Overlooked Genius of an Underrated Comic Book Movie?;- Discussing “Man of Steel”
“I exist only to protect Krypton. That is the sole purpose for which I was born, and every action I take, no matter how violent or how cruel is for the greater good of my people”
When General Zod, (who is Superman’s Antagonist) utters these words in the “Man of Steel” it is difficult not to feel a hint of sympathy towards a character who is truly tragic in certain ways….. despite his genocidal intentions. His last hopes, at raising a home, he lost through a planetary catastrophe on his home planet are razed and reduced to ashes. In trying to resurrect his people he comes very close to annihilating the planet, upon which he wishes to revive them (Superman, AKA Clark Kent thwarts his success at doing so). What unites the superhero and his nemesis, is their origin, and what distinguishes them, is the divergence in their birth and life courses, which ultimately culminates in a clash of a cosmic scale.
General Zod, is birthed artificially like all other Kryptonians, (an advanced humanoid extra-terrestrial species), in a world where natural birth has completely ceased. In this world, each individual is genetically, and psychologically moulded to fulfil a pre-ordained role in society, corresponding to a Politician, Warrior or Scientist. Zod, is a product of this life cycle, tailored to create the perfect soldier. The predictability of pre-destined roles in society, is seen as vital for the stability of Kryptonian society, and is seen as more preferable to the chaotic freedom of individual and personal agency. If Zod, is a child of genetic determinism then Kal-El, represents its antithesis, a “heresy” in the words of Zod. He is a child of Jor El and Lara “naturally birthed” and as such a blasphemy to the very ethos of Kryptonian society. Trapped, in the throes of a dying planet, his parents perform the ultimate act of courage and sacrifice. They seed in him, the collective consciousness of the entire planet and enable his departure to a distant world, seated in an interstellar capsule, protecting him from the imminent demise of their own. The capsule, hurtles through the emptiness of space towards another planet, holding an infant, just as the planet is obliterated . Just as the planet, is imploding, Superman’s mom can be heard saying “Make a better planet than ours, Kal”.
“Man of Steel”, was a truly polarizing film, , for portraying scenes of wanton destruction and a dark, pensive interpretation of a popular American Superhero. What however, has been woefully overlooked and makes the movie, powerful in unexamined ways, is its exposition, which sets the tone for the rest of the film. Krypton, the birthplace of Superman and his Nemesis, is a world, where every last vestige of individuality has been thoroughly wiped out; reproduction has ceased, and children are artificially bred. The regimentation of an entire civilization of people, to ensure the predictable functioning of society, leads to a shunning of uniqueness, uncertainty, and risk. This proves to be fatal to the survival of the planet. In a world of predictable conformity, any detection of the slightest imperfection is stymied. And the flaw turns out to be cataclysmic; in a world of unmalleable protocols, no one especially the “Council of Rulers” is able to perceive the risks of a disastrous project aimed at “harvesting the energy’s radioactive core”. In a subtle rebuke, to ineptitude displayed by the highest rungs of the political class, in the real world, the opening scenes, linger on an elite council of elderly members, deliberating unsuccessfully. It is heavily implied, that Krypton is facing an economic, social and environmental crisis. General Zod, while recognizing this is sadly, still a slave to his military pre-conditioning, and fails in his efforts to avert the destruction of the planet. Which brings us to a young Kal, who is sent across the stars to a planet unknown to him, likely to grow up an outcast in that world (which he does). To both, his parents, the very act of giving birth is the ultimate rebellion against a world of conformity, while the act of sending him across space risking their lives, represents their faith in Kal, as an embodiment of freedom and hope, unshackled by the pressures of the world he inhabits and a symbol of those very same ideals to the people of the world he would be inhabiting. It is also this ideal, which prevails, when he makes the crucial decision of siding with the humans, he grew up with, instead of his own people.
In Huxley’s “Brave New World” citizens are socially and biologically engineered, and indoctrinated to occupy a certain position in society. Any kind of discontent is neutralized by artificial substances, coaxing the mind into a state of “happiness”. Rebellions rarely arise, as citizens assuaged by this state of bliss, rarely see a reason to rebel. While, the likelihood of such a world, existing in the future, definitely cannot be dismissed, it nevertheless provides interesting cues on understanding our own society. The novel’s parallels with “Krypton”, are inadmissible. More importantly, however, is the pertinence of such themes, in the society we live in. Major Issues of a global scale including climate change, social strife and resource shortages, are often swamped by the gravity of idle discourse, and empty deliberation perpetuated by a society, which values standardized modes of thought, and repetitive patterns of wisdom. This may not be of the same degree as that of Krypton or “Brave New World”, but is consistently reinforced from childhood, to college, and professional life. “Man of Steel”, while dark at times, steadfastly sticks to its message of freedom and hope, and in embracing both its blessings and risks. It seems to resonate with the most universal of human values and most fundamental of human dilemmas; the pursuit of freedom, and a willingness to accept and endure whatever it may bring.