Thread by @ClaremontRun

The core superhero fantasy is associated with simplicity (or juvenilia) and is often brought forward as reason to devalue or dismiss the entire genre, but that fantasy of heroic virtue and endurance can be lifesaving to those in need and that merits consideration. #xmen 1/9

The unplanned-for joy of the project has been the social component of the social media, of talking to people for whom X-Men meant a very great deal, as it did for me personally as well. This isn’t always literary valuation – sometimes it’s about getting by. 2/9

Superheroics, in general, however, are considered sub-literary, despite having a rich place of respect in classical literature; the Ancient Greeks, for example, highly valued the concept of “aristeia,” the moment of great deeds in battle - basically action sequences. 3/9

Contemporary media and literary theory place a lot of emphasis on subjective experience. McLuhan’s hot vs cold media, Eco’s open vs closed text, or even just the broad theory of active vs passive media all work off this. No two readings are the same. We bring our own baggage. 4/9

While, on any given day, the idea of a hero exhibiting supernatural resolve or endurance or unrequited empathy can read as cliché, to a person at a low-point in their life on that same day, these stories can become something altogether different. 5/9

And this is what I’ve experienced in the people I’ve spoken to through this project: people who saw themselves in Magik and found strength to endure or witnessed Storm’s force of will and adopted it themselves or found in Rachel the very possibility of self-acceptance. 6/9

Now if this sounds like unscholarly dialogue, I suspect that is the problem. Any work that is transformative or life-sustaining, regardless of how it accomplishes that, is important – arguably more important than anything. 7/9

This is not the most innovative aspect of Claremont’s work. There are lots of superhero stories that very simply teach us to be brave in the face of adversity and to hold on when that doesn’t seem possible, but there’s clearly an art to this and it might be lifesaving. 8/9

We could however talk about how the depth of Claremont’s characterizations make their heroics more relatable, thus allowing readers a better opportunity to find strength and courage within them. That’s not actually something I can prove, but it's worth exploring. 9/9