Superman: American Icon Or Global Icon? A Superman Article

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Well you used Tolkein and Animal Farm as definitive examples of what allegory is and isn't. That's not exactly critical.

[BBally81]

Like I already mentioned in the article if Superman started as an allegory for anything, it was likely Siegel and Shuster's faith in the New Deal having a positive effect on society. There's also the possibility of being an allegory for immigrants having a positive impact that would be helpful to society.

[phantom000]

Like I already mentioned in the article if Superman started as an allegory for anything, it was likely Siegel and Shuster's faith in the New Deal having a positive effect on society. There's also the possibility of being an allegory for immigrants having a positive impact that would be helpful to society.

If you want to talk about Superman as an allegory, I always favored the idea of Superman as an immigrant. The US is a nation of immigrants and the 1930's saw 'the last great wave' of foreign immigrants (not surprising considering what was going on in Europe at the time). There are a number of parallels between Superman and most foreign immigrants of the time, like not having a home to go back to. Also remember that Jerry Siegel was a first generation Lithuanian and Joe Shuster's family moved from Canada.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Yes the immigrant aspects goes without saying. He could still be the second coming for all intents and purposes. I'm kind of curious what Death of Superman points to.

[Frustration]

Superman IS an immigrant. But so are a lot of superheroes. It's notable that Kal-El's alter ego is so unremarkable; I've read suggestions that Superman appeals to normal people who feel they have hidden potential, or that aspects of themselves important to their self-identity aren't part of their normal persona. I've even heard people say that Superman was intended to address Jews conforming to mainstream American culture.