Who Are We to Call Ourselves Superheroes

This American Life

As the way the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a superhero: a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers; also:  an exceptionally skillful or successful person. Unlike other dictionary definitions, in this case we could in certain remarkable situations call ourselves or other people superheroes.

After reading Act II: Wonder Woman, from This American Life, I would personally consider Zora a superhero. She tells us briefly her life story, it goes somewhat like this: since Zora was just a child she created a list of dreams she planned to commit. Not just simple tasks we all challenge ourselves to achieve at a daily basis, but really extreme ones most of us don’t even imagine exist. Such as learning gunnery, body building, parachuting, bomb diffusing, surviving in the wilderness and many more. All she managed to complete before the age of 23, which was her goal, as she said, she “ wanted to live like Indiana Jones”. After that she kept on creating extraordinary lists and being able to complete most tasks on them. Converting her into an exceptionally skilled human being- a superhero. At one point she decided to join the CIA, but after hard work, interviews, and application, for some unknown reason, her admission to the CIA got negated. Here is where we are able to see the juxtaposition between the beginning of Act II, and the end. At this point, not only the diction changes to a less dreamy, more realistic, down to earth one, but also the tone and mood change. As if her struggle to remain a great person does not require extremes anymore, but simpler things. And by telling us what her new list includes - golf, tennis, surfing- she seems like a happier, and in a way a more humble person. Still a superhero.

Act IV: The Wonder Twins, for me wasn’t as inspiring or interesting as the previous one. Sure, the story is amazing, twins that since they where twelve, were told they had super powers and where somehow able to control this imaginary army that someway gave hope to a county in need. And on top of that being feared by both enemies and allies. There’s a kind of juxtaposition shown, where certain people believe them and trust what they do, versus the ones that don’t. And the diction is in a way briefer.

Although actual superheroes with extraterrestrial powers like for instance superman, or aqua man do not exist. Our minds can make ourselves believe certain things to comfort what we are going through, like in the case of the wonder Twins. Or instead make of us what we always dreamed of becoming, like what Kelly says of Zora “so diligent that they commit their dreams to paper”.