If you think about it, most superheroes don't design their outfits for practicality but to impress others. Capes, high unfolded neck shirts, bright colors/high contrast, details aimed at impressing people (like lightnings, flames or stylish polylines), spiked globes... I'd say they DO care about their outfits and general looks... A LOT. Even outfits specifically designed for utility (like Ironman's suit) are full of stylistic details (those colors!).
Everybody knows it's imaginary. Thanks for pointing it out, we're glad to see you caught up.
Now, please feel free to join the rest of us in our game of pretending. But if you keep shouting "it's not real" whenever some one makes a point you can't address within the game, no one is going to want to play with you.
He's right, though. Hurfing at the vanity of the actual superheroes because they put on capes and lightning bolts and things, is a bit embarassing. Especially when the character's very *personality* might switch from arc to arc with a writer change. It's a bit like those old biddies whacking actors in the street with their handbags because said actor happens to play a slightly nasty character on Coronation Street.
Superheroes aren't brightly coloured to impress eachother or because of that old chestnut about superpowered beings trying to appear unthreatening. They're brightly coloured because of the four-colour process and to appeal to child readers. Anything else is a lame rationalisation bordering on special pleading.
@Warren JB: One of my favorite essays is by Larry Niven. It's called "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" in which he speculates on the silver age Superman's sex life. It's hilarious, precisely because he takes the whole thing seriously and considers the consequences, Niven does not believe Superman is real, nor does he posit any of his speculations as having any effect in the real world. He's just having fun with ideas and inviting the rest of us to come along. That's what most of the people in this thread are doing - having fun with ideas. You are certainly free not to join in, but your comment about "rationalisation bordering on special pleading" indicates to me anyway that you have a serious sense of humor deficiency.
I am sure that is exactly what superheroes are most concerned about.
ReplyDeleteIf you think about it, most superheroes don't design their outfits for practicality but to impress others. Capes, high unfolded neck shirts, bright colors/high contrast, details aimed at impressing people (like lightnings, flames or stylish polylines), spiked globes... I'd say they DO care about their outfits and general looks... A LOT. Even outfits specifically designed for utility (like Ironman's suit) are full of stylistic details (those colors!).
DeleteTrue fact: Iron Man redesigned his original suit when he realized it scared small children.
DeleteOr, Anonymous, it could be because they are imaginary characters drawn by geeks.
DeleteEverybody knows it's imaginary. Thanks for pointing it out, we're glad to see you caught up.
DeleteNow, please feel free to join the rest of us in our game of pretending. But if you keep shouting "it's not real" whenever some one makes a point you can't address within the game, no one is going to want to play with you.
He's right, though. Hurfing at the vanity of the actual superheroes because they put on capes and lightning bolts and things, is a bit embarassing. Especially when the character's very *personality* might switch from arc to arc with a writer change. It's a bit like those old biddies whacking actors in the street with their handbags because said actor happens to play a slightly nasty character on Coronation Street.
DeleteSuperheroes aren't brightly coloured to impress eachother or because of that old chestnut about superpowered beings trying to appear unthreatening. They're brightly coloured because of the four-colour process and to appeal to child readers. Anything else is a lame rationalisation bordering on special pleading.
@Warren JB: One of my favorite essays is by Larry Niven. It's called "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" in which he speculates on the silver age Superman's sex life. It's hilarious, precisely because he takes the whole thing seriously and considers the consequences, Niven does not believe Superman is real, nor does he posit any of his speculations as having any effect in the real world. He's just having fun with ideas and inviting the rest of us to come along. That's what most of the people in this thread are doing - having fun with ideas. You are certainly free not to join in, but your comment about "rationalisation bordering on special pleading" indicates to me anyway that you have a serious sense of humor deficiency.
DeleteMakes sense I suppose. Daredevil's first costume looked like a blind man designed it! Yeesh!
ReplyDeleteI laughed harder than I should have at that.
DeleteIf you laughed at all, you laughed too hard.
Delete