Nerd? Who?

Neal Gabler’s “Inside Every Superhero Lurks a Nerd” makes an interesting argument, declaring Spider-Man fundamentally appeals to American society, resulting in its highly successful deployment as a moviegoing experience and its vigorous receipt by the target audience. If American society was not so moved by both adolescence and moviegoing, Spider-Man likely would not have been so well received, but I say the “nerd” in us may not cease after High School.

Gabler suggests “most adults have experienced adolescent powerlessness,” establishing the common ground on which moviegoers are able to relate themselves to Spider-Man, or more specifically Peter Parker, and allow the viewer to live vicariously thru Peter’s empowering emergence as Spider-Man (562). In the awkward developments of our adolescent years, it is quite probable to endure moments of weakness and confusion. Gabler expounds further to establish adolescent powerlessness and an obtainable empowerment create “two powerful elements: a primary source of moviegoing pleasure with a primary means of audience identification (562).” I am compelled to support Neal Gabler in his explanation as to why Spider-Man reeled-in such an impressive fan base. Gravitating to what we identify with and relate to is a natural instinct we have as humans. By such gravitation, we find ourselves plopped in a cushy-red chair with an overflowing bag of shirt-staining popcorn in one hand and a barely palm-able soda in the other, anticipating the final preview.

Neal Gabler defines Adolescence as “the period where one must move from youth to maturity, which means adjusting individual needs and desires to the larger world (562).” The typical teenager develops individualism, learns responsibility, and finds his or her place among society to play a part of something larger than the individual. Peter Parker endures High School chasms, develops superpowers, struggles to find his new position in humanity as a superhero and eventually “deploys his individualism for the larger good (562).” Gabler exclaims Peter’s symbolic individualism is cornerstone to Hollywood movies by stating, “Hollywood movies invariably celebrate individualism (562).”

Spider-Man does not necessarily only relate itself to an American teenage demographic. While it is reasonable to place substantial weight in the part of teenagers embracing the movie, adults must have played an equally significant role. In the fact teenagers are teenagers; they still require parental influence and guidance. Even if the young adults make up the mass majority of the Spider-Man audience, they do not fulfill the role independently. To further discuss the relational ability of adults to endear Peter Parker in his High School struggles may stretch the “adolescent” theme presented by Gabler to a broader scope. Why does the ability to offer sympathy for Peter Parker require a bridge to the adolescent stage? Is it not common for adults to experience similar times of feeling powerless? Is it not equally plausible adults are able to identify with the superhero side of Peter Parker, having endured and overcome times of powerlessness? Adults can be “nerds” just the same as teenagers and adults may be able to relate to the "Spider-Man" side of Peter Parker on a more personal level than teenagers.

Iconic Irony

Icons surround us and bombard us daily with little hidden messages. Taking place in such a variety of forms and locations, today, icons are used to project non-textual meaning in milliseconds. The human brain is an amazing interpreter of our environment with lightening fast sensory. A half-glance is all we require to recognize commonly encountered images. In a split second, we are capable of noticing and understanding entire messages embedded behind little images put before us. We, as people, often use little icons to express ourselves and let the world know something we stand for, believe in, or somehow connect with.

When you are forced to slam on your brakes as the driver of the car in front of you has incomprehensibly applied their brakes and you suddenly visualize your hood crumpling into the rear end of that “idiot,” rage and fear consume you. Oops, now that your car has stopped just short of crumpling, a metallic image pops out at you in the shape of a stick fish. The little stick fish on the back of that “idiot’s” car tells you something quite quickly. Now, the “idiot” begins to mean something new to you, as you understand their involvement with the Christian faith. Granted, a little stick fish, Ichthys, doesn’t tell you the depth of your “idiot’s” religious commitments, but you may be more understanding of their almost cause for a wreck. Maybe you begin trying to rationalize the situation, rather than persecute their actions. Then again, depending on your own thoughts about Christianity, the little gleaming fish image could enrage you even more. Either way, the posted icon on your “idiot’s” car has almost instantly given you more understanding about the driver in front of you.



Sitting, once again relaxed in your car, shift gears. Think about Albert Einstein and what his name brings to mind. Albert Einstein is a stand alone icon, rightfully earned. Ms. Cooper has posted the following image for discussion.



The Einstein button above sends a number of messages to us. Initially, and most commonly, the word or idea of “genius” comes to mind. Einstein’s face, given his genius status, stirs thoughts of intellectual greatness. What are the lines and dots bounced about his head? The loose representation of the Bohr model represents, in its entirety, the basic nucleus structure and orbital electrons making up a generic atom. Einstein’s face has been placed at the center of the Bohr model, possibly signifying Einstein’s central importance to science. After all, Einstein did receive recognition as “Person of the Century.” Let us twist some perspective for a moment, and with no disrespect to the great Albert Einstein. Consider Einstein’s fifteen year strife with fully understanding the laws of gravity and how Newtonian Physics hit a brick wall when an attempt is made to pass from the sciences of “macro-atomic”, or Classical Newtonian Physics to the sub-atomic world. The realm of Quantum Physics quite possibly presented Einstein with his most challenging endeavor. Now, for the twist… The picture of Einstein’s weathered face, as the nucleus of the atomic structure, could also indicate a different proposal than “scientific genius.” Could the button represent the genius’ time-restrained limits to peeking deeper into the sciences of Quantum Mechanics?

