1) Why did you choose this particular recreation and how does it link to your main production?
We chose this because for my critical investigation was looking at superheroes and my partner was looking into the representation of riots with newspapers. This gave the idea to recreate a scene from spiderman 2 a superhero movie and then the main scene was a newspaper industry talking about headlines of the new villain. This also linked with my partner as to newspapers were involved and representation.
2) What difficulties did you face in producing this recreation?
The room was too small to shoot and the lighting was not greatest as to the filming was done at night but in the video it is day.
3) What are the strengths of the production?
The strengths was the cast and the shots were all the best and it would mean that we did this when tasked about a week ago meaning that we can deal with the pressure.
4) What aspects would you look to improve?
The cuts and pace needs to be quicker because it was slow to see my facial expression as it should of been quicker as to the original and i would improve by location as i need to have a bigger office.
5) What lessons will you take from this process that will help you with your main production?
Editing cuts need to be quick and the shots need to be clear. Film in the right time of day so that it looks the right way my group wants. The lesson taught me that the editing is the important as there shouldn't be pauses if its a running shot.
6) Now that you are ready to start your actual linked production, explain clearly what you will be creating and how confident you are in delivering this.
We are going to do riots against LGBT superheroes and we are going have 2 locations a car/car park and a office where there will be journalists talking and for the car park there will be a discussion on a riot being created and bringing people in. The main idea of this is to bring a reporters point of view and the riots point of view as to the way they see it. It is going to be a short film of representation.
Friday 22 January 2016
Wednesday 20 January 2016
Friday 15 January 2016
preliminary Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene
LOCATION: Teachers Office with a good view.
CAST: LEE as Jamerson
KIRATH as Hawkmann
COSTUMES: LEE would wear a grey suit with a black tie, Kirath will wear a navy blue suit with a black tie.
PROPS: Glasses
Preliminary Script
Spiderman 2 - Recreation task
START SCENE
(LEE SITTING DOWN)
LEE: (SITTING DOWN) Gossip rumours panic in the streets. We’re lucky crazy scientist (GETS UP AND LOOKS INTO THE WINDOW) turned himself into some kind of monster. Four mechanical arms welded the right onto his body. (HECKLES) Guy named Octo Octavius winds up with 8 limbs what are the odds. (KIRATH WALKS IN EARLY) Hawkmann!
KIRATH: (FUNNY LOOK) Yeah.
LEE: What we gonna call this guy?
KIRATH: Errrr (CONFIDENT) Doctor Octopus
LEE: Ehh Crap (WALKS BACK TO HIS DESK)
KIRATH: Science squid?
LEE: Crap
KIRATH: DR Strange?
LEE: (LOOKS AT KIRATH) That’s pretty good (PAUSE) but it’s taken. (HAND RAISES)Wait wait I got it. Doctor Octopus (HAND RAISES POINTS AT KIRATH).
KIRATH: Ehbutehh, I like it (LOOKS DOWN)
LEE: Course you do, Doctor Octopus, New villain in town “Doc OCK”.
KIRATH: Genius (RAISE EYEBROWS AND FAKE SMILE)
LEE: What you looking for a raise? Get out (WAVES HAND TO THE RIGHT)
END SCENE
Tuesday 12 January 2016
Recreation task
Preliminary exercise: Recreation task
Name of the text you plan to recreate:
TOP 10: J. Jonah Jameson Moments (Spider-Man 1, 2)
Scene/section you will recreate:
Location you will use for your recreation:
Teacher office
Actors you will require for your recreation:
Kirath, Lee
Props/costumes you will require for your recreation:
Blazer, Shirt and Tie for the costumes. Props required are just glasses
Equipment you plan to use:
Camera, Tri-pod and SD card
Any other relevant information:
Name of the text you plan to recreate:
TOP 10: J. Jonah Jameson Moments (Spider-Man 1, 2)
Number 9
Scene/section you will recreate:
Teacher office
Actors you will require for your recreation:
Kirath, Lee
Props/costumes you will require for your recreation:
Blazer, Shirt and Tie for the costumes. Props required are just glasses
Equipment you plan to use:
Camera, Tri-pod and SD card
Any other relevant information:
Linked Production brief
Writing your own Linked Production brief
Your Critical Investigation topic:
Riots against LGBT Superheroes
Your Linked Production brief:
News report of riots happening around town about the people are not wanting the protection of the people led by LGBT superheroes.
Length/size of production (e.g. 3 minutes, 5 pages etc.):
3 minute short film
Give an example of an existing media text this is similar to what you plan to produce:
An example of a media text would be something like Anchorman but a more serious role as Anchorman is a comedic movie this short would be a serious short instead with a cast of reporters.
Give an example of an institution that would produce or distribute your planned production:
BBC, ITV or an Netflix Original production about LGBT
How would your production reach its audience?
It goes for an audience who are reformers as to seeing something different and the LGBT audience
Who do you plan to work with on this project?
