Anglais notion

1) Myths and heroes

In the everyday language myths and heroes are often associated. Indeed, in our western society we’re highly influenced by the greek and roman civilization where myths are usually starring one or more heroes. But myths aren’t only about heroes and they’re stories. A myth is a set of stories explaining facts like the birth of a people for example. In modern society myths and heroes are no more fictions. What do we define as myth or heroes in our current society? To what extent can people be role models for society?

        Fiction characters define the value society must endorse while historical figures embody those values.

        Captain America, Black Panther, Spider Man, Batman.... Whether they were invented by DC Comics or Marvel each of those superheroes were invented to promote the defence of a cause/a value. Fight against Nazism, fight for equal rights whatever the skin color... These men and women came out of the mind of people aware of the challenges of their time.

        In The Psychology of Superheroes Roseberg explain how her vision on superheroes changed. During her childhood she used to read comics for entertainment but now as an adult she sees these superheroes stories as examples of morality, loyalty and conviction of beliefs.

But as said before heroes are not only fiction characters. They are also figures that embodied the values of society. The men who built America for example. Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Ford, Morgan are considered as heroes because they give birth to the American Dream which is a set of ideals like success, social mobility, freedom... These men entered in America’s history. By the way the channel “History” broadcasted a film entitled The men who built America. On the film poster we see 3 men from the back. They are wearing tuxedo and are looking at the background: A city in construction with factories. The name of the film is subtitled “America wasn’t discovered. It was built.” But that wealth wasn’t without flaws. Corruption,exploited workers which are shown in caricatures from the Puck Magazine. Protectors of our industries ironically denounce workers exploitation which are weighed down both by their poverty and the exaggerated wealth of the industrialists.

The bosses of the Senate illustrate how these people locked Politics to fit to their needs.
Fat lobbyists from various sectors are monitoring the Senate where the senators looks so weak compared to them. For these reasons some of them are called Robber Barons.
Closer to us there’s another type of heroes. The one who fought against the society for an ideal. For example Martin Luther or Mandela. The black pastor, during the 60’s began the fight for civil rights and equality between blacks and whites. Mandela had the same goal in South Africa: He wanted the end of the apartheid (set of discriminatory laws). His fight was widely supported. After winning his fight and becoming president he had to reconcile both communities and makes South Africa a united country. The film Invictus directed by Clint Eastwood show how a Rugby World Cup became a political instrument for Mandela to unite his country. For these fights these two men now belong to history and are worldwide icons of tolerance.

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