Understanding Context

“Ways of Seeing” by John Berger, and “Show and Tell” (Chapter Six) by Scott McCloud
· Discuss the relationship between languages and images.
· How does this relate to the ways in which society produces and/or uses icons?

Language is a broad topic. It is defined with verbiage explaining communication via words among a common people based on sequences of audible sounds of speech. Language also includes communication thru the use of symbols or images, such as letters in string for words and hieroglyphs and the complicated eastern writings, which rely heavily on symbols. Ultimately, the true meaning of specific language, symbols and images are strongly influenced by their context. What is context? Without context surrounding a communicable language, the communication breaks down. The complexity of specific context also lends itself to shifts in interpretations of the real meaning within the communication. Context evolves and changes as time continues to come and go. Take a particular book or painting and make every possible attempt to place either one in exactly the same context as its master originally saw it, and you will fail. At best, we can only hope to see and understand the meat of the piece as we read or view it from our own context. So, again, what is context? You are, right this very moment, in a context. Your mood, your life experiences, your understanding of the world around you, how you feel, the lighting around you, the objects surrounding you, the people surrounding you (or lack thereof), all are in some way makeup of your context. Now begin to read a book or admire a painting in front of you. The object has now been removed from its original context and placed within your realm of context. What we can do, is hope. Hope our context has not so removed a piece from its original context to the point we are simply incapable of seeing or understanding the piece’s real meaning. We can hope we are still able to find some substance in the words or in the brush strokes and possibly gain something in return. “The relation between what we see and what we know is never settled. The way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe”(681). Understanding your own context and attempting to imagine or understand a sources’ original context is your first challenge as a beholder.

When someone sets out to communicate a message to someone else, a few things are predetermined before communication begins. The language that can be understood by both parties is identified. For the sake of discussion, assume language to include forms other than simple words of the English language strung together in sentence structure. The compilation of media utilized by the communicator is likely to be chosen with a basis of how he or she is most proficient and likely to effectively convey the intended message within the situation of the moment. Sign language would not be an effective communication medium for interacting with a blind man. A whisper would be lost in a noisy construction zone. A novel would be inappropriate as a stop sign.

Everyday, as we communicate with those around us, choices in medium are instantly made without conscious thought. The verbal language we use, the words we speak and our body language flow from us in a hope we will be understood by someone else. Even our attire communicates and is part of our personal context.

Scott McCloud discusses his ideas about a new understanding of effective communication thru the combined use of both words and images situated in a balanced composition. His “Show and Tell” comic-essay demonstrates the scale of balancing images with words. In my own attempt to not remove McCloud’s work from context, I choose not to quote him directly, but I will do my best here to explain his ideas in my own words, as well as, try my hand at a similar demonstration. McCloud uses four main approaches to illustrating his ideas: the evolvement of books from childhood to adulthood (where images are progressively replaced with more text), the transitions from “cave-man” drawings to hieroglyphs to letter-based writing, the growth in pictures and seven identified image-writing combinations commonly seen in comic books. There is definitely a power to combining words and images. Images alone are able to “say” a great deal, without the support of text. When words are provided along with an image, the image can say even more. Words can contextualize an image and an image can contextualize words.

STOP, and take a moment to think about the places you have seen this image before reading further.

Now, look at the following words and recognize where you have seen them, just as you did with the image.

“Annuit coeptis: MDCCLXXVI Novus ordo seclorum”

The above image is an icon… It is believed to have originated from the Egyptians, and first appearing, as shown above, around the seventeenth century. In the course of centuries, since this image first developed, it has been adopted by different sects to represent something to be said or stated as an icon “they” identify with.

The following image is similar to the first, but in a different context. Note the removal of color and its pen and ink design. Also, notice the alteration in the form of the eye.

Next, the image is combined with the words.

Add more context to the image, and it begins to take on a more recognizable form.

Finally, here is the result of combining the words and the image in a common, everyday context.

There is still more to be understood about the combination of the all-seeing eye, or more precisely, the Eye of Providence, and the words “Annuit coeptis: MDCCLXXVI Novus ordo seclorum.” In order to grasp the full meat behind the combination placed upon the reverse side of our Great Seal found on the one-dollar bill, two things are required: knowing why our forefathers chose this imagery for the Great Seal and understanding what message was intended to be conveyed by its presence. Of course, the beholder’s challenge does not stop there. The words must be addressed. What does “Annuit coeptis:” mean. What language is it, and where did such a phrase originate from? “MDCCLXXVI”, which means seventeen hundred seventy-six, what is the significance of 1776? Why not simply write “1776” on the back of our dollar bill? “Novus ordo seclorum,” what do these three little words mean? An entire essay could be written to explain the entire meaning behind the reverse side of our country’s Great Seal, but by placing a little bit of imagery in composition with five little words and a roman numeral, our forefathers were able to powerfully convey a message to the onlookers of the Great Seal, a message that would require much more space and text than allotted on one side of the seal.