Lee as he is doing about the 2011 riots
Your Critical Investigation topic:
Riots against LGBT Superheroes
Your Linked Production brief:
News report of riots happening around town about the people are not wanting the protection of the people led by LGBT superheroes.
Length/size of production (e.g. 3 minutes, 5 pages etc.):
3 minute short film
Give an example of an existing media text this is similar to what you plan to produce:
An example of a media text would be something like Anchorman but a more serious role as Anchorman is a comedic movie this short would be a serious short instead with a cast of reporters.
Give an example of an institution that would produce or distribute your planned production:
BBC, ITV or an Netflix Original production about LGBT
How would your production reach its audience?
It goes for an audience who are reformers as to seeing something different and the LGBT audience
Who do you plan to work with on this project?
Lee as he is doing about the 2011 riots
Wednesday 6 January 2016
Task 6 Up-to-the-minute additional web research
http://www.newnownext.com/ten-best-gay-and-bisexual-science-fiction-characters/01/2008/
Midnighter top 10 favourite LGBT superhero and science fiction character
several GLBT comic book superheroes, their gayness is often handled in a coy manner, inferring their sexuality in a playful manner that gets played off as an in-joke (see repeated examples in TheYoung Avengers’ Hulkling and Wiccan).Compared to these types of characters, The Midnighter is note worthy because his gay identity couldn’t possibly be further from subtle. The very out gay hero is married to team member Apollo, and the pair refreshingly engage in sometimes graphic sexual dialogue, something you wouldn’t find in the “mainstream” pages of Marvel and DC comics.
We left equally out-and-proud hubby Apollo off the list because of his less original character. The blond Superman in need of a haircut is somewhat less interesting than the more morally questionable Midnighter; he’s more of a do-gooder who serves as Midnighter’s moral center – literally his better half.
http://www.writeups.org/fiche.php?id=4948
“We’re building a better world, remember ? One the bastards can’t remake in their image. If that’s not something to be proud of, I don’t know what is.”
“I know what special abilities you have. I can see the enhancements.I can detect the increased electrical activity in your brain. I know what moves you’re preparing to make. I've fought our fight already, in my head, in a million different ways. I can hit you without you even seeing me.me. I'm what soldiers dream of growing into. I'm what children see when they first imagine what death is like. I'm the Midnighter. Put the child down.[Opponent hesitates and is beaten down - hhekkgggk] Told you so.”
“Fucking typical ! As soon as we take over the world, it starts to fall apart at the seams…”
“The 21st Century is a bad time to be a bastard.”
(to Kyle Rayner) “Hey, Ring Boy, or whatever the hell you call yourself…don’t come back.”
“Sleeping in boxes and eating leftover pizza for the past twelve months has built up a lot of negative energy in me, Apollo. Treating these dirt bags to a little eye-gouging and neck-breaking for a few minutes might be just the kind of cathartic exercise I was looking for.”
“All those super-Gods — Apollo, Jenny Quarx, Engineer, Zealot, Majestic, Spartan — but it was some grouch in a leather jacket that terrified them. So just get the Hell over yourself, tough guy.”
“He makes a lot of noise and heals fast, but if you mortally wound him every couple of seconds it seems to do the trick.”
“I’m fed-up with everybody thinking I'm some kind of psychopath, Apollo. You’d better shut up and let me do the talking when we’re on Conan O’Brien next week.”
“Leave this to me.You said Kriegstein’s creations are simultaneously attacking every capitol city in the world, Hawksmoor. Like it or not, that means the only way to we’re going to beat him is to split up and defend each country individually. Besides, the day I can’t mutilate thirty radioactive teenagers is the day I hang up my coat for good"
https://reason.com/archives/2013/02/28/how-the-government-made-use-of-comic-boo
"The evil spell that comic books were capable of casting apparently got to Werthem as well. While his campaign against brightly inked mayhem inspired a U.S. Senate hearing that led to industry self-regulation and the demise of hundreds of crime and horror titles, Carol Tilley, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science, has discovered evidence that suggests Dr. Wertham bent the truth to fit his theories in Seduction of the Innocent."
http://io9.gizmodo.com/5037854/when-superheroes-fail-to-save-the-world
He’s rugged, he’s macho, and his entire wardrobe consists of black leather. Remember when Midnighter was happily married and didn’t have a spike on his chin? Someone needs to slap the walls of the DC universe to bring this sexy back.
http://www.cosmicbooknews.com/content/dc-relaunch-martian-manhunter-wildstorm-westerns-loose-cannons
Stormwatch is a dangerous super human strike force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo. And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds. Featuring a surprising new roster, STORMWATCH #1 will be written by the critically-acclaimed Paul Cornell (Superman: The Black Ring, “Dr. Who”) and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda.
http://fusion.net/story/145302/dcs-new-midnighter/
While Midnighter the character may not be the newest face in the DC universe, Midnighter the series is the first mainstream comic to centrally focus on an openly gay man. This week, DC released the first issue of the Midnighter solo series featuring its titular character weaving his way into DC’s mainstream universe after spending the bulk of his existence in the company’s WildStorm imprint. Where DC’s Justice League was a team of virtuous paragons of justice, Wildstorm’s Authority are heroes willing to protect the world by any means necessary.
