is going to have a very different sense of what human excellence involves than someone who chooses, say, Paris Hilton, or the rapper 50 Cent. And because the ideals to which we aspire do so much to determine the ways in which we behave, we all have a vested interest in each person having heroes, and in the choice of heroes each of us makes.

That is why it is so important for us as a society, globally and locally, to try to shape these choices. Of course, this is a perennial moral issue, but there are warning signs that we need to refocus our attention on the issue now. Consider just a few of these signs:

o A couple years ago the administrators of the Barron Prize for Young Heroes polled American teenagers and found only half could name a personal hero. Superman and Spiderman were named twice as often as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, or Lincoln. It is clear that our media make it all too easy for us to confuse celebrity with excellence; of the students who gave an answer, more than half named an athlete, a movie star, or a musician. One in ten named winners on American Idol as heroes.

o Gangsta rap is a disaster for heroism. Just this week, director Spike Lee lamented the fact that, while his generation grew up idolizing great civil rights leaders, today young people in his community aspire to become pimps and strippers. Surely no one wants their children to get their role models from Gangsta rap and a hyper materialistic, misogynistic hiphop culture, but our communities are finding it difficult to make alternative role models take hold.

o And sometimes, the problem we face is that devotion to heroes is very strong, but directed toward the wrong heroes. In the Muslim world, Osama bin Laden and his like still have a widespread heroic appeal. We can tell how we are doing in the struggle for Muslim hearts and minds by the degree to which this continues to be true.

So what must we do? How should we address the problem? Part of the answer is personal. It never hurts us to remind ourselves who our own heroes are and what they represent for us, and to ask ourselves whether we are doing all we can to live up to these ideals. Not long ago there was a movement afoot to ask always, "What would Jesus do?" I'd like to see people asking questions like that, about Jesus or others, all the time. I confess I get a little thrill every time I see a protest poster asking, "Who would Jesus bomb?" That's heroism doing its work, right there. Moreover, those of us who are teachers - and all of us are teachers of our own children at least - have a special opportunity to introduce heroes to those we teach. And teaching about heroes really isn't hard; heroic lives have their appeal built in, all we need to do is make an effort to tell the stories. I assure you, the reason those students didn't choose Lincoln and King and Gandhi as heroes was not that they had heard their stories and dismissed them. It is our job to tell the stories. Tell your students what a difference people of courage and nobility and genius have made to the world. Just tell the stories! We should recommit to that purpose. Start by going home tonight and listing your five most important heroes.

But part of the answer to our problem is broader. It is clear that the greatest obstacle to the appreciation and adoption of heroes in our society is pervasive and corrosive cynicism and skepticism. It was widely claimed not long ago that 9/11 signalled the end of irony, but it is clear now that the reports of irony's death were greatly exaggerated. This obstacle of cynicism has been seriously increased by scandals like the steroids mess in Major League Baseball, by our leaders' opportunistic use of heroic imagery for short term political gain, and by the Pentagon's stories of glorious soldiers like Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman that - by no fault of the soldiers involved - turned out to be convenient fabrications.

The best antidote to this cynicism is realism about the limits of human nature. We are cynical because so often our ideals have been betrayed. Washington and Jefferson held slaves, Martin Luther King is accused of philandering and plagiarizing, just about everybody had sex with someone they shouldn't, and so on. We need to separate out the things that make our heroes noteworthy, and forgive the shortcomings that blemish their heroic perfection. My own hero Thoreau had his share of blemishes. For instance, although he was supposed to be living totally independently out by Walden Pond, he went home to Mother on the weekends. But such carping and debunking misses the point. True, the false steps and frailties of heroic people make them more like us, and since most of us are not particularly heroic, that may seem to reduce the heroes' stature. But this dynamic pulls in the other direction as well: these magnificent spirits, these noble souls, amazingly, they are like us, they are human too. And perhaps, then, what was possible for them is possible for us. They stumbled, they wavered, they made fools of themselves - but nonetheless they rose and accomplished deeds of triumphant beauty. Perhaps we might do so too. Cynicism is too often merely an excuse for sparing ourselves the effort.

Again, the critical moral contribution of heroes is the expansion of our sense of possibility. If we most of us, as Thoreau said, live lives of quiet desperation, it is because our horizons of possibility are too cramped. Heroes can help us lift our eyes a little higher. Immanuel Kant said that "from the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made." That may well be true. But some have used that warped, knotted timber to build more boldly and beautifully than others, and we may all benefit by their examples. Heaven knows we need those examples now.

At the NABJ convention in Chicago on July 31st, Donald Trump Asked Rachel Scott To Define DEI. She Should Have.

While free speech is a right that has been embraced in the United States for several centuries, ethical issues about the process and limitations of free speech and protest behavior, like some of those seen on college campuses this Spring, are in question and are debatable.

Stockholders pay the price when executives and directors choose profits over ethics.