Britney Spears, the Bubbly Shark

Tom Perrotta poses a challenge to take a second look into the stardom of Britney Spears. Forget the glances in passing by and ask yourself who Britney is, could she possibly be the music icon, the American icon of our 90’s youth? Tom cleverly places Spears into the arenas of widely accepted and ground breaking artists, such as Elvis, Madonna and Kurt Cobain. Britney places balance in the scales with Madonna, as an opposition to Madonna’s sex-driven-for-religion success. Sitting face to face with Madonna, Britney carried her musical success in a loose, light grip on morality, religious founding and enshrined virginity. Why do I feel dirty mentioning her exposed bubbly flower-print panties? It does appear the unveiled undergarments brought her attention in the same manner Elvis was set before conservative inquiry regarding his attention-getting leg shake. Both, Elvis and Britney persevered to successful and arousing musical endeavors with an easy claim to innocence, to which I imagine the white-head protectors of good morals shaking their heads in disbelief, gauntlet cocked, but with no stiff leg to stand on. Britney Spears verse Kurt Cobain, from where did this comparison gurgle-up? In the early 90’s, Kurt Cobain marred the country with his catchy, prefect timing rip into the music scene. Kurt appealed to the hearts and souls of generations fighting their way thru recession and war. By the end of the 90’s, the pounding overseas and dip in the American pocketbook had subsided. Mark time for entrance, Britney Spears. Britney launched the fireworks for pop music lovers and all who craved departure from war and a return to profitable investments. The stage is fresh and colorful with an abundance of happy thoughts. Who cares what she is singing, it makes me feel good.

When you look at a bubble, noticing all the iridescent colors refracted from the sun and swirling in hippie fashion, do you wonder or even care what holds the spherical shape so perfectly? Most people would not have the slightest interest in a bubble past its trancing visual appeal. Tom Perrotta decided to step back and wonder for a moment. In his “The Cosmic Significance of Britney Spears,” Tom brings us some insight into the substance behind the shell of Britney Spear’s bubble as a late 90’s musical icon. “But there’s more to Britney than that, isn’t there? Isn’t there?” (568), if you are receptive to a head-bopping, people-pleasing blondie taking the stage as an American icon, consider Britney both a prodigy of her dear mother and Hollywood, as well as, modern America in iconical reflection. Britney successfully markets and sells her audience the imagery of the American Dream. She spreads testimonies of religious roots demanding she wait for her worthy husband, but in the meantime Britney casually delivers sensual teases, a bright smile and uplifting music. And certainly, her “most adorable abs in the universe” offer nice packaging for her image (568).

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In the “Taster’s Choice” moment from the movie, Good Will Hunting, Will (Matt Damon) is enlighteningly reprimanded for his presumptuous judgments founded mostly on book knowledge. Sean (Robin Williams), Will’s psychologist, declares Will “just a kid” and lacking substantial real-life experience. I declare Britney Spears’ iconic achievement to be apropos. Her climb in the charts of a highly competitive music market, at such a young age, must have started with her mother, Lynne. “The unintentionally revealing autobiography she cowrote with her mother” (570) - How much was written by Britney and are you curious as to what extent Lynne pressed influence into Britney’s words? Spears has presented a rehearsed image without too much detail, leaving the truth to be conjured by the presumptuous onlooker. Britney has the appeal and ability to captivate her audience and she played her role in simple form. “Like the rest of us, she makes do with simple pleasures… She’s just so pleasant and thoughtful; she wouldn’t want to do or say anything that might upset anyone” (570). All you have to do is like her, Britney tackles that challenge with continued success, and you get to imagine what great moral ground she stands on and how she is everything you always wanted to be, happy! Care-free, simple-minded and always able to enjoy the view, is how most Americans have viewed the young Britney Spears, and why not mention her having plenty of good life ahead?

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What is this seemingly perfect shell surrounding Britney Spears? Could it be the end result of a master-mind mother determined to provide her beloved daughter with as much opportunity as motherly possible? Consider the scenario, finding little Britney a phony and just as intellectually on her game as she is with her abs and fashion sense. Being someone overly concerned with your opinion of her and not able to pinpoint a specific movement she might represent, Britney could be outwitting us all. What a stealthy shark in the pond.

It seems Britney Spears could be a double American icon. She made the dreams of happy opportunity seem possible during a time America was returning to the notion of this being the land of opportunity. Britney just might be willing to do whatever it takes to keep her own dream alive and that is typical of great American success stories. Something tells me the school-girl image Britney’s early fame was hinged upon may not tell the whole story. In the end, whether Britney remains solely the 90’s icon of the time or she is able to break into a larger scale representation of American times, hangs in the balance, waiting for her next move.