Jenny Quantum, the Authority’s one time leader, was the living embodiment of the 21st century. Apollo, WildStorm’s answer to Superman, was a genetically modified American soldier who derived his powers from the sun. The Midnighter was like a proper Batman for adults, a foulmouthed, violent guy who acknowledged that he was probably a sociopath. But like the good kind of sociopath who helps people. Like Dexter. Unlike Dexter, Midnighter’s more your traditional super vigilate, hiding a shock of red hair beneath a mask that looks like Batman’s with the iconic ears shaved off. He also rocks a trench coat–because real heroes don’t wear capes.
When they were introduced in 1998, Midnighter and Apollo were two of the only openly queer comic book characters to appear regularly in any publication. As time has gone on, mainstream characters like Batwoman, Northstar, Hulkling, Wiccan, and a time-displaced a young Iceman have all come out of the closet. Oddly, the stories addressing their sexual identities have all revolved around coming to terms with sexuality or struggling to maintain traditional relationships with their partners.
Johnny Murdoc, publisher of Queer Young Cowboys, says that the new Midnighter’s characterization reflects a more authentic depiction of a queerness, if only for the fact that it’s different than most.
“I’ve been looking for Marvel or DC to start hiring more diverse creators to work on their new attempts at diverse characters, and the move appears to have paid off,” he told Fusion. “Steve Orlando is a queer man writing a queer character. Midnighter’s sexuality isn’t his only feature, but it’s a core one, and the issue is gay enough that I imagine more than a couple of straight men are put off by it.”
http://www.newnownext.com/midnighter-dcs-gay-superhero-could-use-some-rescuing/06/2007/
Midnighter, who this past November became the first gay DC superhero to headline his own standalone series. But as of June's issue, Midnighter's sexuality has yet to be fully integrated into his character or his story. In anticipation of the arrival of a new regular writer for the series, AfterElton.com looks at Midnighter's origins and the handling of his sexuality by various writers and artists over the years.
tormWatch #4 (Wildstorm/Image Comics, cover date Feb. 1998) introduced two characters that would soon become symbols for a generation of gay comics fans: Apollo and Midnighter. At first glance, the pair were seemingly analogs of Superman and Batman: while Apollo was strong, fast, invulnerable and dependent on the sun for his powers, Midnighter was clad in black leather, could predict his opponents’ moves and liked to inflict heavy damages on bad people. So far, so good.
But from their first appearance, something was unusual: They were sometimes seen half-naked, dressing together before another day of fighting, as yet unaffiliated with any other heroes. (They were secretly rebuilt as human weapons by yet another power-mad character, with no memory of their previous life.)
A year later, as the StormWatch series morphed into The Authority (with the Wildstorm imprint now published by DC Comics), the two characters were included in the eponymous group, and over the course of their 12-issue run, Ellis and Hitch gave more and more hints that, unlike Superman and Batman, these two new characters were, indeed, more than friends.
The interesting thing is that the word "gay" wasn't used at the time. Instead, readers came to understand what was going on through scenes showing Apollo and Midnighter caring for each other, as in issue No. 7 when Apollo is wounded and Midnighter holds him in his arms. It was subtle (which was definitely the goal of the writer, who at first hadn't even told the artist the characters were gay), but very clear. Gay superhero fans finally had an enduring gay couple in their comics.
Then writer Mark Millar took over, and while the gay genie was certainly not put back in the bottle, the subtlety quickly evaporated. Millar's run, which lasted about 20 issues (including a four-issue miniseries), was full of homophobic insults hurled by villains, anal sex jokes and rapes (of Apollo, and then of his attacker by Midnighter) with large, tubular objects, a fate rarely, if ever, endured by straight male superheroes.
Midnighter top 10 favourite LGBT superhero and science fiction character
several GLBT comic book superheroes, their gayness is often handled in a coy manner, inferring their sexuality in a playful manner that gets played off as an in-joke (see repeated examples in TheYoung Avengers’ Hulkling and Wiccan).Compared to these types of characters, The Midnighter is note worthy because his gay identity couldn’t possibly be further from subtle. The very out gay hero is married to team member Apollo, and the pair refreshingly engage in sometimes graphic sexual dialogue, something you wouldn’t find in the “mainstream” pages of Marvel and DC comics.
We left equally out-and-proud hubby Apollo off the list because of his less original character. The blond Superman in need of a haircut is somewhat less interesting than the more morally questionable Midnighter; he’s more of a do-gooder who serves as Midnighter’s moral center – literally his better half.
http://www.writeups.org/fiche.php?id=4948
“We’re building a better world, remember ? One the bastards can’t remake in their image. If that’s not something to be proud of, I don’t know what is.”