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If I Were a Superhero

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Published: Aug 24, 2023

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Table of contents

Embracing a new identity, the power of abilities, impact on others, moral dilemmas and ethical choices, normalcy vs. extraordinary, conclusion: the power of imagination.

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Essays on Superheroes

Superheroes reflect the views of society.

For generations, superhero comics and movies have inspired and entertained society. From Captain America defeating Hydra and the Nazis in World War II to Batman delivering vigilante justice in Gotham, superheroes have captivated audiences. One of the reasons that superheroes have been able to captivate audiences is because superheroes are “…blatant personifications of society’s morals […]

Superheroes and Comics

“Truth, justice and the American way’- it’s not enough anymore,” (Dixon and Rivoche 500) Superman renounced his citizenship on April 2011 because he doesn’t want to be an American symbol anymore. Chuck Dixon and Paul Rivoche are both graphic novel writers who write an essay using superman to prove how the comic book industry has […]

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Superheroes in Watchmen

Within much of the traditional superhero genre, there is often a depiction of someone who is strong, and powerful and fights against evil to protect those they care about from injustices. Superman is one of the most iconic superheroes not only because of his super abilities but the way he uses those abilities to always […]

Superheroes: Spiderman

There are many heroes that are looked up upon for guidance on what is right and wrong. When asked, who is the best, arguments start because of who they think has the best story or powers. Many agree that Spider-Man is the best hero because he is the most relatable. When he is depressed he […]

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Do you like superheros?If you are like most Americans you probably do.Why are we obsessed with heros?Jacqueline Thursby believes that part of the reason for superheroes popularity is that Americans like imaginative entertainment.Superheros act outside the bounds of the law.They play an important role in society,but the reason why is not always clear.John Darowski placed […]

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"The greatest superheroes are always challenging culture"

In part 1 of our interview with Josh Mensch , writer and showrunner of Superheroes Decoded we discussed the original superheroes, Batman and Superman. In part 2 we talk about how superheroes reflected the changes in American society from the 40s onward.

. @neiltyson : I've met Superman LA Exec: Cool, which actor? @neiltyson : No no no, I met Superman #SuperheroesDecoded https://t.co/rqn351RVSS — HISTORY UK (@HISTORYUK) August 17, 2017

In part 1 of the interview you talked about how superheroes represent American values but how did comic books react to those moments in US history when those values are threatened, specifically the Second World War?

The great theme that emerges in our show is that every step of the way superheroes always adapt to the values of their time.

They are created out of a particular time and place but they change and adapt to reflect the values of the era as time goes forward. So in the World War 2 era, we have these very simple, strong, very jingoistic characters like Captain America that represent a battle between good and evil.

Captain America was created by Jewish American comic book writers as a response to the rise of Nazism in Europe . They created this character to respond to the threat of Hitler and the rise of anti-Semitism before the rest of America was ready. The first iconic Captain America cover comes out 9 months before the US enters the war - 9 months before Pearl Harbour - and it shows Captain America whose costume is literally the American flag, punching Hitler in the jaw.

During the Second World War and after, the role of women in American society begins to change. How did superheroes represent this societal shift?

Wonder Woman is the classic example of that. Throughout the different decades, Wonder Woman has reflected in many ways America's treatment of women or America's view of women.

There's forwards and there's backwards. In the 1940s in the World War 2 era, Wonder Woman reflected this sudden new surge of female power when all the men went off to war, women had to step up on the home front and take a lot of jobs and positions of power that had previously been denied them. Wonder Woman struck that nerve and represented a kind of female strength when women were being empowered during World War 2.

But then after the war in the 1950s, America becomes more conservative and the role of women take a step back and the character reflects that. The character who had once been very powerful is suddenly a weaker character, more traditionally feminine and cares more about getting married and isn't beating people up as much.

Right now it's clearly a huge time for Wonder Woman and this really is the perfect example of that. It's a moment where representations of strong powerful women are really coming to the fore and it’s the perfect moment for Wonder Woman to have her big screen Hollywood moment and we were so thrilled by the success of the film.

Have superheroes helped to make America a more progressive place?

The thesis of Superheroes Decoded is that superheroes reflect the times in which they are created but they also suggest a future. The greatest superheroes are always pushing forward and challenging the culture.

The rise of black superheroes and female superheroes provide a new template for a new type of heroism and it provides inspiration for groups that have not had heroes in the culture.

So many African American people we interviewed said that seeing a black superhero as a young person was incredibly important for them in their lives because before that all heroes were white – the message was that heroism equals being white, so when you have these black superheroes who are representing the values of heroism, it can be incredibly inspiring to people who didn’t have heroes.

Finally are superheroes a victim of their own success, you are more likely to experience their stories on the cinema screen rather than in the pages of a comic book for which they were originally created?

