Polly Ticks: R.I.P. Captain America
Captain America, the 66 year old super hero and alternate ego of Steve Rogers was shot by an assassin and killed last week. The 6’2, 240 pound, blue eyed, blond haired pinnacle of human physical perfection was known for his agility, strength, speed, endurance, and superior reaction time.
Millions around the world are mourning this loss. Captain America, often referred to as a symbol of American spirit, has left many questioning what we will do. He has long been a emblem of patriotism we have turned to in times off war and disparity. With domestic affairs in a state of disarray, the American people seriously questioning the judgment of their political leaders, a seemingly pointless and never-ending war consuming our thoughts, and of course the tragedy of Anna Nicole – what is America going to do without its Captain.
Investigations will begin early next week into his death. It is thought to be a political plot to substantiate the theory that American patriotism is dead.
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Polly Ticks: a snarky look at the happenings in the world today entangled in female perception, appears every Thursday right here at iconoclastic
Technorati: snarky, captain america, death, patriotism
Comments
Hey Meagan,
A lot of people reflectively assume that Captain America is a hyper patriotic icon. But like many comic characters he is a reflection of popular culture. What he stands for has changed over the decades.
I personally like the harder-edged right wing Captain. He's more sure of himself and in my opinion more heroic. That speaks to the "guy" in me.
But you might enjoy his persona from the 1960's and 1970's as described below. Based on the title of your blog I thought you might enjoy some of the history behind this particular icon.
I hope you feel better soon.
Lon
Captain America changed with the times. He returned in 1964 and found renewed fame, but not as the same rock-jawed, stalwart soldier. In 1969 he was paired with the first African-American superhero, the Falcon. In one small sign of how comics were evolving, the Falcon's alter ego, Sam Wilson, was a Harlem social worker.
As Vietnam raged, Captain America stayed home. In 1971 Marvel's Stan Lee wrote that Cap "simply doesn't lend himself to the John Wayne type character he once was" and that he "could not see any of [Marvel's] characters taking on the role of super-patriotism in the world as it is today." Instead, Cap became a Great Society superhero, battling, as Mr. Wright puts it, "poverty, racism, pollution, and political corruption."
Consider this monologue from a '70s issue in which Cap muses: "I'm like a dinosaur--in the cro-magnon age! An anachronism--who's out-lived his time! This is the day of the anti-hero--the age of the rebel--and the dissenter! It isn't hip--to defend the establishment!--only to tear it down! And, in a world rife with injustice, greed, and endless war--who's to say the rebels are wrong? . . . I've spent a lifetime defending the flag--and the law! Perhaps I should have battled less--and questioned more!"
REPLY:
i truely appreciate the history lesson here, it was very interesting! i have to agree, the captian is a refleciton of pop-culture, which is why the powers that be found it acceptible to kill him off with the political turmoil going on in today's society. i think it is an accurate reflection of how pop-culture feels about an american icon - patriotic or not.
thank you so much for your comments, and i look forward to hearing from you in the near future (and i am beginning to feel better, thanks for the well wishes!)
Posted by: Lon | March 28, 2007 08:45 PM