“I know what special abilities you have. I can see the enhancements.I can detect the increased electrical activity in your brain. I know what moves you’re preparing to make. I've fought our fight already, in my head, in a million different ways. I can hit you without you even seeing me.me. I'm what soldiers dream of growing into. I'm what children see when they first imagine what death is like. I'm the Midnighter. Put the child down.[Opponent hesitates and is beaten down - hhekkgggk] Told you so.”
“Fucking typical ! As soon as we take over the world, it starts to fall apart at the seams…”
“The 21st Century is a bad time to be a bastard.”
(to Kyle Rayner) “Hey, Ring Boy, or whatever the hell you call yourself…don’t come back.”
“Sleeping in boxes and eating leftover pizza for the past twelve months has built up a lot of negative energy in me, Apollo. Treating these dirt bags to a little eye-gouging and neck-breaking for a few minutes might be just the kind of cathartic exercise I was looking for.”
“All those super-Gods — Apollo, Jenny Quarx, Engineer, Zealot, Majestic, Spartan — but it was some grouch in a leather jacket that terrified them. So just get the Hell over yourself, tough guy.”
“He makes a lot of noise and heals fast, but if you mortally wound him every couple of seconds it seems to do the trick.”
“I’m fed-up with everybody thinking I'm some kind of psychopath, Apollo. You’d better shut up and let me do the talking when we’re on Conan O’Brien next week.”
“Leave this to me.You said Kriegstein’s creations are simultaneously attacking every capitol city in the world, Hawksmoor. Like it or not, that means the only way to we’re going to beat him is to split up and defend each country individually. Besides, the day I can’t mutilate thirty radioactive teenagers is the day I hang up my coat for good"
https://reason.com/archives/2013/02/28/how-the-government-made-use-of-comic-boo
"The evil spell that comic books were capable of casting apparently got to Werthem as well. While his campaign against brightly inked mayhem inspired a U.S. Senate hearing that led to industry self-regulation and the demise of hundreds of crime and horror titles, Carol Tilley, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science, has discovered evidence that suggests Dr. Wertham bent the truth to fit his theories in Seduction of the Innocent."
http://io9.gizmodo.com/5037854/when-superheroes-fail-to-save-the-world
He’s rugged, he’s macho, and his entire wardrobe consists of black leather. Remember when Midnighter was happily married and didn’t have a spike on his chin? Someone needs to slap the walls of the DC universe to bring this sexy back.
http://www.cosmicbooknews.com/content/dc-relaunch-martian-manhunter-wildstorm-westerns-loose-cannons
Stormwatch is a dangerous super human strike force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo. And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds. Featuring a surprising new roster, STORMWATCH #1 will be written by the critically-acclaimed Paul Cornell (Superman: The Black Ring, “Dr. Who”) and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda.
http://fusion.net/story/145302/dcs-new-midnighter/
While Midnighter the character may not be the newest face in the DC universe, Midnighter the series is the first mainstream comic to centrally focus on an openly gay man. This week, DC released the first issue of the Midnighter solo series featuring its titular character weaving his way into DC’s mainstream universe after spending the bulk of his existence in the company’s WildStorm imprint. Where DC’s Justice League was a team of virtuous paragons of justice, Wildstorm’s Authority are heroes willing to protect the world by any means necessary.
Jenny Quantum, the Authority’s one time leader, was the living embodiment of the 21st century. Apollo, WildStorm’s answer to Superman, was a genetically modified American soldier who derived his powers from the sun. The Midnighter was like a proper Batman for adults, a foulmouthed, violent guy who acknowledged that he was probably a sociopath. But like the good kind of sociopath who helps people. Like Dexter. Unlike Dexter, Midnighter’s more your traditional super vigilate, hiding a shock of red hair beneath a mask that looks like Batman’s with the iconic ears shaved off. He also rocks a trench coat–because real heroes don’t wear capes.
When they were introduced in 1998, Midnighter and Apollo were two of the only openly queer comic book characters to appear regularly in any publication. As time has gone on, mainstream characters like Batwoman, Northstar, Hulkling, Wiccan, and a time-displaced a young Iceman have all come out of the closet. Oddly, the stories addressing their sexual identities have all revolved around coming to terms with sexuality or struggling to maintain traditional relationships with their partners.
Johnny Murdoc, publisher of Queer Young Cowboys, says that the new Midnighter’s characterization reflects a more authentic depiction of a queerness, if only for the fact that it’s different than most.
“I’ve been looking for Marvel or DC to start hiring more diverse creators to work on their new attempts at diverse characters, and the move appears to have paid off,” he told Fusion. “Steve Orlando is a queer man writing a queer character. Midnighter’s sexuality isn’t his only feature, but it’s a core one, and the issue is gay enough that I imagine more than a couple of straight men are put off by it.”
http://www.newnownext.com/midnighter-dcs-gay-superhero-could-use-some-rescuing/06/2007/
Midnighter, who this past November became the first gay DC superhero to headline his own standalone series. But as of June's issue, Midnighter's sexuality has yet to be fully integrated into his character or his story. In anticipation of the arrival of a new regular writer for the series, AfterElton.com looks at Midnighter's origins and the handling of his sexuality by various writers and artists over the years.
tormWatch #4 (Wildstorm/Image Comics, cover date Feb. 1998) introduced two characters that would soon become symbols for a generation of gay comics fans: Apollo and Midnighter. At first glance, the pair were seemingly analogs of Superman and Batman: while Apollo was strong, fast, invulnerable and dependent on the sun for his powers, Midnighter was clad in black leather, could predict his opponents’ moves and liked to inflict heavy damages on bad people. So far, so good.