The subject of Superheroes Decoded was not comic books or movies it was superheroes and these characters transcend any one medium because the characters are bigger than any one medium. Within months of his creation, Superman was on the radio, Superman was on television.

Superheroes are an American mythology and the medium will change but the characters will endure.

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Superhero Essay Writing Tips For Your Inspiration

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Superheroes nowadays occupy a huge place in the media industry and are popular in most countries of the world. It is in comics, films, cartoons, books and TV series that you can immerse yourself in a huge world of characters endowed with superpowers and supernatural powers. Every child or teenager, of course, came across them and admired the intricate, vivid and rich stories.

Most likely, you have any superhero who shocked and inspired you. Therefore, writing an essay about a superhero will be an easy, fun and educational task for you. Also, in this article, you can find out how the superhero essay writing service can help you not only choose the best topic for you but also complete the task for you!

Which Superhero Are You?

Have a look at how to write a which are you superhero essay?

Probably, every person who at least once read a comic strip, or saw a movie about a superhero, in his heart dreams of being like him. Some want to be like Superman, and the first half want it because Superman is powerful, and the other half want to be as kind as he is, although they understand that he is ideal, and an ideal person does not exist. Others want to be Batman, and everyone just knows that he achieved this on his own, but when it comes to whether you are capable of losing all loved ones and any possible family, everyone immediately goes into real life.

When imagining themselves as a superhero, most people think primarily of the excellent side of such a diverse life. It would be very cool for me to have an apartment in the Avengers Tower or an LSA satellite, incredible superpowers, gratitude of the saved people, opponents scattering in different directions. But the life of a superhero is not only about this. I believe that being a full-fledged superhero means always being ready to risk your life and sometimes sacrifice it and sacrifice family, work, and much more. If I were like that, I would not be ultimately myself. And yet, I would probably like to be better, more honest and more patient than I am.

Of course, I have many positive traits that superheroes have. I am noble, charismatic, hardy, have the fastest run in school, and I am always ready to help. I believe that no one will just become a superhero, but when you have already lost everything, then obligations will force you to be either an avenger who will kill all offenders or, like Frank Castle, will fight crime forever. But there is another option, that you realize that you can make this world a better place, and you will. Although there are very few such people today.

If the fate of the hero falls to me, and if the life of my loved ones depends on it, when the bandit puts a gun to their head, then you can be sure that I will thrust a knife between his eyes. But this is a common instinct to protect loved ones and your own home. People are afraid to be heroes, it’s just that greed flourishes in every person, and people are too greedy to lose something, especially so dear to them.

On us.grademiners.com, essay writing services could be purchased for this topic. Let us know, and our experts will help you out.

What Superpowers Would I Have?

Have a look at how to write what superpowers I would have in a superhero essay?

I am not a connoisseur of superhero comics, but I loved films from DC vs Marvel films as a child. Going to the cinema was a real treat, and then I spent a week or two daydreaming about what superpowers I would like to have and how I would use them. Therefore, when we were asked a boring task in high school, I turned to the paper writing service , gave this task to specialists, and discussed with my friends what superpowers I would like to have.

For example, I would use the superpower to fly and move very quickly in space for a tourist purpose and satisfy my curiosity! It’s so exciting and incredible. First of all, I will fly around the Earth, descending in Japan, New Zealand and Norway! And also, I would fly over the jungle, the pyramids of Cheops, and look down at Niagara Falls. I would like to get tremendous pleasure from the very process of the flight! It is like a mechanism for changing physical form and gravity by the power of thought. But for now, I can only fly in my sleep.

I would also very much like to travel in time! Look into the future and the past and find answers to many questions that humanity has been asking over the years. Many historians would like to see the decline of ancient civilizations and other historically significant periods. But we had to wait a long time before the invention of the time machine. With this ability, I could sense future danger and be the saviour of the whole earth, fighting dragons, sea monsters and other villains.

At an older age, I wanted to get the ability to telepathy and psychometry. I would leave in my head the knowledge of all languages, physics, psychotherapy and other sciences that can significantly improve a person’s life. Well, in the last 30 minutes, I would turn into the Hulk and walk in an amusement park, delighting kids and teenagers!

Top 10 Super Powers for Writing a Superhero Essay

Many modern films, games and TV series about superheroes and superhuman abilities open up huge scope for imagination. Each of us at least once in our life thought that it would be great to know what the other person is thinking. Or that it would be cool to fly to work. Some people dream of turning back time. Admit it, and such thoughts entered your head!

Ability to Imitate

No matter what many fans of comics and superhero movies have said, the ability to imitate is the most useful of superpowers. After all, with this, you can swim as fast as Michael Phelps, make films as fabulous as Steven Spielberg, and be as bright as Einstein.

Invisibility

With this ability, you could do anything and anywhere – no boundaries would hinder you. Most likely, every child dreamed of being invisible and doing interesting tasks. Everyone’s favourite Harry Potter is an example of such an opportunity. And yes, he can also be considered a superhero from the world of fantasy because his superpowers helped him overcome many difficulties, battles and obstacles. And invisibility is just one superpower.

