Our continuing pop culture fascination with mutant super humans suggests a hidden subtext promoting evolution over creationism. Like many of my generation, I’ve seen just about every superhero TV show or movie (except The Fantastic Four, nuff said). I used to watch the original Adventures of Superman when I was a boy. I caught the original Batman TV series, The Greatest American Hero (origin of the best TV theme song ever!), Wonder Woman, The Bionic Man, The Bionic Woman, Buffy, TV-Star Trek series I, II, III, IV and V, and so on. (I include Star Trek even though the super-powered characters were generally non-human). The latest chapter in video-hero evolution is Heroes, which each Monday night kicks 24’s butt.
Recently I’ve seen all the old and new Superman movies (should I say golden and tarnished silver age?), Batman Begins (which, compared to the other Batman films, should have been called Batman Gets It Right), X-Men, Dos Equis, Triple Sec, and, of course, Spidey. (Does anyone besides me think making Peter Parker a “webmaster” in the current Spider-Man comic series is just a little too cute?)
So here I am, a fifty-something baby boomer who has been brought up via the mass media on the Nietzsche-ian belief that there can be supermen; that evolution is leading inexorably to human beings who can fly through the air, lift heavy things, cling to walls, change the weather (back at you, Mark Twain!), bend space and time, and stretch their bodies like silly putty.
Why not? When you compare humanity’s current evolutionary state to our closest monkey’s uncle, it is clear we are far superior. Our brains are so large we only need to use 10% and often use much less. Every year some Olympian or Marathoner runs faster, jumps higher, or swims more synchronously. To your average orangutan, we must seem like the types of Super Hominid into which they’d all like to evolve, but for those of us already at the top of the evolutionary trail, where is there to go but up, as in “up, up and away!”
Article comments
1 - Fred
The 10% comment is a known myth (one of many sites debunking the claim). Overall, I thought this was an interesting read, but I am at odds with a lot of your comments regarding evolution. Evolution does not work towards a pinnacle and therefore we are not at the top. If evolution were just about survival, we would be far from the top, behind many microorganisms. There is also no reason to believe that one of the apes can evolve into a human. We are of different lineages and we split with our common ancestor a long time ago. I feel as though your comments perpetuate common misconceptions about evolution, so excuse me for being pedantic.
The fantasy stuff in comics, movies, and TV shows is excellent entertainment, but I wonder how often this puts a faulty image of evolution into impressionable minds. I love Heroes because it is so entertaining, but I find myself screaming at the TV whenever they mention genetics/evolution/biology. There should be more oversight in scientific explanations in popular culture (not just biology) to prevent misunderstandings.
2 - planet of the humans
Heh, heh. Theory of Evolution, the most arrogant man-made theory of all time.
3 - James Collins
If evolutionists want to end the arguments all they need do is, get their brilliant heads together and assemble a 'simple' living cell. This should be possible, because today they certainly have a very great amount of knowledge about the contents of the so-called 'simple' cell.
After all, shouldn't all the combined Intelligence of all the worlds scientist be able the do what chance encounters with random chemicals, without a set of instructions, accomplished about 4 billion years ago, 'according to the evolutionists,' and having no intelligence at all available to help them along in their quest to become a living entity. Surely the evolutionists scientists of today should be able to make us a 'simple' cell.
If it weren't so pitiful it would be humorous, that intelligent people have swallowed the evolution mythology.
Beyond doubt, the main reason people believe in evolution is that sources they admire, say it is so. It would pay for these people to do a thorough examination of all the evidence CONTRARY to evolution that is readily available: Try answersingenesis.org. The evolutionists should honestly examine the SUPPOSED evidence 'FOR' evolution for THEMSELVES.
Build us a cell, from scratch, with the required raw material, that is with NO cell material, just the 'raw' stuff, and the argument is over. But if the scientists are unsuccessful, perhaps they should try Mother Earth's recipe, you know, the one they claim worked the first time about 4 billion years ago, so they say. All they need to do is to gather all the chemicals that we know are essential for life, pour them into a large clay pot and stir vigorously for a few billion years, and Walla, LIFE!
Oh, you don't believe the 'original' Mother Earth recipe will work? You are NOT alone, Neither do I, and MILLIONS of others!
4 - Fred
James Collins:
I'd rather not indulge in a shouting match, so I will leave it at this: Answers in Genesis has been refuted time and time again. This is a common creationist ploy and invocation of the Hydrostatic Paradox of Controversy. Nothing I do, say, or provide is going to change your mind.
To the passers by: evaluate Answers in Genesis objectively and read its "challenges" to science and read the answers that can be found all over the web. One of the most notable places is www.talkorigins.com. That site has a lot of great information that can point you in the right direction. The key is to search for answers on your own and evaluate objectively.
5 - Leslie Bohn
Does Walla mean Voila?
That is hilarious.
6 - duane
Those accursed scientists! Always trying to spoil the fun.
Walla! A simple cell!
Walla! A time machine!
Walla! Immortality!
Walla! An infinite supply of cheap energy!
Walla! A cure for every disease!
Walla! Finding all the ETs!
If they think they're so smart, why haven't they done these 'simple' things yet? Hmm?
Their time is up, if you ask me. Let's give someone else a chance to explain everything and discover everything.
7 - Christopher Rose
duane, who exactly do you think should be given a chance to explain and discover these things?
Scientists' time is far from up. Indeed, I think their time is just beginning...
8 - duane
Sarcasm, Christopher.
Who, indeed?
9 - Christopher Rose
No duane, it's not sarcasm at all. What other approach would you prefer?
10 - Leslie Bohn
Chris, I think duane was being sarcastic, and you missed it! Walla!
11 - duane
Walla! Leslie gets it!
12 - Christopher Rose
Well, it sure went over my head. Voila!
13 - sr
Creation and evolution are a choice. If I were on my death bed I would choose wisely. Eternity last more then a week. Just a thought.
14 - sr
Im the son of SR. I would like to comment on this blog however my father said I should get permission from the Blogcritic editors first. Im 18 years old and since my father does not want me to sign up on Blogcritics I thought I would ask for you permission first. Being the son of SR is like being the son of Kong. Hope he does not read this. Thank you and let me know.