But from their first appearance, something was unusual: They were sometimes seen half-naked, dressing together before another day of fighting, as yet unaffiliated with any other heroes. (They were secretly rebuilt as human weapons by yet another power-mad character, with no memory of their previous life.)
A year later, as the StormWatch series morphed into The Authority (with the Wildstorm imprint now published by DC Comics), the two characters were included in the eponymous group, and over the course of their 12-issue run, Ellis and Hitch gave more and more hints that, unlike Superman and Batman, these two new characters were, indeed, more than friends.
The interesting thing is that the word "gay" wasn't used at the time. Instead, readers came to understand what was going on through scenes showing Apollo and Midnighter caring for each other, as in issue No. 7 when Apollo is wounded and Midnighter holds him in his arms. It was subtle (which was definitely the goal of the writer, who at first hadn't even told the artist the characters were gay), but very clear. Gay superhero fans finally had an enduring gay couple in their comics.
Then writer Mark Millar took over, and while the gay genie was certainly not put back in the bottle, the subtlety quickly evaporated. Millar's run, which lasted about 20 issues (including a four-issue miniseries), was full of homophobic insults hurled by villains, anal sex jokes and rapes (of Apollo, and then of his attacker by Midnighter) with large, tubular objects, a fate rarely, if ever, endured by straight male superheroes.
Critical investigation draft
“I am not a lover, I am not a father. I am
not a friend. I am what I was bred to be. And therein lies the problem[1]”
With the
arrival of Midnighter, has the era of the LBGT superhero finally arrived? If
so, why?
Comic books
were first popularized in the United States during the 1930s, this was due to
world war 2 as they were being used as propaganda[2].
Comic books have been used as a front for an ideology of society put there by
elites. This essay will be investigating in the belief they have been trying to
push a picture onto the world of how it should be. For example, X-men was
inspired by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, this was due to representing the
mutants as "coloured people" as mutants in X-men are outcasts just as
"coloured people" were at that time in history. This gave the idea
that comic books are trying to push a message that being different is a good
thing and differences should be embraced. This leads to the next point as to
comic books have been trying to push LGBT messages to their audience and that
it has finally been pushed with Midnighter the homosexual superhero created in
1998. Midnighter has his own comic book series which has become popular from
start of 2015 which have created him as the icon of LGBT superheroes setting
the scene for more LGBT superheroes to emerge in society such as (Scott Alan)
Green Lantern and be accepted among fans. With this happening it has pushed comic
book companies like DC and Marvel to embrace these heroes and push them onto
society. This would also represent that in comic books it has been rare to see
a LGBT superhero because of society not being open to them due to an ideology
among them. However, because of gay marriage being legalized in 2015 and an
increase in trans genders being applauded such as Caitlyn Jenner's[3]
recent sex change, readers have acknowledged this and it has become a thing
that is now accepted by society and comic fans alike.
In modern day Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender have gone a
long way, however we have crimes still happening for example: ‘In Detroit, on the morning of 5 October, an African
American gay man known simply as Melvin, 30, was found shot dead on a street in
the Palmer Park area. At the time of his death, Melvin was wearing women’s
clothing.’[4] This incident represents
society are not all ready for the change of LGBT and gives the representation
that the arrival of Midnighter is that we need heroes in our lives that fight
for the rights that people can be different gender and love the same sex. This
article quote I got from the Guardian was not the only one as for another
example LGBT youth and transgender women of colour face all-too-common family
rejection and vastly disproportionate rates of violence, homelessness and
discrimination in employment, housing, and education,” this statement is
continued in the article but it represents that the arrival of Midnighter has
not done a massive change as Local officials told the Guardian no arrests
had been made in either case and it was too early to confirm if hate was a
factor. In Philadelphia, police confirmed they were investigating whether
gender identity played a role in the murder. The negative impact of LGBT right
now in society is not large in every country but there are still other positive
views that it is good for example the Andrew Garfield who played Spiderman
2012-2014[5] would love the idea for
there to be a pansexual Spiderman and no one having comments[6]. The view of Andrew
Garfield is that any superhero to have a movie and not be questioned about
their sexuality and what impact on a movie. Earlier that year, a set visit
report on ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ was published in Entertainment Weekly,
which quoted Garfield as saying, "Why can’t we discover that Peter is
exploring his sexuality?" even pointing out the "charismatic and
talented" Michael B. Jordan could join in for some "interracial
bisexuality." To the applause of many at Comic-Con, Garfield addressed the
question by saying, “Spider-Man stands for everybody: black, white, Asian, gay,
straight, lesbian, bisexual.” This has been the appeal of superheroes since the
early generation of geeks dropped dimes for the latest issue of Action comics,
but when it comes to the movie iterations, many minorities are left out.