Superhuman Strength

With superpowers, you could easily open banks, get cars out of the way, and even help people in floods, building collapses, and other disasters. Yes, you would be a real hero! Think of the Hulk and many other superheroes who had such superpowers and what they were capable of. Such a superpower endows its wearer with great potential and, in any case, helps him.

Gift to Heal

With this gift, you could deal with more than cuts and headaches. Diseases like cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s would disappear and never ruin the lives of many people. If you need to write an essay about this superpower, you can always contact the essay writer service .

Super Endurance

This superpower allows a person to do something for a long time without feeling tired. Imagine that you could easily run a marathon, clean the house, and do challenging physical activities all day.

Superintelligence

Superman, like Batman, has incredible mental powers. The first learn languages in a couple of hours, reads books in a second, solves math problems faster than a computer and remembers everything. The second also has an impeccable memory. His IQ reaches 192. He studies the exact sciences and owns spy tricks. He is subject to sabotage, the technique of hacking security systems and deductive thinking. Today memory and intelligence are the main advantages of a successful person.

Invincibility

Invulnerability is determined by resistance to a specific physical, mental or spiritual influence from the outside. If you had this ability, you would never be beaten by bullies. You would not suffer from depression or a broken heart. Let’s remember Tony Stark and his armour, which protected him from physical impact for a very long time. But his charismatic and selfish character also gave him the strength to withstand many moral difficulties. You, too, can learn from such people emotional resilience, and this power will come in handy!

Time Travel Ability

It is theoretically possible to travel forward in time using Einstein’s paradox when you move in a spaceship at speed close to the speed of light. Scientists have not yet come to a consensus about travel to the past as far as it is fundamentally possible. But, imagine if your streaming filler breaks again, and the TARDIS refuses to start? This would not be a problem if you could travel in time. Where would you go first?

Would you meet Dickens or meet yourself from the future? At first, it would have been difficult for people to make up their minds from such amazing opportunities. But not Marty and Doc from the hugely popular Back to the Future movie. I think a lot of people would like to be in their place.

Ability to Breathe Underwater

In many superhero essay from schoolchildren, you can find such a superpower. You could go diving without fear of suffocation, and underwater a fantastic world like Aquaman would be waiting for you! You would be able to independently cover long distances on land and in water without ships and submarines. And also, humanity could fully explore every ocean.

Teleportation.

A well-deserved special place is occupied by the dream of instantaneous movement from one point in space to another. She became famous for describing this idea in the Star Trek series. Science is currently dealing with this issue closely, and some results have already been achieved. Also, a striking example is the charismatic Doctor Strange and his ability to teleport. You can make good use of this character when writing a superhero essay.

Who Is Your Favorite Superhero and Why? Writing Superhero Essay

Have a look at how to write a who is your favourite superhero and why essay?

When my friends ask me who my favourite superhero is, I find it difficult to answer, since now there are many superheroes. All of them are very interesting, and films about them have remained in my memory for a long time. But from the very first glance, Batman became my favourite superhero. Of course, you can also remember this fantastic character and his bat logo.

After watching the movie, I was amazed by this character. Unlike other famous superheroes, he does not have superpowers, but he is very well physically prepared and possesses a strong intellect. He can also be considered a true detective. This superhero participates in high-profile political affairs and protects ordinary people from the elements, criminals and arbitrariness.

Why did he become like this? Unfortunately, his parents were killed by criminals as a child. But fortunately, this did not break him as a person. Since then, he decided to fight the bad guys, but despite such a severe trauma in childhood, he does not kill his sworn enemies but catches them and gives them over to the police.

I like Batman for his strength, nobility, quick wit and sense of justice. Batman is fluent in the techniques of various martial arts, which makes him invulnerable among mortals. This charming guy loves to demonstrate his strength in public, making villains tremble, and girls sigh with delight. I would like to be like him because our world lacks such people.

Who was the first superhero?

Superman became the first superhero in the comic book world, and even today, he is popular and beloved by the public.

Who is the most powerful superhero?

It is believed that Superman is the most powerful superhero, but also the Hulk can be on the same level of physical strength.

Who is the fastest superhero?

Of course, you can remember Flash and his incredibly high speed of movement.

Who was the first black superhero?

In the comics, the first to become a black superhero is Black Panther.

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Stephanie Burt, How to Write About Superheroes, American Literary History , Volume 32, Issue 3, Fall 2020, Pages 598–608, https://doi.org/10.1093/alh/ajaa018

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Eighty years after the first Superman comic, scholars are catching up to the importance, and to the popularity, of superheroes in comics and in other media. Recent monographs and edited collections examine racial politics, disabilities, other identities, and reception history across a range of decades and of superhero characters. Most of these worthy works remain within the limits of critique, judging the comics on how well they handle one or another theme; the result is a picture of superhero comics that cannot do justice to the genre. To them and to their like, the academic critics of the future might add—what vernacular comics critics already contribute—additional attention to what one or another character does best, to the transformative potential of even minor superhero work, and to how commercially produced superhero comics at their best handle narrative form.

