Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2/13/17
ENGW 1111
The Garbs of the Contact Zone
For years, business professionals and students alike have been reciting the motto, dress
for the job you want, not for the job you have. This social staple is often seen as good advice to
move up the corporate ladder. Although seemingly superficial, the attire one chooses to wear is
often a strong statement of their identity and is an expression of their personality. As the first
thing a stranger sees, an outfit is central in formulating first impressions, and can be a deciding
factor in landing a job or getting a second date. In the documentary Superheroes, outfits are the
basis from which a heros character evolves. The individuals featured have drastically different
personalities, characteristics and philosophies and their uniforms equally reflect their diversity,
ranging from simplistic to extravagant to downright terrifying. Through the context of Mary
Louise Pratts Arts of the Contact Zone, the clothing choices of these real life superheroes
Mary Louise Pratt defines contact zones as social spaces where cultures meet, clash, and
grapple with each other, often in contexts of highly asymmetrical relations of power. In
Superheroes, this clash is evident in the interaction and juxtaposition between the superheroes
and the police officers, who act as representatives and enforcers of generally accepted social
norms. Although there is a highly asymmetrical balance of power, with the officers holding clear
dominance, the two groups share more than is evident upon first glance, including the core of
their respective identities. In the most basic sense, both groups share the same mission; to thwart
crime and to assist others. The real life superheroes consistently participate in socially beneficial
and commendable actions, but are more frequently scoffed at or disrespect than thanked. The
officers; however, often receive sincere respect and admiration. Even though police officers
undergo more comprehensive training and have the backing of the legal system, something more
palpable must also contribute to this marginalization, for the superheroes are competent enough
to provide a fair extent of patrolling, protective and charitable services on their own.
The greatest difference between the officers and heroes are the images that they convey.
The term police officer evokes an almost universal visualization of a man or woman wearing a
blue uniform with a badge, a matching hat, and a belt with an array of tools, such as guns and
this image and uniform as a symbol of the law, eliciting either a feeling of tension or safety,
depending on the circumstance. In societys perspective, its not the man behind the uniform that
counts, its the uniform and the rule of law that it represents. At least initially, an officer in
civilian clothing would be treated as civilian and a civilian in an official uniform would be
treated as a policeman. Therefore a police officers clothing and the respect given to them go
legal power is given to them by the courts system, their social influence is dictated by their badge
Some of the heroes, such as Mr. Xtreme, Master Legend and Super Hero have adopted
costumes that are typical to comic books and superhero lore. These expressions honor the staples
of the Marvel and DC Universes and try to emulate the values and the non-governmental security
that they represent. The real life superheroes, unfortunately, fail to successfully follow the
blueprint. Their homemade outfits tend to be cheaply constructed, are perhaps overstated, and are
indistinguishable from, and often inferior to, costumes worn by attendees of Comic-Con. This, in
turn, provides the heroes with brands that appear to be more childish than chivalrous. Other
heroes, on the other hand, notably the members of the New York Initiative have adopted a more
discrete look, in an attempt to adopt the image of almost clandestine vigilantes. Predictably, this
low key, heavily black outfit is more successful than the others. These outfits deviate less from
standard American apparel and the black motif provides an additional layer of uniformity to the
group. Coupled with the extensive training, preparation and sophistication that the group prides
itself on, these heroes are portrayed as a quasi-legitimate source of protection in a community.
They are certainly taken more seriously than their comic-book driven compatriots.
The United States has, over the past few years, undergone a turbulent period in which
many in society are questioning the government and its institutions. Often, in times of crisis and
discontent with traditional institutions, society turns to radical alternatives, a great opportunity
for these superheroes to gain notoriety and acceptance. A vigilante persona, or governmental
alternative, is indeed coveted by society. However, these real-life superheroes cant seem to seize
the opportunity. It seems like they cant gain legitimacy in their current state.
To be seen as useful alternatives to traditional institutions, this group will have to adapt.
To become actual heroes they must undergo growth and development. They must develop greater
they may never have the backing of a rule of law and might be better served not adopting
procedural requirements, a concerted effort must be made to undergo various types of training.
The superheroes should work to be physically fit, should learn how to properly apprehend
dangerous individuals, and most importantly, should gain situational awareness in order to keep
The United States tends to be a highly individualistic society so long as individuals dont
deviate drastically from conceptions of normal behavior. Despite all their beneficial
contributions to their respective communities, society isnt quite ready to fully accept these
heroes for who they are, mainly due to the clothes they wear. To gain legitimacy, along with
training, they will also have to transition to an appearance that more closely aligns with the
traditional institutions they hope to assist or with the superhero culture that they hope to emulate.
The first change would entail settling, to an extent, giving up individualism to adopt a team
approach and a more singular, uniform, and recognizable identity. As they work to develop the
necessary skills to be respected by the community, they, like the police, should also create a
recognizable image that signals who they are to others. A recognizable brand could do wonders
to help add a semblance of authority for the real-life superheroes, which can help bridge the gap
between themselves and the law. Even if they choose to stay true to their comic-book
inspirations, the poorly constructed costumes must go. In modern pop culture, formerly iconic
looks have gone stale. Superheroes and their outfits have been upgraded; theyre sleeker, theyre
stronger, theyre sexier. Real-life superheroes should follow suit. This approach would allow
these heroes to express themselves in the ways that they desire, but more thought and effort must
be put into how they look, or theyll be relegated again to laughable characters instead of the
Overall, the real-life superheroes have followed a path that is remarkably similar to their
fictional counterparts. As is often the case with their comic-book role models, many of the
superheroes have come from troubled pasts, ranging from family issues to violence to financial
difficulties. Although they may never have any traditional superpowers, they have learned a more
valuable lesson from their lifelong passion, what it means to be a hero. These individuals use
their past struggles as motivation to improve the life of others around them and actively work to
be role models to the younger members of their communities. They should be admired for their
noble qualities, even if they currently are not. However, their inability to gain initial traction
closely resembles their personal role models. Traditional heroes such as Spider-man were
mistrusted for much of their careers, dismissed for being too selfish, and others, such as Batman
never gained the trust of society. Therefore, these superheroes need to keep fighting through the
oppression and show the world that their actions are more important than their appearances. One
day these heroes may gain the acceptance and the appreciation that they desire, and just like their
heroes, one day their images might grace the memorabilia of generations to come. However, this
day of glory seems far over the horizon; its hard to change culture, its easier to change yourself.