In the interests of professionalism I have been doing some research into Superheroes; (and no, I don’t mean that i’ve just had a good excuse to read the Beano) and have found (not having been a comicbook afficianado) that there is an ENORMOUS amount of theory on said subject.
Who knew Superheroes were so intellectual?!
So I did feel somewhat smug when last week on the train home from the seeing the Turner Prize exhibition my copy of ‘Superheroes and Philosophy (Truth, Justice and the Socratic Way)’ edited by Tom & Matt Morris attracted quite a lot of attention. I am also reading: ‘Supergods: Our World in the Age of the Superhero’ by Grant Morrison
all fascinating stuff and having never even seen Superman, it is all news to me.
This is causing me to wonder if I am doing the right thing? By finding out about this stuff, am I likely to kill my mojo by knowing too much? It’s not exactly as if my Superhero series is actually based on or influenced by these actual characters but still……
By knowing too much do you kill the innocent exploration that creates original and personal ideas?
I have always sort of believed this. Long ago I worked in the TV industry and once went for an interview to get a coveted ‘Director’ traineeship. All was going well with my interview panel who were all nodding and making appropriately interested noises until the fateful question….. ‘so, what do you watch?’
Nothing – I watched nothing on TV.
But surely, this would mean that I would have ORIGINAL ideas (which I did, as I was doing a directorial job unofficially at the time) – sadly they did not see it this way. I did, however enjoy the sounds of their jaws all hitting the table in astonishment at my unashamed admission.
SO, chapter 2 or not chapter 2, that is the question…..
