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Aaron Karasik

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

has led them to become marginalized members of society.

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

handcuffs, capable of apprehending a criminal. Society has become accustomed to recognizing

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

hand in hand; individual differentiators go unnoticed or unappreciated. Although an officers

legal power is given to them by the courts system, their social influence is dictated by their badge

and their uniform.

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

abilities to effectively protect and serve a neighborhood in an extraordinary capacity. Although

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

themselves safe on the streets.

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

helpful community members they can be.

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.

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