The evolution of

SUPERHEROES
DEFINITION:
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act
and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.

Generally speaking:
1. A superhero movie must have a hero, damsel and a villain. Wonder Woman and Black
Panther flip this idea.
2. The hero must have a mentor/confidante/supporting hero.
3. The Hero must have some kind of dual identity. He would have a costume to separate
him from his everyday and normal life.
4. The Hero must have special abilities which are unique to the hero.
5. The Hero must fight an unending war on crime/evil.
6. Classical Mythology . a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to
be honoured as a divinity. b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special
strength, courage, or ability. c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.

In one form or another the superhero origin story has been around for millennia: A hero
battles “supernatural” forces and returns home “from this mysterious adventure with the power
to bestow boons on his fellow man,” as the mythologist Joseph Campbell wrote.

In my surveys of the genre, I’ve found that superheroes undergo three types of life-altering
experiences that we can relate to.

The first is trauma, where something traumatic has happened to the super hero that causes
him to step up and face adversity.
The second life-altering force is destiny. Endowed with supernatural powers to fight demons,
the hero is destined to positively impact the world. Often reluctant to accept their destiny they
begin to assume a great responsibility that compels them to grow up.

Lastly, there’s sheer chance, where an accident or supernatural event changes them forever –
they are stronger, faster or have a supernatural power.
At their best, superhero origin stories inspire us and provide models of coping with adversity,
finding meaning in loss and trauma, discovering our strengths and using them for good purpose.
(Wearing a cape or tights is optional.)

Adapted from: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-psychology-behind-superhero-origin-stories

“Born to play the role of "Wonder Woman", Gadot proves that women can be fierce and loyal,
as well as empathetic.”

“For once, the DCEU has a hero who’s expressing an ethos instead of fuming and suffering over
it. In fierceness and sheer badass fighting prowess, Wonder Woman is a match for the other
heroes in her franchise. But in courage and certainty, she tops all of them. She represents the
direction her cinematic series should be taking. She isn’t leaving behind existential questions.
She’s just playing out a story where those questions can be meaningfully addressed, not just
with rage and suffering, but with courage, conviction, and even humour.”
https://www.theverge.com
 Wonder Woman
“I will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”

“We have a saying, my people. Don’t kill if you can wound,

don’t wound if you can subdue, don’t subdue if you can
pacify, and don’t raise your hand at all until you’ve first
extended it.” —Wonder Woman

ORIGIN
❏Wonder Woman made her debut in the 1941’s All Star Comics No. 8, the character was
created by William Moulton Marston, who envisioned her as the ideal love leader and the type
of woman who should rule the world with the strength of Superman and the appeal of a good
and beautiful woman.
❏Created in response to the prominence of male superheroes at the time (Superman,
Batman, Captain America) Marston hoped his female hero would inspire young kids — both
girls and boys, although aimed slightly more towards the former — to become leaders through
articles and features celebrating female empowerment.
❏She wears the gauntlets of Atlas which increases the strength of the wearer by ten.
Another item in her weaponry repertoire is the Lasso of Truth: a lasso which forces people to
tell the truth; can restore memories; get rid of or cause illusions to those it holds; heal the
holder of insanity, and protect those in close proximity from magical attacks.

BACKGROUND
Wonder Woman tells the tale of Princess Diana of Themyscira. Her original origin story says
she was formed out of clay by her mother, Hippolyta, and had life bestowed upon her by the
Greek gods — making her the only Amazon not conceived by a man. She grows up free of men on
the Paradise Island where the Amazons teach her warrior skills as well as lessons of love and
peace. The gods also gift Diana with powers including strength, wisdom and courage, a hunter’s
heart, beauty, sisterhood, speed and flight.
Film synopsis
The story sees the Amazon princess living among her people on the island of Themyscira where
she meets the military pilot Steve Trevor after his plane goes down and he is washed ashore.
When Trevor informs Wonder Woman of the war raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her
home convinced she can be of use in ending the fighting. She chooses to fit in alongside man,
and in doing so, discovers the full extent of her powers and more of her true identity. Changing
up the setting from the Second World War to the First, the film will act as a prequel to
Batman vs. Superman. The movie also follows the changes to Diana’s origin that were
introduced in the New 52 reboot, where Diana is the daughter of Zeus rather than made out
of clay by the gods.

