Date post: | 23-Dec-2015 |
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SupermanThe Most Influential Characters Project
This is an example presentation so that you can see what is expected of you on this part of the project.
Minimum requirements:• 7 slides: title slide, character background,
overview of the primary source(s), three “influence” slides, and conclusion (or significance) slide
• At least one image per slide• One title per slide• Explanatory notes on each slide
Intro: The Character
• First “costumed superhero’• Lived otherwise as Clark
Kent, the mild-mannered reporter
• Strongman based on Hercules and Samson
• Kryptonite weakens his powers, like cutting Samson’s hair weakened his
• Alien, though looking and acting in most ways like a typical buff man
The Superman Stories
• First story published in 1938
• Discovered and adopted by a Kansas farmer and his wife
• Raised as Clark Kent and imbued with a strong moral compass.
• Very early he started to display superhuman abilities, which upon reaching maturity he resolved to use for the benefit of humanity.
• Helps victims of crime and fights criminal masterminds
Influence on Literature
• Introduced the whole costumed superhero genre to America and then the rest of the world.
• First popular protagonist to use superhero powers to fight evil
• “Father of superheroes”
• Many novels have been inspired by Superman
• The graphic novel owes its existence to Superman
Influence on Comics
• Success of the initial Superman comics paved the way for all future heroic exploits
• Influences the whole superhero genre in comic books
• Inspired the following characters• Captain Marvel• Captain America• Batman• Wonder Woman• Supergirl• And many, many more
Influence on Film
• Made into TV series, several films
• Spawned other successful superhero films like The Dark Knight, Spiderman, Ironman, X-Men, The Avengers, etc.
Influence on Television
• Smallville: TV series based on Superman comic book series
• Focuses on the fictional childhood of Clark Kent, growing up in Smallville, Kansas.
• Already in its 9th season
Influence on Television
• Inspired the 80’s television series “The Greatest American Hero,” a Superman-style spoof
• Hero is a “tights and flights” character
• Also inspired the recent TV series Heroes
Influence on Culture
• American cultural icon
• Idiom: “I’m not Superman”
• Perennially favorite Halloween costume
• Character represented in a Macy’s day parade float
• stylized magenta and gold "S" emblem Superman wears on his chest, as a fashion symbol
Why Superman Matters
• Now a household name and symbol of truth and justice
• First to bring the virtues of truth and justice to mass market children’s literature
• Became an icon of the ideal of “the American way”