Written by Cher
Hosted by The Ohio State University Newark’s Dean Matt Smith, Decoding the Marvel Universe was presented at ORW in early August in partnership with OPEEP. The presentation talked about the generational success of Marvel Comics that began 70 years ago, and how it is still relatable today. The Marvel Universe reflects real world and global affairs through fictional storytelling. The talk raised questions for us, such as “who are we?”, “what is it that we know?”, and “how or where do we imagine ourselves now or in the future?”
Dean Smith shared the formula that Marvel developed to answer similar questions about connection and relatability for humanity and its generational success. This formula is a repeatable storytelling and filmmaking blueprint that consists of collaboration, visual emphasis, heroes who are flawed, genre bending and continuity.
Many of us have experienced a parasocial relationship with a Marvel character. The characters are extraordinary, real and actual so that we may experience them on a very personal and intimate level. We see these characters just as they are: with human relatability and connection in possession of all sorts of relationships. These characters are just as human as we are, with relationships, struggles, flaws, weaknesses and strengths.
We are drawn to, accept and respect these characters and their worlds out of love, and they help us to coexist with our emotions and each other. We can find the weaknesses and heroism that the Marvel Universe elevates for us to traverse, co-occupy and exist along with them. By the characters being available sentimentally to adults and children alike, quality relationships allow for new formation of engagement with peers. The characters help to build a support system for a heightened ability to express feelings and ideas that are difficult to navigate with others, opening doors to connection and relatability that is the human condition and fault.
How the Marvel Universe ‘collaborates’ is very similar to governmental institutions. Many structures or organizations elaborate, express and expect the expertise from a variety of different actors to enhance the design that fits the organization's authentic purpose. Each person brings to the table a different ambition or desire into one common purpose, to share goals or intentions with others outside of the origin of creation. This is how a Marvel character is created, using many different perspectives of talent to create a single being with a disposition - personality, quality essence, a target for heroism, wishes, dreams and also human faults, because as a real being of earnest design we all have a fault(s).
Moreover, collaborators with a variety of talents and skills have to pay strong attention to the visual emphasis. Images on display within a frame is quintessential to a comic strip. The images are created to magnify ways, to invoke emotions, feelings, judgements or any human or non-human situation for a genuine reaction to the scene. Each individual scene is an embodiment of that exact moment the character is in, pulling us to live in that reality.
Relating to reality towards one another, there is a common theme that we as the human race all have and that is a human flaw. Therefore, heroes are also flawed! That sentence deserves an exclamation point because if someone makes a declaration of being faultless then that is a lie and therefore deserves to be highlighted and magnified to a fault. When heroes are not afraid to show weaknesses, they provoke feelings of togetherness and like-mindedness because we can relate on levels of weaknesses and faults more so than strengths.
The Marvel Universe explores genre bending to provide an appeal. Popular demand encourages the need to provide content that is of leisure, pleasure and interest to reach more people. Attracting a diverse and wide range of people to find acclaim to content. Genre bending is exploring diverse universes such as cultures in different countries, creating characters from all over the world. Opening other realities to co-exist in one universe, helps the Marvel Universe to expand its relatability and connectivity. Also, when comic strips progress change can happen and when it does it typically is not subtle, the change just happens, then when the change is seen and becomes the rarity, it is in those moments that make auction bidding skyrocket.
The last piece of the formula for explaining success is continuity. A comeback is always the appeal, and as in a good story, the story never ends. As an audience, we appreciate the continuation of life. Because life does not tell a single story, but rather a book with many chapters. As humans we constantly evolve with life experiences or milestones. All our realities are the same also for the Marvel Universe characters. Some may go away for a while, but they often come back and that is what keeps life with some expectation, excitement or enduring experiences. Embracing and living the moments of agency when there is a living and sharing together in a comic strip. In the different stories, there can be found integration of characters visiting other characters' realities. Regardless of the character's background, there is respect and welcome into all stories. In the end what we are doing now is a set up for the future.
In conclusion the Marvel Universe propels us for a power of imagination in relatability to human experiences. Real world truths and global affair realities are seen with characters and worlds using the formula of collaboration, a visual emphasis, heroes are flawed, genre bending and continuity.
Collaboration consists of talents, a visual emphasis to provoke the human experience, heroes are flawed in the creation of life, genre bending brings to light the capacity what characters hold for self-likenesses and continuity provides alliances and relation to the people and environment.
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Written by Sandy
I am always excited when OPEEP does something outside of normally scheduled events even if I am not able to join because of the engagement it allows for others who don't normally get to be a part of what OSU has to offer at ORW. However, when I was told that there would be a Marvel presentation, I knew that I had to be a part of it and it just so happened that it was mandatory because I am a part of the degree program cohort, so I call it destiny. No other obligation would prevent me from attending this event!. I absolutely love the Marvel cinematic universe, but I was not too familiar with the history beyond the film adaptation nor the reasons why Marvel just, well, marveled people. Dean Matt Smith was able to dive into the depths of the Marvel universe in its entirety by tying the cinematic universe to the original comics they were adapted from and share his ideas behind the traveling museum he helped curate. He also shared his own research on how Marvel got it right. I will admit though, it kind of made me a bit jealous that someone got academic kudos on something I often get looked at incredulously when mentioned, passionately. Like guys - I've been trying to explain this to you all along. It was fun, informative, and something I could listen to all day, since it's almost about me - I am an honorable Avenger after all.