Reflection #8

Part 1

In Green Lantern, Kyle found that his emotional connection to his friend caused him to push the limits of his own moral code, ultimately challenging its stability. In other words, the code which defined his superhero identity was challenged both externally and internally.

When have you experienced a time in your own life when one of your core beliefs or an essence of your own identity was questioned or challenged? How did you deal with it? If you have not experienced this, how might you imagine a similar challenge arising in the future? Like Kyle, have you ever reacted to a situation purely from a place of emotion, without regard for the consequences? What happened?

Part 2

In a number of the readings for this week as well as in the film X-Men, The Last Stand, the concept of mutation is addressed from a number of angles, raising questions about the idea of normality vs. abnormality, “fitting in" vs. "standing out”, armored vs. flowing bodies, and symbolic ties to marginalization and disability, among others. For this week’s blog post, I want you to imagine having two different types of mutations. First, imagine you have a mutant power like Jean Grey, Storm, Magneto, or Iceman. This power is very useful but also can be hidden when so desired. In other words, you can “pass” as homo sapiens.  Next, imagine that, instead, your mutation is external and well outside of the expected physical norms of society, like Nightcrawler, Beast, Mystique or Cyclops, or is one which keeps you from living a normal social life, like Rogue.

How are the two experiences you imagine different? How are they similar? Can you make connections to individuals or groups in real-life society? How might X-men comics, TV shows and films help those groups or individuals understand themselves and their place in society?

Finally, Which mutant do you identify with most, and why? Would you seek out the "cure" if you were a mutant?