If you are into superhero epics — I will confess some interest in Iron Man and Captain America — then you know that the creators (small “c”) of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been struggling for several years now.
Many are convinced that they caught a bad case of what that Elon Musk guy calls the “woke mind virus.” Some critics point to a more specific problem — an obsession with a “strong female character” stereotype that appears to do little to woo females into multiplexes, while infuriating many young males and older superhero fans. Click here for a collection of YouTube discussions of that war.
As for me, Rational Sheep readers will not be surprised that I find it interesting that all of these big-screen sermons — built on powers that transcend the ordinary material world — include few discussions of miracles, the afterlife and, well, that whole God thing. Some have argued that the rise of these superheroes represents a return to the gods of mythology.
Other than the occasional Captain America one-liner, the Judeo-Christian God is missing in action in these screenplays. Why? Perhaps it’s the need to sell movie tickets in the global marketplace, including China and the Islamic world. Generic miracles are easier to sell than those linked to a specific global faith.
This generation of Hollywood players does love to preach. However, at some point, oceans of red ink may capture the attention of investors.
Thus, we are beginning to see a few signs of a return to what was once called “normal.” I don’t expect (I’m a third-party voter) to see this affect politics, even after the victory of Orange Man Bad (who Hollywood views as more dangerous than Thanos). How many Avengers endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris?
The question is not whether the superhero Principalities and Powers repent and see the error of their ways. The issue is whether they (a) merely turn down the heat while preaching “the message” or (b) show some interest in the religious and moral questions, images and themes that speak to millions of believers around the world.