Garfield, while valid in his statements, even backtracked a bit, saying, “It
wouldn’t make sense if, in the next movie, I was suddenly with a black guy.”
While major strides are being made in the 'Arrow' universe -- the
hit CW series featured a lesbian character through Katrina Law's Nyssa Al Ghul,
while 'The Flash' spinoff series will feature two gay characters in the first
season alone, on top of openly gay actor Wentworth Miller portraying DC villain
Captain Cold -- there is still no identifiable LGBT character taking the reins
for a major role, or even a major recurring or supporting role. When the
opportunity for this came with NBC's 'Constantine[7],' producers of the series
stated at a recent Television Critics Association panel that they had "no
immediate plans" to address the Hellblazer's bisexuality, despite John
Constantine's [8]depiction
as such in the original comics. Executive producer Daniel Cerone even acknowledged
the character's background, though seemingly suggested his sexual orientation did
not matter in regards to Constantine as an individual[9]. This was from an
interview in comic con in San Diego where they have interviews with the actors
of the superhero movies and the fans ask questions to the actors and a man
asked the question and he wanted to know if the actor felt any pressure in
making his stance on LGBT equality known, referring to previous comments made
by the actor.
From this comment
made it highlighted that all the new LGBT characters are coming up onto the
comic book tele vision series Arrow and Flash[10]. Mr. Terrific (Echo
Kellum) is the new superhero being added who is the first black gay superhero
to be shown on television. This is a big step because we are getting the first
in society of an LGBT cast as in the past Arrow Television series they had a
lesbian superhero. For example, there was a report the actor playing Mr.
Terrific, “We’re often asked when we’re
going to add another LGBT character to the show and our version of Mr Terrific
happens to be gay for anyone that cares about that kind of stuff,” Guggenheim
revealed in a statement. Mr. Terrific also won’t be the only character on the
show in the LGBT community. The show already features openly bisexual Sara
Lance/Canary (Caity Lotz) and the two are now reportedly TV’s only LGBT
superheroes[11].
This links to the investigation
of how Midnighter and the arrival of LGBT has changed the era for superheroes
in comic books and portrayed them on television in modern day. This gives the
power that audience are being being understanding about this and will want the
narrative of a character. As the world becomes increasingly accepting of LGBT
communities and individuals, so too have comic book universes expanded their
representation of previously overlooked identities. With different writers
taking control of even some of the most iconic superheroes[12]. This is creating showing
all the characters over time have changed sexuality for example Ice man,
Constantine and Batwoman with her Trans gender girlfriend. This is why the arrival of Midnighter has
done this because his comic book series started in 1998 and it has become
popular in 2014 over 15 years a message to all of the audience which took time
as it represents that it took time for society to adapt.
Midnighter comics are the same feeling that
audiences get when they read a normal comic book and they react as what any
comic book would have in narrative. I caught comments which represented
audience who are interested in Midnighter and gave their view on what they
thought. 'The comic character you've been waiting for who was created almost 20
years ago, and has always been gay and murdery. In addition, warren Ellis
probably most famous for the stormwatch runs the Authority, Planetary. Most
people don't seem to know he had a hell blazer run. But I'm a nerd ' This
is about how Midnighter started in the 90's and now is big as it took time with
society wasn't okay with it. Its hard for people to make these comic books
because of the money and also because of fans going against this but it does
show that they're okay with and that they love this comic book series.
'WTF?! Nonononono, Midnighter what are you doing, how DARE you split up with Apollo! Goddammit DC, the fuck are you doing?!' It shows the drama and how a fan can be into this Comic books as it took around 20 years to become big. It shows that people are still interested by narrative and structure of comic books. Midnighter does this as he is a dark character and is very alternative stereotype of a Homosexual man making it still feel normal but it is not a problem as its just a superhero still[13]. These comments are supposing to represent what Midnighter mean to them as they show the emotion of a homosexual superhero and it gives the feeling that society is adapting. There lot of LGBT superhero heroes[14], each hero has gone through different stages and have been paused because of society not being ready or it has not interested the audience. This is an example of what superheroes that are LGBT but are not really well known.
'WTF?! Nonononono, Midnighter what are you doing, how DARE you split up with Apollo! Goddammit DC, the fuck are you doing?!' It shows the drama and how a fan can be into this Comic books as it took around 20 years to become big. It shows that people are still interested by narrative and structure of comic books. Midnighter does this as he is a dark character and is very alternative stereotype of a Homosexual man making it still feel normal but it is not a problem as its just a superhero still[13]. These comments are supposing to represent what Midnighter mean to them as they show the emotion of a homosexual superhero and it gives the feeling that society is adapting. There lot of LGBT superhero heroes[14], each hero has gone through different stages and have been paused because of society not being ready or it has not interested the audience. This is an example of what superheroes that are LGBT but are not really well known.