One superhero symbol can work many ways, as Neal Curtis’s examination of Truth and other Captain America stories shows: Cap has repeatedly fought off right-wing doubles, alternatively costumed versions of himself who aspired to make America white again.

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There’s a Hero Inside of Everyone, and We’re Not Saying That to Make You Feel Good

Science journalist Elizabeth Svoboda’s new book examines the roots and reasons of heroism, from evolution and biology to meditation and volunteering

Matt Kettmann

For millennia, humankind has been captivated by heroic deeds, and the brave souls who carry out such life-saving tasks dominate both the epic poems of yesteryear and the newspaper headlines of today. But what if we all possess the capacity to rise to the occasion when disaster strikes, to save a fellow soul from dying, to work selflessly on behalf of the poor and downtrodden?

We do, believes Bay Area-based science journalist Elizabeth Svoboda, who lays out all of the recent research on humanity’s innate heroism in her new book What Makes a Hero? The Surprising Science of Selflessness . In addition to showing how classic heroes aren’t much different than everyday soup kitchen volunteers or even people who sacrifice a bit of time to console a sick or grieving friend, Svoboda argues that we can actually hone our brains to be better prepared for becoming a real life-saver if such a situation ever arises.

After thinking about the topic for so long, what is your definition of a hero now?

The best thing I can come up with is that heroism is doing something where you're really taking risks to help somebody else, and you're not expecting to gain from that risk to yourself. It doesn't have to be as narrow as giving up your life for someone else on the battlefield or saving someone from a burning house—as long as you are putting yourself on the line in some way, in my book, that qualifies as heroism.

And what your book is basically saying is that we can all train to be heroes, right?

That’s a good way to sum it up, or that we all have the potential for heroic actions, and that there are things we can do to prepare ourselves to increase the chances that we will be useful in such a situation and actually get involved.

Phil Zimbardo, a psychologist in San Francisco [best known for leading the famous Stanford prison experiment that showed a human tendency toward evil, and is now taught in most courses on psychology and ethics], believes that its important to talk about psychological pitfalls that our brains fall into—like the bystander effect. The more people there are standing around watching an incident, the less likely it is that any one of them will intervene. With this extra knowledge, we can catch ourselves from falling prey to the bystander effect and say, “hey, I don’t care if no one is stepping up, I’m going to do it.”

So, it’s still in a pretty early form, but there is evidence that we can become more compassionate and more aware of the social forces that can hold us back from helping. It’s something that educators and people across the country are interested in on a broad scale.

Did you find that humans are biologically hardwired for heroism?

A lot of the research is focused more on generosity and giving than on doing heroic deeds, per se. Economist Bill Harbaugh at the University of Oregon did a really cool study about what happens in people's brains when they made the decision to give to charity. He was surprised to find that when people make these decisions, a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens was very active. That's an area of the brain associated with processing pleasure and rewards. What he took from this is that when you give of yourself to help someone else, it feels really good. That's something hopefully in the future we'll be able to capitalize on—maybe we can train people to like it even more.

Many of these brain studies seem to show over and over again that when you choose to donate to a charity you like, the brain will light up like how you feel if you won a video game or got on a roller coaster or had some other pleasurable experience. If you think about it, it makes sense: When we do something for somebody else, we are imagining how it’s going to benefit that person. It makes us feel purposeful, and I think purpose is a huge source of life satisfaction for people.

There is also research indicating that we are more likely to help when it’s just one starving face, rather than many. So the adopt-a-starving child campaign actually does work?

It really does. Some marketers have sensed this from the beginning, that people respond to faces and people respond to individual stories. But in more recent years, a psychologist named Paul Slovic has been demonstrating experimentally that we are much more likely to give to a single starving child than a large group of starving children, and even less to a group of two children that just one. This is an effect that shows up very early as we go up the number scale. And it gets worse. If we read in a newspaper that 10,000 were killed in a massacre in some country we never heard of, we are probably going to tune that right out. Even if we know intellectually that 10,000 is a lot of people, our brains are not good at processing what 10,000 deaths are going to mean. We don’t feel like we can do anything meaningful, so we tend to step back and see it as an abstraction.

Are those who have suffered themselves in life more likely to act heroically than others?

The researcher who has done a lot of this investigation is Ervin Staub. He did a study where he found people who had gone through specific bouts of suffering, some had suffered violent assaults, others had gone through natural disasters, and so on. Once they had gone through that, if they heard about Asian tsunami victims, for instance, they were more likely to say that they intended to donate to them. He thinks there is something about knowing how tough certain circumstances can be if they happen to have gone through similar circumstances.

