Time writer Eliana Dockterman, who according to her Twitter account writes about 'culture, society & feminism,' has caused a heated discussion on Twitter after calling for a cultural re-examination of how superheroes are depicted.
"But as we engage in this long-overdue conversation about law enforcement, it’s high time we also talk about the most popular characters in the film, the ones who decide the parameters of justice and often enact them with violence: superheroes," Dockterman wrote in her piece.
Dockterman described superheroes as "cops with capes who enact justice with their powers" who are usually "straight, white men who either function as an extension of a broken US justice system or as vigilantes without any checks on their powers".
She stated that as historically, superhero creators and stars in these movies are white men, "it’s hardly surprising that so few reckon with issues of systemic racism—let alone sexism, homophobia, transphobia and other forms of bigotry embedded in the justice system or the inherent biases these superheroes might carry with them as they patrol the streets or the universe."
Besides Blade, the author has cited "Black Panther" and "Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse" as good examples of elevating the conversation.
The article, however, has been met with harsh opposition on social media.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 30, 2020
Superheroes are canceled! https://t.co/j63WLCCIyv
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 30, 2020
— •Zack Snyder's BatMax🦇• #GBTZ (@SupesBatsy) June 30, 2020
No we don't. There are about 100 more important things going on the world than superheroes in movies.
— No Lives Matter (@martiallaur) June 30, 2020
😂😂😂 this is satire right?
— Regan Teague, CFA (@reganteague) July 1, 2020