From gathered evidence, there has been a
compared investigation as from essay from Superheroes, Superpowers, and
Sexuality[15].
“'Superheroes have a strong influence in our society, and as such we should
look at the messages that they represent. To this end, I have examined the
sexuality and gender roles that superheroes suggest through their appearance,
the way it is about, the way that they talk, the distribution of superpowers,
and their relationships. I surveyed 63 Willamette University and Sky view
Junior High students about their favourite superheroes and their reasons for
liking that particular hero to begin my analysis, and branched from there to
texts written by the companies who own the superheroes and other
anthropologists who have examined the role of heroes in our society.' This is
about the investigation of society and how they think about superheroes in Willamette
University by when the writer did the investigation, she wanted to get results
and her results. Her results was because of the clothes that superhero wears or
the character that has played the role of the superhero so for example: “Sometimes
the reason stated wasn’t even of the character itself, but of the actor which
played the hero, such as Christian Bale, Batman in “Batman Begins,” or Antonio
Banderas, Zorro in “The Mask of Zorro.” This goes with my critical investigation
that with the arrival of Midnighter the era of superheroes do not matter by
sexuality that society have adapted to the change. We have example where actors
would say it is fine for there to be a pan sexual Spiderman and for them, where
society are excepting to have LGBT superheroes in television series. The only
difference we are looking for now is for LGBT superheroes to be in big budget
movies and society to have the same reaction to any superhero movie.
At the start, they did push LGBT by giving
innuendos such as the biggest Batman comic book made called the Killing Joke[16]
made in 1988. The hint was that Batman is only a hero because of the Joker and the
Joker is a villain because of the Batman. This represents because Batman has
never killed the Joker and has said that he wanted help him over many times but
the Joker has killed to many people. This compares to Midnighter as the
relationship[17]
he has with Apollo as to the relationship now but in the killing joke. This
presented in a different way for example this would be the way they talk at the
end of the comic book saying that they have to do this and that it has to end .
The killing joke is the connection which shows them together and gives the
representation of man and man having so much respect and love between each
other but shown in a different friendship kind of way. This was 1988 so they could
not show the connection they have. From my research, I also learnt that Batman needs
Joker and that Joker needs Batman. This makes Batman and The Joker are sworn
enemies, the opposite nemeses have been at each other’s throats across various
media since they first encountered each other in Batman #1 in April of 1940.
Their rivalry is destined to continue for many years to come, if not
indefinitely. “As I picked up a copy of the new Batman: The Killing Joke 20th
anniversary hardcover, I flicked open the first page and sliced my finger on
its edge. The paper cut seemed fitting, a physical manifestation of the
violence contained within the book[18].”
In conclusion, Midnighter is the sexiest
comic book male character even though for his sexuality. “He’s rugged, he’s
macho, and his entire wardrobe consists of black leather. Remember when
Midnighter was happily married and did not have a spike on his chin? Someone
needs to slap the walls of the DC universe to bring this sexy back[19].”
Midnighter has presented himself in many comics and has had many comics to
prove it as for his new one with other new heroes from DC[20].
Overall Midnighter is the hero that has changed the era and so are other heroes
in the industry that have gave society the chance to adapt over time and it
will get better where we can have equal amount of superheroes presented on
screen being LGBT. Overall from more evidence gathered of LGBT in society has
been shown that there is a difference from the entertainment view as to television
shows like True Blood “True Blood, vampires have had to fight for recognition
and citizenship in much the same way as gay males and lesbians have.[21]”
This television series shows how society is and it presents the fight that is
still going on for full equality around the world.
Bibliography
Work
cited:
Websites and blogs:
(Unknown) Midnighter,
Available at: http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Midnighter_Vol_1_1
(Unknown) LGBT Characters, Available at: http://www.comicvine.com/profile/bumpyboo/lists/lgbt-characters/41243/
(Unknown) The Amazing Spider-Man, Available at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0948470/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 (Accessed: 3rd July 2012).
Tommy DePaoli (2015) These LGBT Character Charts Are the Perfect Guide to Out and Proud Superheroes, Available at: http://moviepilot.com/posts/3409017?lt_source=external,manua
ANDREA ROMANO AND BOB AL-GREENE (2015) '14 LGBT superheroes you need to know about', , (), pp. [Online]. Available at: http://mashable.com/2015/07/19/lgbt-comic-book-superheroes/#leJtmPG.iiqU
Andrew Wheeler (2013) ComicsAlliance Presents The 50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics Read More: ComicsAlliance Presents The 50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics | http://comicsalliance.com/comics-sexiest-male-characters/?trackback=tsmclip, Available at: http://comicsalliance.com/comics-sexiest-male-characters/ (Accessed: 2013).
GEORGE GENE GUSTINES () Graphic Books Best Seller List,Available at: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/graphic-books-best-seller-list-may-16/?_r=1
Graeme McMillan () When Superheroes Fail To Save The World,Available at: http://io9.gizmodo.com/5037854/when-superheroes-fail-to-save-the-world (Accessed: 2008).
