I: In “The Real Question,” the alien known as Mxyzptlk says, “we are gods. You are just puppets. As long as there’s one of you, there’ll be a hundred of us.” By this he seems to mean that we can never tell all of our stories (there are too many of us), but we can tell one of their stories, since they can live in a million minds for a thousand years. In this way, the science fiction world of aliens, monsters, and superheroes can represent in an immediate, universal way the struggles of identity we all experience. We don’t have to tell our story...we can tell Superman’s story, since his alter ego is us—the awkward, coming-of-age outsider in a world we don’t understand.
Q: For your first conversation paper, I want you to introduce people to the conversation: why do superheroes, aliens, and monsters help tell the story of our identity as teenagers, adults, Americans, or “others.” We all feel like we’re on the outside at some point in our lives, as none of us are truly normal. We might be from another country, speak another language, have strange abilities and talents, or seem to have none of the right abilities and talents. An alien trying to make it in America is a great way to explore these very human difficulties, particularly when this alien has extraordinary (but secret) powers that might make others fear or distrust him. Similarly, even being a teenager is to be an “outsider,” since adults distrust you, fear you, suspect you, and tell you what to think. What ‘powers’ do teenagers have that adults forgot they even had...and how do you use these to become a ‘superhero,’ at least to those you love?
R: You must use at least TWO of the chapters from Superman: American Alien in your discussion. Remember, you’re introducing the idea that superheroes, aliens, and monsters can represent real-world identity to people who have probably never read a superhero comic. So what do you need to explain to them? What do they need to know and see? Use two of the stories to show us why Superman is relevant to a modern American teenager or adult. ALSO, I want you to use at least one of the following stories by Dale Bailey in Best American SF/F, “Teenagers from Outer Space” and/or “I Was a Teenage Werewolf.” The goal is to make these works contribute to a conversation about ‘coming of age’ in our society through the metaphors of “others”—superheroes, etc.
Length: At least 5 pages, double spaced (though you can do more)
Format: Be sure to quote passages from the comic and at least one of the stories according to MLA format or another you prefer (but be consistent). You must cite page numbers and include a Works Cited page
Due: Monday, February 26th by 5pm [no class that day]
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