In search of new Gods

A dive into the cultural psyche in light of its contemporary fascination with outer space and popularity of superhero franchises.

This bitter Earth

Well, what a fruit it bears

This bitter Earth

And if my life is like the dust

Ooh, that hides

The glow of a rose

What good am I?

Heaven only knows

Lord, this bitter Earth

Yes, can be so cold

Today, you're young

Too soon, you're old

But while a voice within me cries…

Anyone who has walked the Earth must have looked up to the sky and wandered into thoughts -at least once- that are existential. A starry night or a bleak twilight has these effects on the human soul. It is impossible not to - when you live on a planet, as a specie, unique and alone in its make and nature- to pause at least once for a second and wonder what the fuck this is all about. I can't tell you what the fuck this is all about; the mysteries of the universe are beyond my grasp. As a full disclosure, this blog attempts to explain some existential nightmares by looking at our current cultural tendencies.

Making sense and deriving meaning isolates us from the rest of life forms. But to make sense and derive a universally applicable and singular meaning is what we have failed as a species. Or the truth is that there isn't simply one out there. Every man has to forge their own path to unveil the meaning and purpose of their being. Simultaneously, all our lives are intrinsically entwined with all other life forms scattered across this planet. The only concept that could successfully combine these two conflicting aspects of existence was the idea of a higher being, 'God'—arguably, mankind's greatest invention. An entity/entities in the sky puppeteering us to an epic climax, like the conductor of a grand orchestra, ensuring each individual played their part to perfection while creating an all-encompassing symphony.

More than a century ago, Nietzsche declared, 'God is dead'; a statement not an atheist rhetoric. A statement borne of his profound understanding of the culture and its trajectory. He proclaimed God is dead because, even a hundred years back, science was advanced enough to identify the logical flaws of traditional religious narratives. (The world doesn't revolve around the Earth. What a massive disappointment! ) Agree or not, mankind desperately needs an idea or concept of something bigger and beyond to be secure in their psyche. With the religions both in the East and West transitioning from their spiritual and communal role into a more institutionalized one, he understood their earlier influence and powers wouldn't be enough to bind the cultural consciousness. That is precisely why 'religions' are more divisive than uniting today. Our consciousness has created disconnection and a sense of alienation from the life forms around us, transforming our existential nightmares from primal fears into something more complex. We realize today there is a finality to existence and this planet. Now more than ever we need new Gods. Marx said religion is the opiate of the masses. If so, we are at a pass and desperately need a fix.

What we want is just an idea that can help us transcend. Our religious connections decrease with each passing generation. An idea of a heaven to look up to no longer works for us. Yet 'looking up' powerfully symbolizes a gesture of hope and faith. But when we look up today, we know what's up there is only space. Nebulous gaseous constellations, planets, and moons. There aren't mortals out there and there is definitely nothing immortal. Globalization has made the Earth seem all too small and irrelevant for us. Think of our callous disregard for nature or Earth causing climatic mayhem. All because we are busy 'looking up' in the hope there is someone out there. Outer space is fully explored through media themes, story narratives, and real-life endeavors. Elon Musk putting billions of dollars in SpaceX ( even though it isn't the most profitable business ) isn't some billionaire's quirks but an investment, or it is outright ridiculous. Still, it is a 'future-oriented' decision. Nonetheless, the proliferation of outer-space themes across media isn't a coincidence but our way of coping, stemming from our need for catharsis.

Perhaps that's why Bowie sang

There's a starman waiting in the sky

He'd like to come and meet us

But he thinks he'd blow our minds

There's a starman waiting in the sky

He's told us not to blow it

'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile

Why are superheroes so popular? What's the reason behind the popularity of superheroes? To answer that first we have clarify what superheroes are? They are characters who are human or living but with superpowers. They are virtuous and never abuse their power. Also, their higher sense of morale can discern what's good and evil. Oddly, this description fits Jesus, too. The point is that superheroes are just modernized Gods. The media has crafted modern myths in the form of superheroes. These modern Gods are not born of celestial beings but created through scientific experiments. This departure from traditional religious narratives responds to their perceived logical flaws.

The creation myths and stories were the responsibility of artists, sages, and shamans across cultures. ( only a creative person can conceive and conceptualize winged creatures and miraculous messiahs) Good artists instinctively recognize the psychological needs of their times, and great works of art are often solutions to complex cultural issues. For example, Harry Potter didn't become a global sensation by chance. Decades ago, psychologist Carl Jung explained a universal phenomenon observed in children in his magnum opus work 'The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious'. Jung says that children across the world dream and believe in magical parents' existence on unconsciously realizing their own frailty. Harry, an orphan, is taken into the care of mentors and adults who guide him and mold him into a hero. His 'dead parents' are magical and righteous, giving him the strength to move forward. This is important for Harry as he was ill-treated and made to feel a burden by the people who raised him in his formative years. A child reading Harry Potter resonates with Harry not because they are orphans like Harry but because kids today spend most of their time in competitive school systems where most of them end up being ignored and ill-treated one way or another.

Returning to superheroes, one realizes they are a replacement for 'old Gods.' Thinking in this light, we recognize the on-screen tyranny of superhero franchises ( much to many artists' frustration) is not a result of executive whims but is often dictated by market research and audience demand. All of these are fine except for the mind-numbing vapidity of most stories, contrived narratives, and aggressive visual compensation to make up for what one would call a lack of spirit or essence. This is why some of the most acclaimed filmmakers of our time aren't fans of these movies.

Nonetheless, cultural phenomena, by their nature, stimulate dialogue and diverse interpretations. For instance, consider Seth Rogen's, ' The Boys, a counter dialogue of the superhero franchise, or Lars Von Trier's Melancholia, which takes an entirely different spin and proclaims with painful pragmatism that we are all alone in this universe ( are we). So many compelling dialogues are happening, yet the most significant narrative of the century is already out there, which shall be disclosed in the next blog.

We have to admit at this point that we are at a strange stage in history where our physical understanding of the world no longer aligns with our spiritual history and senses. Yet I believe existence is not in vain because there is always hope at the bottom of Pandora's box.

And this bitter Earth

Ooooh, may not

Ooooh, be so bitter

After all,

-On the Nature of Daylight

Max Richter