Josh Wilding (2015) Andrew
Garfield still campaigning for a "Pansexual" spiderman on the big
screen, Available at: http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=12488
Articles:
Greg Beato (2013) How the Government Turned Comic Books Into Propaganda, : https://reason.com/archives/2013/02/28/how-the-government-made-use-of-comic-book
Ira Madison III (2015) '“Midnighter” Is The Gay Comic Book You’ve Been Waiting For', , (), pp. [Online]. Available at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/iramadison/midnighter-is-the-gay-comic-book-youve-been-waiting-for#.njw6lAzlE
Linda Ge (2015) '‘Arrow’ Star Echo Kellum on How His Character Becomes DC Superhero Mr. Terrific - https://www.thewrap.com/arrow-echo-kellum-curtis-holt-dc-superhero-mr-terrific/#sthash.rSo8Jm6P.dpuf'
Nicholas Robinson (2015) '‘Arrow’ casts its 1st Black gay superhero', , (), pp. [Online]. Available at: http://rollingout.com/2015/08/04/arrow-casts-first-black-gay-superhero/
Nick Romano (2014) 'Flame Off: Will Gay Superheroes Ever Make the Leap to Movies and TV? Available at: http: //screencrush.com/gay-superheroes-movies-tv
SHINAN GOVANI (2015) Now it’s Bruce’s turn: Spotlight shifts to Jenner with TV interview, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/celebrity-news/now-its-bruces-turn-spotlight-shifts-to-jenner-with-tv-interview/article24063853/
Van Jensen (2008) Review: ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’ Deluxe Edition, Available at: http://www.comicmix.com/2008/03/29/review-batman-the-killing-joke-deluxe-edition (Accessed: 2008).
Zach Stafford (2015) 'Two LGBT murders within 24 hours leaves community in 'state of emergency'', The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/11/lgbt-murders-within-24-hours-philadelphia-detroit
Books and magazines
Grahame, Jenny
(2007) Media Magazine 31, Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0i5diL3vrEiOW5rZ2FvZlVtZ2M/view
Rebecca A.
Demarest (2010) 'Superheroes, Superpowers, and Sexuality', , 2(10) Available at: http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/312/superheroes-superpowers-and-sexuality
Rob Lendrum
(2005) Queering super-manhood. [Online]. Available at: http://www.robertlendrum.com/RobertLendrum-QueeringSuper-Manhood.pdf
(Accessed: 2005).
Work consulted:
Books
and Essays:
Austen
Chuck. The Uncanny X-Men 414-432. New York: Marvel Comics, 2002-3.
David
Morley and Kuan-Hsing Chen. New York: Comedia, 1996.
Lobdell,
Scott. Alpha Flight 1.106. New York: Marvel Comics, 1992. McAllister, Matthew
P."Comic Books and AIDS." Journal of Popular Culture 26.2 (1992).
Medhurst, Andy. "Batman, Deviance and
Camp." The Many Lives of Batman: Critical Approaches to a Superhero and
his Media.Eds. Roberta E. Pearson and William Uricchio. New York: Routledge,
1991.
Morrison,
Robbie. The Authority 2,1-7. La Jolla: Wildstorm Productions, 2003.
Nyberg, Amy Kiste. Seal of Approval: The
history of the Comics Code.
Jackson:
University Press of Mississippi, 1998.
Ross,
Andrew. "Uses of Camp." No Respect: Intellectuals and Popular
Culture.
New York: Routledge, 1989.
Wertham,
Frederic.Seduction of the Innocent. Port Washington: Kennikat Press, 1972
(originally 1953).
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Psychology of Superheroes: An Unauthorized Exploration “Where No X-Man Has Gone
Before!” Mutant Superheroes and the Cultural Politics of Popular Fantasy in
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Jenny, Media magazine 53
Grahame,
Jenny, Media magazine 38
Grahame,
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Gordon,
I. (2007). Film and comic books. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
Rebecca
A. Demarest (2010) Superheroes, Superpowers, and Sexuality
French,
M. (2014). The surrounding storm: Constructing queerness through superhero
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and Socio-Historical LGBT Movements
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Themes in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror
The
new mutants: superheroes and the radical imagination of American comics - Ramzi
Fawaz - New York: New York University Press, 2015.
Trans
Representations and Superhero Comics: A Conversation with Mey Rude, J. Skyler,
and Rachel Stevens Suzanne Scott, Ellen Kirkpatrick
Websites:
Alexander
Stevenson () Ten Best Gay and Bisexual Science Fiction Characters, Available at: http://www.newnownext.com/ten-best-gay-and-bisexual-science-fiction-characters/
(Accessed: 2008).
Charles Pulliam-Moore () DC’s Midnighter is more than just a gay Batman, Available at: http://fusion.net/story/145302/dcs-new-midnighter/ (Accessed: 2015).
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