..out of the dark

THE IRONMAN THEORY OF AMERICAN INNOCENCE.

We just published a terrific article by Spack tracking the political evolution of the Iron Man series. Take the film's plot in which Stark finds that his underlings are selling weaponry on the black market and arming some of the world's most brutal thugs. Stark is shocked, and sets off on the world's most impressive gun control campaign."I finally know what I have to do," says Stark, "and I know in my heart that it's right." Spack replies:

Spoken like a true imperialist. Heroism, when applied to foreign policy, is a moral vanity that usually prescribes a cure more corrosive than the disease it confronts.(...)

So maybe you think "300", "Spiderman", "Ironman", "Superman", "Black Hawk Down", or any million of these movies that turn up around july are just "summer movies"? Well, serious bloggers - actually serious bloggers - like Ezra Klein, can explain why you're wrong. Furthermore, they can tell you that either America gets better at dominating the world, or they should stop altogether. Solemn advice indeed. And historical awareness is demonstrated by citing wisdom from the early scrolls of the original cartoon from the sixties, the /real truth/, unbridled by the neo- historical reinterpretation of TV punditry.

So - you're warmly welcomed to the 21st century. To quote the most prominent philosopher of this age, the Joker from Batman: "Laugh it up".

Smegging idiots.