Why is American obsessed with Heroism?

Question

Heroism in today's popular culture.
What's everyone's opinions?
I'm writing a paper about it, any links or ideas would be appreciated!
Harry Potter, Spiderman, heck "Grey's Anatomy"'s doctors save people's lives, well in tv land.
What do you define as a Hero? Which qualifications do they possess? Are they ALL flawed?

I know it's not just America, I'm asking about America though. Tell me ABOUT heroism, what do you think?

Answer 1

It is not just America. Look at most any culture and you find tales of heroic deeds. From the Ancients of Greece, Egypt, etc, you will find tales from then to know of challenges and heroism.

Answer 2

I always thought people need something to look up to. People are usually bored with their day-to-day, that they want to see something extraordinary. They look up to heroes who rise over the norm, and do something special. Some of them project themselves into the situation. "I wish I was a superhero," or "I wish I can practice magic." Some want the glory, some just want the power. Others like helping people, and seeing that there is kindness in the world.

I mean, traditionally, the hero in the story is the "self." It's a term used by (I think) Karl Jung. The protagonist, the hero, the self, is the character that the audience can most associate with. Hence, most people who see a hero character, tends to think 'what if that was me?' It'd be great if I was a hero... If I was special.

I don't think it's unique to American culture. Every culture and every age has had their heroes. Off the top of my head, there's Wong Fei Hong from China, Miyamoto Musashi of Japan, Rama of India, King Arthur and his knights of the round table, Hannibal the Carthaginian, Odysseus of Greece... countless others.

Short answer: I don't think America today is obsessed with heroism. I think that's just the case everywhere, at any given point in time.

Answer 3

these modern movies don't tell us about true heroism, it's just dreams about heroes and good ppl and hope, that someone will help us, if we have a serious trouble, but it's not true, in reallity u rarely get someone's hand. in my opinion true heroism took place on wars time or other critical moments. i know one story about russian soldier Matrosov, who covered enemy machine-gun with his body to let other ppl run by it...and there were so much such heroic doing like that everywhere, that is the true heroism, that means to be completely selflessness and be ready to give off ur life fot lives others

Answer 4

i think of Heroism is a factor of the yankee pop custom by way of fact it makes super thoughts for movies, television shows and books. I define a hero as someone who sacrifices for the entire thing approximately somebody else. skills: A hero could be something. He ought to be clever or stupid, rich or undesirable. yet I do evaluate having good ethical concepts as one trait one hero often has. of direction, as people, heroes do have some flaws and errors. Like Spiderman's tale, he in elementary terms had the urge to shop different persons's lives/ or help people while his uncle died form his very own fault. wish I helped, stable success which includes your paper!

Answer 5

You can trace the "hero" back through all of human mythology and literature in every culture. It is a constant ideal that we all uphold. But the nature of the hero can have some variations. The "tragic hero" is the one who must suffer for his/her people. The "pure hero" is like King Arthur. The "questing hero" is like Odysseus. And they all have flaws. I would encourage you to look for the work of Joseph Campbell. His analysis could be very helpful to you.

Answer 6

The New World was to provide a better living to those who immigrated and hero worship are icons of those who have succeeded.

Answer 7

People are usually fascinated with things they cannot understand.

There are plenty of real heroes in life, but you have to LOOK to find them and they are not like in comic books.