Man of Steel Invokes Platonic Ideas in Brilliant
July 8, 2013 The B.C. Catholic Opinion | Page 7 Man of Steel invokes Platonic ideas in brilliant way n the Man of Steel snobbishness is that any row a term from Paul Til- movie, Kal-El is never Hollywood product with lich, ‘theonomy,’ which Icalled “Superman.” The state-of-the-art movie mag- means allowing God to be- name is only spoken once, ic inevitably demands us to come the inner law of one’s as a report of what others Chris Morrissey life.” have started calling Kal. Well, that has to be as- A careful reading of the Before that, when Lois Lane sessed on a case-by-case ba- is about to suggest the “S” required to make a boy grow sis. It just won’t do to slap that it is Kal who represents symbol on Kal’s chest could up to be a man of steel. the label “dumb summer this virtuous third way. The stand for “Superman,” she It is disappointing that blockbuster” onto every man of steel is the golden is interrupted before she can Fr. Robert Barron didn’t single one of these movies mean avoiding the two ex- pick up on this theme, and then be done with them. tremes of the false dichot- name. which is announced in the What a lazy way to review omy. Kal’s story is about a In other words, this is movies! See how easy it is: hopeful growth in the virtue ate repudiation of the name “The special effects were that imitates Christ’s mis- in which Superman is not familiar from previous great. Everything else was sion of bringing light into a versions of the story: “Su- terrible, especially the ri- darkened world. makers have deliberately perman.” But by his own diculous story.” To use the language of titled it Man of Steel. They admission, Fr. Barron con- In the case of Man of Fr. Barron’s useful prelimi- make unmistakably clear fesses in his movie review Steel, it is also manifestly nary analysis: It is Krypton they do not want us to tag that all “the CGI whiz-bang that represents the heterono- Kal with the old, familiar stuff” caused him to “just alert us in the very title of name, “Superman.” check out,” so we know he the movie that they have state, whereas General Zod Kal should therefore not didn’t pay close enough at- grander ambitions and are www.manofsteel.com represents the autonomous Chris Morrissey thinks Kal-El’s character in Man of be confused with the idea of tention to the movie. That’s deliberately trying to sub- Steel is emphasized instead of the traditional Super- a superman who is “beyond vert expectations. More- who claims to be beyond good and evil.” That no- credit that he admits it. over, guys like Zack Snyder man who is beyond conventional morality.” the state and beyond its or- tion, articulated by the phi- Unfortunately, I feel like and Christopher Nolan are dinary moral conventions. losopher Nietzsche, is de- I keep reading the same no dummies, so it is worth that it would take multiple candidly admits that he is Kal, by contrast, represents liberately contrasted in the movie review year after meditating on the rich phil- review essays and a uni- debilitated by the onset of Biblical theonomy in the year. A pretentious movie osophical dimensions they versity semester of seminar special effects fatigue. In of moral virtue in Kal. The critic looks down on a spe- deliberately build into the study to elucidate them all. fact, his thoughts on Man tian. theme of the movie is thus cial effects-laden summer infrastructure of their sto- Thankfully, Fr. Barron is of Steel provide a useful Admittedly, it is easy to not a celebration of a super- blockbuster and laments ries. In Man of Steel, the no lazy movie reviewer. He preliminary analysis of the confuse Kal with Zod, be- man who is beyond conven- it as a crass spectacle. The philosopher Plato is invoked always has something intel- movie’s philosophical con- cause their rivalry within tional morality. Instead, its reigning assumption of such in so many intelligent ways ligent to say, even when he tent, even if he confuses the the story appears as a “whiz- bang” clash between two ous man of steel with the super-men. The Catholic Nietzschean superman who thinker Rene Girard would Letters to the Editor is “beyond good and evil.” recognize this as the mytho- Because he missed the logical trope of “mimetic We’re not just pro-birth “Christians who take an active here to a Christian, Mary-like way pudiation of the “super- it hard to tell one warring Re: the letter on “Church and part in present day socio-economic of dressing, even in church. They man” label, Fr. Barron took super-man from another. state” in the June 17 issue. I ap- But the Man of Steel plaud The B.C. Catholic for print- and charity should be convinced tension between individual movie resolves the titanic ing “political” material. Your only that they can make a great contri- revealing clothes are an “occasion autonomy and a state-con- clash this way: Zod is the endorsement I recall is of pro-life bution to the prosperity of mankind trolled society.” If we take superman who sees himself and associated positions. We have and to the peace of the world” (The posite sex. the movie as illustrating this beyond good and evil, with to remember that to be pro-life Church in the Modern World, No. It can be a real battle for men- tension, then: “We might no scruples about annihilat- means to be pro-housing, health folk to try not to “look on a woman read the battle between ing those who oppose him. care, education and jobs; otherwise Andrew Conradi, OFS General Zod and Super- Kal, however, learns that he it is just pro-birth. New Westminster they are constantly surrounded by man, therefore, as a symbol must only unleash his super The separation of church and females dressed deliberately to at- of the struggle between two power if it is to protect in- state is not and cannot be absolute. Pride of all B.C.! tract attention. nocent life. As the Ontario bishops explained RE: Prince George bishop or- We must learn again to dress nation-state and the ego.” In the end, Kal’s cry of dains two priests in the June 17 is- and act in ways pleasing to Jesus Fr. Barron rightly sees anguish when he defeats mind all Roman Catholics of their sue. and His Immaculate Mother, if we that these two extremes Zod shows us the difference duty to become informed, to vote, Prince George is now the pride are to regain the respect we are due form a false dichotomy: between the superman and and to be involved politically, at the of B.C! as children of God. “The Bible recommends the man of steel. very least in the sense of knowing Stanley F. Smith Name withheld on request neither the heteronomy of C.S. Morrissey is an as- the issues and the policies of the Vancouver Maple Ridge the oppressive state nor the sociate professor of philos- parties with regard to them.” autonomy of the individual Pope Pius XI spoke of “political Let’s not be pagan We invite readers to send letters will, but rather, if I can bor- College. charity” as one of the highest forms It seems the hazards of living in commenting on issues discussed in of the virtue of charity. In more a pagan secularized society cause the community or within the pages recent times, the Church has told us to become desensitized. Very of this publication. Letters must DR. GEORGE LO, DENTIST us that “a merely individualistic slowly we accept and adapt to pa- have an address and phone num- 604-681-6737 gan ways. This is clearly demon- 909 Davie Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 1B9 N.W. corner of Hornby and Davie Christians must “give an example strated by the clothes with which edited for style, clarity, and length. | by their sense of responsibility and we cover, or uncover, ourselves. [email protected]. | | | their service of the common good.” Women in general no longer ad- Free Consultation New Patients Welcome on Complete & Partial dentures - We accept Dental Plans -