There seems to be a sense in society that if you are doing something helpful to feel good about yourself, then it’s somehow not pure. Is it bad to feel good about doing good?

If the good deed gets done and if the person gets a benefit, I don’t see it as problematic or impure if you feel good as a result. The fact that you’re feeling good might even motivate you to do similar things in the future.

So how do we go about teaching people to be heroes?

There are a number of different approaches you can take. When I spent time with the Real Life Superheroes in New York City [a network of crime-fighters called the New York Initiative], I really saw how well they support each other in doing generous things together, bringing clothes to the homeless or walking dogs at the animal shelter. They would do this as a group or in teams. Like if you have a buddy who helps you jog every morning, getting involved with friends in these altruistic ventures can inspire you to follow through.

It also helps to think about what you have in common with other people. There was an interesting study presented at a compassionate science conference last year about an experiment where people were tapping their hands in time with someone else. When a person was assigned to complete a long task, the other person was more likely to help the person who had been tapping in time with them than helping someone who had not. So when we feel we have something in common with someone, even if it’s something that seems like it wouldn’t matter, we have more natural empathy and identification with him or her. That can motivate us to step forward.

Zimbardo advocates for everyday heroism, or taking small opportunities to help people around you. That can be as basic as buying somebody a Big Mac who looks like they need a meal or sticking up for a colleague at work. Things like that are pretty low-key, but they are also what scientists call very pro-social. When you do those kinds of acts, you get really comfortable looking for what other people need. If ever you do have a big heroism opportunity come up, you'll be better prepared to respond to the pressure of the moment. It's like everyday hero training.

And that’s the other thing: to be a hero in the classic sense, a situation requiring such a deed must present itself, right?

Certainly, there is an element of chance to it, but one of the things I’m arguing is that we don’t necessarily have to be one of the death-defying, split-second chance heroes. If you devote your life to an altruistic cause and devote a significant amount of yourself to that, that’s heroic too, but in a different way. That’s the type of selflessness that goes underappreciated all the time. I want those people to know they are just as valuable as the person who does the big front-page heroic act.

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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

What Makes a Hero?

This month, Greater Good features videos of a presentation by Philip Zimbardo, the world-renowned psychologist perhaps best known for his infamous Stanford Prison Experiment. In his talk, Zimbardo discusses the psychology of evil and of heroism, exploring why good people sometimes turn bad and how we can encourage more people to perform heroic acts. In this excerpt from his talk, he zeroes in on his research and educational program designed to foster the “heroic imagination.”

More on Heroism

Watch the video of Philip Zimbardo's Greater Good talk on heroism.

Read his essay on " The Banality of Heroism ," which further explores the conditions that can promote heroism vs. evil.

Read this Greater Good essay on the "psychology of the bystander."

Learn more about Zimbardo's Heroic Imagination Project.

What makes us good? What makes us evil?

Research has uncovered many answers to the second question: Evil can be fostered by dehumanization, diffusion of responsibility, obedience to authority, unjust systems, group pressure, moral disengagement, and anonymity, to name a few.

But when we ask why people become heroic, research doesn’t yet have an answer. It could be that heroes have more compassion or empathy; maybe there’s a hero gene; maybe it’s because of their levels of oxytocin—research by neuroeconomist Paul Zak has shown that this “love hormone” in the brain increases the likelihood you’ll demonstrate altruism. We don’t know for sure.

I believe that heroism is different than altruism and compassion. For the last five years, my colleagues and I have been exploring the nature and roots of heroism, studying exemplary cases of heroism and surveying thousands of people about their choices to act (or not act) heroically. In that time, we’ve come to define heroism as an activity with several parts.

First, it’s performed in service to others in need—whether that’s a person, group, or community—or in defense of certain ideals. Second, it’s engaged in voluntarily, even in military contexts, as heroism remains an act that goes beyond something required by military duty. Third, a heroic act is one performed with recognition of possible risks and costs, be they to one’s physical health or personal reputation, in which the actor is willing to accept anticipated sacrifice. Finally, it is performed without external gain anticipated at the time of the act.

Simply put, then, the key to heroism is a concern for other people in need—a concern to defend a moral cause, knowing there is a personal risk, done without expectation of reward.

By that definition, then, altruism is heroism light—it doesn’t always involve a serious risk. Compassion is a virtue that may lead to heroism, but we don’t know that it does. We’re just now starting to scientifically distinguish heroism from these other concepts and zero in on what makes a hero.

My work on heroism follows 35 years of research in which I studied the psychology of evil, including my work on the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment . The two lines of research aren’t as different as they might seem; they’re actually two sides of the same coin.

A key insight from research on heroism so far is that the very same situations that inflame the hostile imagination in some people, making them villains, can also instill the heroic imagination in other people, prompting them to perform heroic deeds.