How the Amazons were created:

The Greek goddesses wanted to spread the message of peace and love, and they thought that
creating a race of strong women would help fulfil their requirements. They took the souls of
women who had died at the hands of men, and sent them to the bottom of the Aegean Sea.
There on the bottom of the seabed, clay was formed into the shape of a human body and once
they reached the surface, they became living human beings. The first one was Hippolyta and
the second one was Antiope. Each of these women were granted traits from each of the
goddesses. Hunting skills from Artemis, wisdom from Athena warm personalities and an ability
to create warm homes from Hestia, lots of harvest from Demeter and beauty of not just
physical appearance, but soul as well from Aphrodite As a sign of their leadership, the
goddesses gave Hippolyta and Antiope each a Golden Girdle of Gaea which would enhance their
abilities. They then founded the city Themyscira and lived there in peace for many years.
Hippolyta
Greek Mythology: Hippolyta was the queen of the tribe of the Amazons
in Greek mythology. She played a significant role in the Twelve Labours
of Heracles. She was the daughter of the god of war, Ares, who had
given her a magical girdle as a gift.
DC Comics: Queen Hippolyta is a fictional DC Comics superhero, based
on the Amazon queen Hippolyta from Greek mythology. Introduced in
1941 during the Golden Age of Comic Books, she is the queen of the
Amazons of Themyscira, the mother of Wonder Woman

Antiope
Greek mythology: She was an Amazon, daughter of Ares and
sister to Melanippe, Hippolyta, Penthesilea and possibly Orithyia,
queens of the Amazons. She may have been the wife of Theseus
and mother to his son Hippolytus, but differing sources claim this
was Hippolyta.
DC Comics: Antiope is a fictional comic book character appearing
in books published by the American publisher DC Comics, usually
as a supporting character in stories featuring Wonder Woman
and the Amazons of Paradise Island/Themyscira. She is a high-
ranking Amazon

DIANA/Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a fictional superhero appearing in American
comic books published by DC Comics. The character is a
founding member of the Justice League. In her homeland, the
island nation of Themyscira, her official title is Princess Diana
of Themyscira. When blending into the society outside of her
homeland, she sometimes adopts her civilian identity Diana
Prince.
 Powers Equipment
Divine Empowerment Bracelets of Submission
Superhuman Strength Golden Girdle of Gaea
Superhuman Durability Lasso of Truth
Superhuman Stamina Sandals of Hermes
Superhuman Speed
Superhuman Reflexes
Flight

I used to want to save the world. This beautiful place. But I knew so little then. It is
a land of magic and wonder. Worth cherishing in every way. But the closer you
get...the more you see the great darkness shimmering within. And mankind? Mankind
is another story altogether. What one does when faced with the truth…is more
difficult than you think. I learned this the hard way. A long long time ago. And
now...I will never be the same.

Contrast the two establishing shots:

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Identify the type of shot used and comment on why it is effective:

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ANALYSE THE CLIP “Diana Training sequence”
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ANALYSE THE CLIP “Diana Saves Steve”

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What type of shot is this and why is it effective?

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ANALYSE THE CLIP “Germans arrive on the beach”
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Analyse this shot:

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ANALYSE THE CLIP “Diana embraces her destiny”

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How is Dr Maru presented here?
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What is the power dynamic like between Dr Maru and Erich Ludendorff?
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Diana: How can a woman

possibly fight in this?
Etta: Fight? We use our
principles. I mean that's how we
are gonna get to vote.

What is the relevance of this scene?

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Contrast the world of men, with the council of the Amazons:
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General: Who is this woman?
Steve: She is my secretary, sir.
General: And she can understand Ottoman and Sumerian?
Steve: She's a very good secretary.

Diana: (appalled) I am not with you. You would knowingly sacrifice all those lives? Do they
mean less than yours? Where I come from Generals don't hide in their offices like cowards.
They fight alongside their soldiers. They die with them on the battlefield.
Steve: Diana. Enough. (to Haig) My apologies, sir.
(Diana gapes at him, sickened, betrayed. )
Diana: You should be ashamed! (to the room) All of you.
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What does this show us about her character and women’s attitude to war?
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ANALYSE THE CLIP “Diana runs through no man’s land”

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What is revealed about Diana here? Identify the type of shot and how it contributes to
meaning.
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Why do they include this romantic interlude?
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How do these two shots contrast with one
another?
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Analyse this shot:

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ANALYSE the Clip “Diana kills Ludendorff”
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Why is this moment important?

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Considering the definition of a super hero why does this sequence of events have to take place?
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Consider the importance of the different shots and angles to capture this defining moment:
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“It's not about deserving. It's about what you believe. And I believe in love.”
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“I used to want to save the world. To end war and bring peace to mankind. But then
I glimpsed the darkness that lives within their mind and learned that inside every one of
them there will always be both. A choice each must make for themselves. Something no hero
will ever defeat. And now I know that only love can truly save the world. So I stay.
I fight and I give. for the world I know can be. This is my mission now. Forever.”
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