Let’s remember that at least in the movies punk was an ur-subtext for Superman from the start: in 1978 one theme that moves through the whole first film is Ursa, part of Lex Luthor’s Krypton kill team, getting more punk scene by scene—first plucking a badge/button off someone, then loading up her jacket with more and more, her hair getting shorter and more sculpted/swept back, until by the end she’s a 100% Kings Road poseur. As they say, dressed to kill.
I have not seen it, but I’d love to hear what you think of the politics in the film. Since the right wing media is throwing a hissy fit I can only imagine the politics are pretty decent.
It is so revealing that they are throwing a hissy fit, the politics are just: war is bad! be nice to people! The military industrial complex is super corrupt!
I thought the whole "Superman as illegal alien" read on this is dumb, it isnt really foregrounded in the plot. But it is sort of pro-vigilante - he goes to solve a hostile takeover of a country (think: ukraine, or gaza) by himself, and the world gets mad because, you know, he wasn't elected anything. Which: fair.
I think the reason people like the movie so much right now though is that so many of our problems, especially those wars, feel insoluable today, so watching some third party just come in and go HAM on the Bad Side is cathartic.
When I first saw the Ramones in '77, I dressed like a preppy knucklehead. Didn't stop me from falling down the rabbithole, being mesmerized by the live presentation of Dee Dee in particular. Now, however, I feel inspired, and I too may switch to Hippy Witch.
Being pigeonholed is anathema to the punk ethos, which rises from within of its own accord, and happily creates community, awareness, resistance.
Let’s remember that at least in the movies punk was an ur-subtext for Superman from the start: in 1978 one theme that moves through the whole first film is Ursa, part of Lex Luthor’s Krypton kill team, getting more punk scene by scene—first plucking a badge/button off someone, then loading up her jacket with more and more, her hair getting shorter and more sculpted/swept back, until by the end she’s a 100% Kings Road poseur. As they say, dressed to kill.
I have not seen it, but I’d love to hear what you think of the politics in the film. Since the right wing media is throwing a hissy fit I can only imagine the politics are pretty decent.
It is so revealing that they are throwing a hissy fit, the politics are just: war is bad! be nice to people! The military industrial complex is super corrupt!
I thought the whole "Superman as illegal alien" read on this is dumb, it isnt really foregrounded in the plot. But it is sort of pro-vigilante - he goes to solve a hostile takeover of a country (think: ukraine, or gaza) by himself, and the world gets mad because, you know, he wasn't elected anything. Which: fair.
I think the reason people like the movie so much right now though is that so many of our problems, especially those wars, feel insoluable today, so watching some third party just come in and go HAM on the Bad Side is cathartic.
That seems like a reasonable take, thanks.
They are.
When I first saw the Ramones in '77, I dressed like a preppy knucklehead. Didn't stop me from falling down the rabbithole, being mesmerized by the live presentation of Dee Dee in particular. Now, however, I feel inspired, and I too may switch to Hippy Witch.
Being pigeonholed is anathema to the punk ethos, which rises from within of its own accord, and happily creates community, awareness, resistance.
Have you ever written a piece about your love of P.J. and/or Rock ‘n’ Roll High School?