Take the Holocaust. Christians who helped Jews were in the same situation as other civilians who helped imprison or kill Jews, or ignored their suffering. The situation provided the impetus to act heroically or malevolently. Why did some people choose one path or the other?

Another key insight from my research has been that there’s no clear line between good and evil. Instead, the line is permeable; people can cross back and forth between it.

This is an idea wonderfully represented in an illusion by M. C. Escher, at left. When you squint and focus on the white as the figures and the black as the background, you see a world full of angels and tutus dancing around happily. But now focus on the black as the figures and the white as the background: Now it’s a world full of demons.

What Escher’s telling us is that the world is filled with angels and devils, goodness and badness, and these dark and light aspects of human nature are our basic yin and yang. That is, we all are born with the capacity to be anything. Because of our incredible brains, anything that is imaginable becomes possible, anything that becomes possible can get transformed into action, for better or for worse. 

Some people argue humans are born good or born bad; I think that’s nonsense. We are all born with this tremendous capacity to be anything, and we get shaped by our circumstances—by the family or the culture or the time period in which we happen to grow up, which are accidents of birth; whether we grow up in a war zone versus peace; if we grow up in poverty rather than prosperity.

George Bernard Shaw captured this point in the preface to his great play “Major Barbara”: “Every reasonable man and woman is a potential scoundrel and a potential good citizen. What a man is depends upon his character what’s inside. What he does and what we think of what he does depends on upon his circumstances.”

So each of us may possess the capacity to do terrible things. But we also posses an inner hero; if stirred to action, that inner hero is capable of performing tremendous goodness for others.

Another conclusion from my research is that few people do evil and fewer act heroically. Between these extremes in the bell curve of humanity are the masses—the general population who do nothing, who I call the “reluctant heroes”—those who refuse the call to action and, by doing nothing, often implicitly support the perpetrators of evil.

So on this bell curve of humanity, villains and heroes are the outliers. The reluctant heroes are the rest. What we need to discover is how to give a call to service to this general population. How do we make them aware of the evil that exists? How do we prevent them from getting seduced to the dark side?

We don’t yet have a recipe for creating heroes, but we have some clues, based on the stories of some inspiring heroes.

I love the story of a wonderful nine-year-old Chinese boy, who I call a dutiful hero. In 2008, there was a massive earthquake in China’s Szechuan province. The ceiling fell down on a school, killing almost all the kids in it. This kid escaped, and as he was running away he noticed two other kids struggling to get out. He ran back and saved them. He was later asked, “Why did you do that?” He replied, “I was the hall monitor! It was my duty, it was my job to look after my classmates!”

This perfectly illustrates what I call the “heroic imagination,” a focus on one’s duty to help and protect others. For him, it was cultivated by being assigned this role of hall monitor.

Another story: Irena Sendler was a Polish hero, a Catholic woman who saved at least 2,500 Jewish kids who were holed up in the Warsaw ghetto that the Nazis had erected. She was able to convince the parents of these kids to allow her to smuggle them out of the ghetto to safety. To do this, she organized a network.

That is a key principle of heroism: Heroes are most effective not alone but in a network. It’s through forming a network that people have the resources to bring their heroic impulses to life.

What these stories suggest is that every one of us can be a hero. Through my work on heroism, I’ve become even more convinced that acts of heroism don’t just arrive from truly exceptional people but from people placed in the right circumstance, given the necessary tools to transform compassion into heroic action.

Building on these insights, I have helped to start a program designed to learn more of heroism and to create the heroes of tomorrow.

The Heroic Imagination Project (HIP) is amplifying the voice of the world’s quiet heroes, using research and education networks to promote a heroic imagination in everyone, and then empower ordinary people of all ages and nations to engage in extraordinary acts of heroism. We want to democratize the notion of heroism, to emphasize that most heroes are ordinary people; it’s the act that’s extraordinary.

There are already a lot of great heroes projects out there, such as the Giraffe Heroes Project . The HIP is unique in that it’s the only one encouraging research into heroism, because there’s very little.

Here are a few key insights from research we’ve done surveying 4,000 Americans from across the country. Each of these statements is valid after controlling for all demographic variables, such as education and socioeconomic status.

Heroes surround us. One in five—20 percent—qualify as heroes, based on the definition of heroism I provide above. Seventy-two percent report helping another person in a dangerous emergency. Sixteen percent report whistle blowing on an injustice. Six percent report sacrificing for a non-relative or stranger. Fifteen percent report defying an unjust authority. And not one of these people has been formally recognized as a hero.

Opportunity matters. Most acts of heroism occur in urban areas, where there are more people and more people in need. You’re not going to be a hero if you live in the suburbs. No shit happens in the suburbs!

Education matters. The more educated you are, the more likely you are to be a hero, I think because you are more aware of situations.

Volunteering matters. One third of all the sample who were heroes also had volunteered significantly, up to 59 hours a week.

