Read on Twitter
Most people miss the main theme of The Incredibles, partly because the movie does so many other things well.
It's a 2004 superhero film by Pixar that has already aged better than 2012's The Avengers.
And its main theme is more relevant today.
What is that theme?
It's a 2004 superhero film by Pixar that has already aged better than 2012's The Avengers.
And its main theme is more relevant today.
What is that theme?
The Incredibles tells us the theme at the very start, with heroes talking about their secret identities.
Which identity is the real identity, and how is it determined?
This is what the movie will debate and answer.
Which identity is the real identity, and how is it determined?
This is what the movie will debate and answer.
Disaster strikes. Mr. Incredible causes too much collateral damage and is sued again and again, and the government can't afford to keep paying.
Heroes are outlawed.
One official says: "It's time for their secret identity to be their only identity."
Heroes are outlawed.
One official says: "It's time for their secret identity to be their only identity."
But before that, we meet Buddy. The identity he has created for himself is "Incrediboy." He is the sidekick of Mr. Incredible.
The problem: Mr. Incredible doesn't agree. Buddy doesn't get to decide unilaterally what his identity is. It's not like a mask you can put on and off.
The problem: Mr. Incredible doesn't agree. Buddy doesn't get to decide unilaterally what his identity is. It's not like a mask you can put on and off.
The heroes are found in a similar predicament soon after. They thought they had an identity of being a hero, but society now disagrees.
Our heroes don't get to unilaterally decide to be a superhero.
There must be a mutual agreement. Identities are not atomistic things.
Our heroes don't get to unilaterally decide to be a superhero.
There must be a mutual agreement. Identities are not atomistic things.
Mr. Incredible's identity becomes regular Bob Parr, who works in insurance. He hates it. But he feels stuck.
He knows he can do so much more.
His son Dash knows he can do so much more and is acting out at school.
His daughter Violet has no idea who she is and goes invisible
He knows he can do so much more.
His son Dash knows he can do so much more and is acting out at school.
His daughter Violet has no idea who she is and goes invisible
The only one adjusting fine is Helen Parr, the wife and mother. She has embraced her new identity, despite the feminist undertone of her introduction.
She is a housewife trying to keep it all together.
She is a housewife trying to keep it all together.
But then Bob goes into full mid-life crisis mode, and suddenly Helen's new identity is in jeopardy. She finds a stray hair. She starts to suspect.
Even her identity as a housewife is not 100% controlled by her.
Without a husband, she is no longer a wife.
Even her identity as a housewife is not 100% controlled by her.
Without a husband, she is no longer a wife.
Bob, on the other side, goes through his mid-life crisis because he has found someone who agrees with him that his identity should be that of a superhero.
And that brings us back to Buddy, now called Syndrome.
Syndrome still has identity issues.
And that brings us back to Buddy, now called Syndrome.
Syndrome still has identity issues.
Syndrome is a supervillian, but wants to be seen as a superhero.
But again, he is foiled, because you can't just decide your own identity unilaterally. He tries an elaborate deception to overcome this, but it fails.
The real heroes have to step in.
But again, he is foiled, because you can't just decide your own identity unilaterally. He tries an elaborate deception to overcome this, but it fails.
The real heroes have to step in.
The resolution of the theme happens when Bob Parr, Mr. Incredible, correctly orients his conflicting identities.
He is a husband and a father first.
After that, everything begins to fall into place, including his superhero identity.
He is a husband and a father first.
After that, everything begins to fall into place, including his superhero identity.
Violet understands the true stakes.
During the scene at the fire with her brother, she says "Mom and Dad's lives could in in jeopardy. Or worse, their marriage."
Bob and Helen's marriage is bonding agent that keeps all of their core identities intact.
During the scene at the fire with her brother, she says "Mom and Dad's lives could in in jeopardy. Or worse, their marriage."
Bob and Helen's marriage is bonding agent that keeps all of their core identities intact.
As a family, they can be superheroes.
The acceptance of each other within those bonds allows each one to flourish in their own way.
As a result, by the end of the film, more and more people begin to agree with them.
The acceptance of each other within those bonds allows each one to flourish in their own way.
As a result, by the end of the film, more and more people begin to agree with them.
We do not get to just choose our own identity.
Our identities come from our relationships with other people. From the moment we are born, we are enmeshed in a series of relationships.
You don't choose your father and mother. You don't choose your name. You don't choose your sex
Our identities come from our relationships with other people. From the moment we are born, we are enmeshed in a series of relationships.
You don't choose your father and mother. You don't choose your name. You don't choose your sex
You are not an autonomous, sovereign individual.
You do not get to unilaterally decide what your identity is. You can't just walk onto the court claiming to be an NBA basketball player. You can't just decide to be someone's boyfriend or girlfriend.
You do not get to unilaterally decide what your identity is. You can't just walk onto the court claiming to be an NBA basketball player. You can't just decide to be someone's boyfriend or girlfriend.
It is our relationships that give shape to our identities, that provide borders where we can run wild and free.
Having unlimited, unfettered choice in your identity is the same thing as dissolving away into nothing.
This is something the trans movement understands.
Having unlimited, unfettered choice in your identity is the same thing as dissolving away into nothing.
This is something the trans movement understands.
Why do trans people insist on people using correct pronouns?
Why do they see deadnaming as an unforgivable sin?
Because deep down, they know they cannot unilaterally decide who they are. They must have people agree with their choice.
First, they're like Buddy. Then Syndrome.
Why do they see deadnaming as an unforgivable sin?
Because deep down, they know they cannot unilaterally decide who they are. They must have people agree with their choice.
First, they're like Buddy. Then Syndrome.
The trans movement will never be content to play a private game of dress up and let everyone else go about their business.
All of society must conform around their choice, because they know their identity only matters in the context of other people.
So don't be gaslit.
All of society must conform around their choice, because they know their identity only matters in the context of other people.
So don't be gaslit.
The Incredibles is a great testimony to the power of other people, especially our families, to shape our identities.
It's a lesson we should take to heart.
If you liked this thread, you'd also like this one about WALL-E
It's a lesson we should take to heart.
If you liked this thread, you'd also like this one about WALL-E
https://twitter.com/1319150017328926720/status/1631685494265315330
And you'd also like my substack. Essays, book and movie reviews, and previews of fiction I'm working on.
Please subscribe:
mafranklin.com
Please subscribe:
mafranklin.com
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
