Final Reflection!

Which superhero did you come in knowing very little about, but now feel like you have a good sense of who they are, what they stand for, and what their stories can tell us about ourselves?

I came into the class knowing very little about Wonder Woman. I was surprised to hear about the background and orgin of her and how she is viewed in society. I now have a better understand of her and would like to learn more about her as well.

Did any of your preconceived ideas about a specific hero change through our coursework? If so, what were they? If not, how was your approach to that hero supported by our readings/discussions?

The idea of race and superheroes changed through our coursework. I never really knew how much race played a part in learning about superheroes and that effects it has against different races.

We have looked to superhero narratives as tools to help us learn about ourselves. What did you learn about yourself (or confirm about yourself) through the readings and discussions?

I learned that I can be able to explore comics a lot more after reading this class. Going into this class I had very little knowledge with superheroes and now I will be able to talk about superheroes in ways others don't know.

Is there a topic or idea you felt especially strong about and wish we could have delved more deeply in it? What about a hero / character / team we didn’t spend much time on that would have facilitated class discussion on an important idea or issue?

 

I wish that we could have spent more time on Spiderman in class. I was disappointed to see how very little there was about Spiderman. Espeically growing up and having him be one of the more popular superheroes of our generation.

Finally, as you complete this class and head into your Citizenship class next year, how has this course helped you to better understand the role of a good citizen? Which hero or heroes do you feel would be the best model for good citizenship? Why?

Reflection 10

-Why does Coach tell Thom that he can no longer be on the team? How would you have handled this situation? How would your parents react?

 

Coach tells Thom that he can no longer be a part of the team because of the assumptions that he is gay. I think I would have handled this situation differently than Thom. I would have talked to him about that it is discrimination against the players and you can't choose to kick someone off the team because of that. Especially since Thom was their best player. I would argue that without me you don't have much of a team. I think my parents would react in the same way if I got kicked off the team. They would be shocked just like Thom's dad but eventually be able to forgive me.

-Ruth tells Thom, “You can’t go on like you’re going to start living one day, like all this is some preamble to some great life that’s magically going to appear. . . Don’t Wait.” What is she telling Thom to do? Is there anything you are waiting for to make you happy? How can you be in charge of your own happiness?

 

She is telling Thom not to wait about coming out as being gay. I am waiting to graduate from Monmouth to make myself happy. I look forward to December when I will be graduating a semester early to start the next chapter in my life. I can't wait to be done with school and feel accomplished for what I have done throughout school and leaving Monmouth College with not one but two degrees. I can be in charge of my own happiness by thinking about how I have so much to look forward to in life past Monmouth College.

-“Everyone in the world should have at least one moment in their lifetime when an entire crowd of people cheers them on for something, one moment to feel exceptional, one moment that lets you know you really do mean something to the universe.” (191) Do you think this happens for most people or not? How would it happen for you? What would you gain if it did?

 

I believe that this happens for most people in one way or another. It doesn't necessarily has to be during some athletic event or something of that sort. It can be accomplishing something that your family and friends will stick by your side and be there to cheer you on about it. I think it would happen for me when I graduate college because it's something that I have accomplished and I will in return be able to put my degree to use to make the world a better place by a job.

-Thom’s first kiss occurs under difficult emotional circumstances. Describe the “perfect first kiss”. Is it possible to achieve? Like Thom, have you ever had a crush on a famous figure? Why do you think we have crushes like this? 

 

I'm choosing not to reflect on this question.

Reflection #9

Since this reflection is an open topic I decided to reflect on the movies that we have been watching in class pertaining to our readings. I personally feel that watching the movies are a good idea for class discussion. Many of us have seen the majority of the movies but watching them after learning about superheroes in more detail from class makes me think of them in a much different perspective. Especially for having one of our analytical papers being focused on a movie. I think from here on out when I watch a superhero movie that I will be viewing it in a way that I never did before taking this class. I think if the class continues than you should contintue to show the films and discuss them in class as well.