Gender matters. Males reported performing acts of heroism more than females. I think this is because women tend not to regard a lot of their heroic actions as heroic. It’s just what they think they’re supposed to do for their family or a friend.

Race matters. Blacks were eight times more likely than whites to qualify as heroes. We think that’s in part due to the rate of opportunity. (In our next survey, we’re going to track responses by area code to see if in fact these heroes are coming from inner cities.

Personal history matters. Having survived a disaster or personal trauma makes you three times more likely to be a hero and a volunteer.

Based on these insights into heroism, we’ve put together a toolkit for potential heroes, especially young heroes in training, who already have opportunities to act heroically when they’re kids, such as by opposing bullying.

A first step is to take the “hero pledge,” a public declaration on our website that says you’re willing to be a hero in waiting. It’s a pledge “to act when confronted with a situation where I feel something is wrong,” “to develop my heroic abilities,” and “to believe in the heroic capacities within myself and others, so I can build and refine them.”

You can also take our four-week “Hero Challenge” mini-course online to help you develop your heroic muscles. The challenge may not require you to do anything heroic, but it’s training you to be heroic. And we offer more rigorous, research-based education and training programs for middle and high schools, corporations, and the millitary that make people aware of the social factors that produce passivity, inspire them to take positive civic action, and encourage the skills needed to consistently translate heroic impulses into action.

We’re also in the process of creating an Encyclopedia of Heroes, a collection of hero stories from all over the world. Not just all the classic ones and fictional ones, but ones that people from around the world are going to send in, so they can nominate ordinary heroes with a picture and a story. It will be searchable, so you can find heroes by age, gender, city and country. These are the unsung, quiet heroes—they do their own thing, put themselves in danger, defend a moral cause, help someone in need. And we want to highlight them. We want them to be inspirational to other people just like them.

Essentially, we’re trying to build the social habits of heroes, to build a focus on the other, shifting away from the “me” and toward the “we.” As the poet John Donne wrote: “No man [or woman] is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; … any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

So every person is part of humanity. Each person’s pulse is part of humanity’s heartbeat. Heroes circulate the life force of goodness in our veins. And what the world needs now is more heroes—you. It’s time to take action against evil.

About the Author

Philip Zimbardo

Philip Zimbardo, Ph.D. , is a professor emeritus of psychology at Stanford University, a professor at Palo Alto University, a two-time past president of the Western Psychological Association, and a past president of the American Psychological Association. He is also the author of the best-selling book The Lucifer Effect and the president of the Heroic Imagination Project .

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Very nice information. In this world this is the very difficult question that what makes people good or evil. This post has helped a lot to understand the difference. Actually in my point of it depends upon the individual that what he/she thinks. If he/she thinks negative all the time them they became evil and thinking vice versa makes them good.

Andrew | 2:31 am, January 19, 2011 | Link

I really like reading this article because there are many individuals in the world that are heroes but are not recognized.  Heroes that have help humanity progress and prosper have fought with the greatest weapons which are love, respect, sincerity, and peace.  The governments that have had the greatest fear of seeing people free have always use war for colonization, genocide, and false treaties.  However, love is much stronger than war, and thanks to the modern forms of communication and exchange of information, more people are united for peace and do not support or participate in colonization or human genocide.  Since the start of humanity most people have use peace to progress, few have participated in war and few are participating. May peace prevail on earth!

Victor | 7:48 pm, January 29, 2011 | Link

A son raising up against an evil father. A brother standing up to a bully attacking his sibling. A stranger rallying to the side of a woman being assaulted in the street.

My sons are my strength. My reason to help others, that they may find the help they need in their lives.

pops | 9:39 am, February 3, 2011 | Link

Of course religion and eduction has a big impact on a child. But once a child is trying to live a good life (earning good karma or call it whatever you want) good things will happen to that child and he or she will recognize this.

So I think you can definitely change from evil to good.. maybe you _can be changed_ from good to evil.

Massud Hosseini | 7:28 am, September 17, 2011 | Link

Actually in my point of it depends upon the individual that what he/she thinks

asalah | 9:41 pm, September 24, 2011 | Link

“Research has uncovered many answers to the second question: Evil can be fostered by dehumanization, diffusion of responsibility, obedience to authority, unjust systems, group pressure, moral disengagement, and anonymity, to name a few.”  <—What I find amazing about this statement is that anything is being branded “evil” at all.  Well, maybe not.  Relativism seems to be something that’s employed when convenient, disregarded when it’s not.

Kukri | 6:58 pm, November 6, 2011 | Link

This is a very comprehensive discussion on heroism. Victor makes a great point in his comment about how most heroes go unnoticed by the vast majority of people. I think that lack of notoriety is part of what it means to be a hero: doing that which is unexpected without the need for a pat on the back. quotes for facebook status

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When a sniper’s bullet hits one soldier and misses the person next to him, that alone does not make the wounded soldier more heroic.

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