Shocked by that? We naturally understand studios target the demographic group
that frequents the movie theaters more than any other group: the
teenager. Did studio executives suddenly discover a new secret hit
parade of material? Maybe, but the first superhero movie started back in
1937, with The Shadow. And yes, special effects have improved since then. But, I’m telling you, it has nothing to do with the lack of interest.
There
was no need of a superhero for youth to look up to. Americans had
plenty of real heroes, folk heroes and superficial ones, in our past.
Real heroes were Patton, Washington, King, Crockett, Teddy Roosevelt,
etc. Our folk heroes included Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Nathan
Hale. Now many dads are absent, or might as well be absent, from the
home?
With no one to explain the macho-men films, the
war and the Western flicks have seemed to gone away. Realistic scenarios
are no more, and the fantasy world where you are the god have taken
over the recent highlighted and award-winning films. No iconic actor or
actors that represent moral values and integrity have truly stepped
forward to represent a hero, or a superhero for that matter. How can a
child searching for truth find a hero in today’s moral decay? Why not
check the latest showing of your up-and-coming comic book heroes from
filmmakers trying to provide that role? There are plenty of suspects in
the superhero lineup.
—Marty Zumpfe
Moore
Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow
The Oklahoma City planning commission has recently agreed to the easing of code restrictions that will encourage urban farming and a local back-to-the-land ethic. These actions will surely have a great impact on Oklahoma, a state that is currently plagued with problems stemming from chronic food-related illness that could be solved with urban farming. Indeed, I think that such progressive politics should be adopted statewide in order to combat the increasing adverse health issues we face today. Many illnesses and conditions can be directly attributed to nutrition, or more accurately, the lack thereof. Here in Oklahoma, that fact is readily identifiable in high rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes that could be resolved easily by widely available access to inexpensive and wholesome nutrition. Many people face the struggle that access to cheap and healthy food is limited, especially in low income and inner-city neighborhoods.
Large grocery stores with a variety of healthy foods are not generally located inside city limits and, furthermore, charge premium prices for produce. Convenience stores within the city, on the other hand, generally offer a selection of artificially produced, largely unhealthy but cheap food. With the recent proposals, it will be much easier for citizens in Oklahoma City to be the source of their own nutrition and well-being. The urban farming trend has already overtaken many US cities, and I say that it is high time for Oklahomans to take charge of our own destinies by demanding beneficial reform that will positively affect the health of our state.
— Hannah May Nicholas
Midwest City
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