Michael Miller

Reflections 323: Harrison

April 28, 2012

Reflection #11

            Coming into this course, the superhero I knew very little about was Wonder Woman because I never really paid attention to her as much as I have the others we have talked about in class. I feel like she is the perfect example of womanhood because she doesn’t need a man to show how great and helpful she can make herself.

            My perception of the Watchmen never changed throughout the course because while reading the actual text as well as those readings, I have come to see how those ideas about utilitarianism, right-wing politics, etc. were very effective in discussing the untold side of superheroes and how much they struggle on a day-to-day basis.

            Based on the superhero narratives, I have learned that superheroes are not all black and white, except for Rorschach of course, and that their lives are based on the choices they make and how those choices affect everyone around them. I feel like everything I do has an effect on someone else, no matter whom, and that determines both mine and that other person’s fate.

            I felt really strong about the Watchmen discussions because those were the readings that I paid most attention to and felt that their story was by far the most interesting and informative about ourselves as well as superheroes in general. I wished we could have talked more about Spider-Man and how being a teenager and a superhero is difficult and how his morals come into play.

            I feel as though this course has given me the mindset needed to help others by being an everyday superhero. The best examples of this were the heroes from the movie “Superhero” because they just want to help others, nothing more, and nothing else.

Michael Miller

Reflections 323: Harrison

April 22, 2012

Reflection #10

            Coach tells Thom that he can no longer be on the team because he is gay, even though he makes up an excuse about his health. I find this very insulting because you are cutting a person off a sports team because they have a different sexual orientation than you prefer. I personally would have been pissed that he did that, but would have responded by saying that he’ll miss me when I’m gone and that I’m hope he’s proud of the thing he did. My parents would be furious because the thought of getting kicked off the team for that is pretty stupid in their opinion.

            I believe Ruth is telling Thom to go and enjoy life and not just let it roll on by. One thing I am waiting for, besides enjoying the career I want, is to find that one person to be with romantically. I wait because I haven’t seen someone who is willing to be with me as much as I would want them; it’s tough, but I know that it will happen. I am in charge of my own happiness because I make the decisions in life that decide whether I end up happy or not.

            I don’t think it happens for most people because I think that most are underappreciated for what they do and don’t get the gratifications they deserve. If it happened to me, it would be just a whole crowd of people on their feet cheering and saying my name. I feel I would gain some sense of pride for knowing that I did something that these people appreciate and, maybe even, love me for.

            I don’t believe there is such a thing as a perfect first kiss; but one that comes close for me is standing there with the person you like in your arms, you look at each other for a minute, and then slowly move in for that simple and lovely kiss. I think it is possible because there are many people out there who want that to happen and try to make it happen. I have had crushes on various celebrities and we do this to enact fantasies in our heads to fill the voids we might have.

Michael Miller

Reflections 323: Harrison

April 15, 2012

Reflection #9

            Watchmen is clearly one of the best graphic novels of all time because of such great plots, characters, and art design that make the stories so much more enjoyable. One thing I personally like about Watchmen is the “superheroes” that everyone loves watching. My personal favorite is Rorschach because he is the typical hero in the sense that he is always questing for justice, but atypical in the sense of his methods and means of persuasion. Even though he shows no extra-normal powers, his mask makes him more superhuman because of the constant changing of the ink blots signifying the ever-changing world and different things represent different things to people. His take on the world is obviously right-wing as seen in multiple areas of the book with him buying the right-wing newspaper he likes so much along with childhood trauma from his abusive mother and people he encountered as a youth. When told he has to keep Ozymadias’ secret about killing over a million people, he refuses saying, “Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon.” This statement, although the wrong way in terms of keeping Ozy’s plan from leaking out, shows his belief that people deserve to know the truth about the mass genocide, no matter the cost. Because he was unwilling to keep silent, Dr. Manhattan kills him in the physical sense, but his journal lives on prompting a simple newspaperman to possibly re-create the events that came about. Rorschach is an amazing character, and even though we might not agree with what he says sometimes, his statements have meaning and show humanity that true, and darker, side of society making life seem less promising than originally thought.

Michael Miller

Reflections 323: Harrison

April 9, 2012

Reflection #8

            In a world where costumed heroes are the norm in only comics, it’s hard to imagine what I would construct my costume out of. If I had to decide it would probably be something comfortable to wear like cotton, but be padded to protect myself from knives, bullets, etc. I’m sure there is material in the world like that, but I don’t know what to call it or where to find it. For a mask, I would wear, because 1) wearing a mask is very cool and 2) I feel as though my identity would be safer other than just walking around without one. Besides having a comfortable and protective costume and mask, I would also carry around night-vision goggles for obvious reasons and that’s it because anything else, unless it works with the powers you have, would only drag you down with all the weight.

            My hometown has been voted numerous times as one of safest places in the country to live, so I haven’t seen a lot of violence. Homelessness is rare to see because they’re usually in another part of town, but that would probably be the people I would help the most. I choose them because I’ve seen and talked to homeless people and they’re really cool people who are just down on their luck who need help to get by. I feel as though dressed up in a superhero costume adds to the helping because people remember superheroes more than they remember ordinary people, as some people say in the movie.

            The superhero I would aspire to be the most is Dark Guardian because he trains himself to be ready for any physical situation as well as helping out people in many ways such as handing out food and water. I think we should follow his example because, I know this is corny, by eating right and being physically active, anyone can help people out in any way possible, because being able to is not enough, you should have a plan, like he does.

Michael Miller

Reflections 323: Harrison

April 1, 2012

Reflection 7

            When discussing how mutants fit into society, it was difficult to imagine this because both sides of the coin have valid arguments and they both have disadvantages to each. When I had to imagine having a power that could use and could also be hidden, I found it to be very good because it allowed me to fit into society without feeling so out of place and people staring at me all the time. At the same time, I felt isolated from my fellow mutants because I wasn’t able to express the pride that I would have by having something unique to me only. Next, when imagining an external power, I found it to be very free because I felt very open and felt there was nothing to hide from anyone making me feel like I could have no secrets. Then I thought about how this put me off from having relationships with people because they would always be staring at me in a condescending way making me feel inferior as well as longing to be normal deep down. There are many groups out there like that, like the LGBT community expressing their sexuality freely while getting bashed by people who don’t understand or don’t accept their way of life. The X-Men help those people give them a sense of individuality and that there will always be people out there who will understand and accept you for who you are.

            I identify with Magneto the most because, even though I don’t agree with his methods, I believe that being different is nothing to be ashamed of and you shouldn’t hide anything that you feel is right to be known. I would definitely not look for a cure because being a mutant is something to be celebrated, not contained, and the fact that there are people out there who believe that containment is right clearly don’t, and probably will never, understand the struggle that people like that go through every day of their lives.