What is "mutant" primarily an allegory for?

[Godlike]

Poll incl. choose as many options as you like.

So, what is being a "mutant" actually (and mainly) an allegory for or metaphor of?

Is it social alienation, or racial theory? Or both?

It seems to me that even though it takes place in the context of a fictional sort of Evolution, the story of the X-Men and mutants in general forms a sort of Darwinian parable about the relationship between species, genetic variation and how differences between different levels of evolved beings creates a sort of moral conflict which inevitably reinforces the notion of "survival of the fittest".

Cos' let's face it, Magneto is right! :wink: The mutants should and have a right, according to Darwin's theory, to survive instead of the humans and out-breed or even destroy them in order to be the dominant species, because they actually are superior.

Or maybe I think too much...:tongue: I do hope this thread isn't a big fail.

Any thoughts, opinions/comments?

[darknessatnoon]

They are an allegory for the genetic freaks that come from nuclear radiation.

A is for Atom.
B is for Bomb.

[Godlike]

They are an allegory for the genetic freaks that come from nuclear radiation.

A is for Atom.
B is for Bomb.

Could you expand upon this a bit more? How does the allegory fit into the themes of conflict in the comics? :smile:

[frog]

Darwin's theory doesn't have anything to do with rights. It is simply a theory of how the different forms of life on this planet have come to either adapt or perish.

Rights are a human construct. They can't be proven to be valid by scientific theories.

[worstblogever]

Darwin's theory doesn't have anything to do with rights. It is simply a theory of how the different forms of life on this planet have come to either adapt or perish.

Rights are a human construct. They can't be proven to be valid by scientific theories.

Unless the scientific theory is that three rights equal a left. That's the science of angles.

[darknessatnoon]

Could you expand upon this a bit more? How does the allegory fit into the themes of conflict in the comics? :smile:

A is for Atom part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6UujimddEc)
A is for Atom part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekx6gz_s5VM&feature=related)

It's a basic staple of mutant stories that a mob mentality adheres to genetic freaks.

Hatred of them found an expression in the "danger they pose" to normal citizens, when -- on a genetic level -- the damage has already been done. Mutants represent an anxiety about the atom bomb causing children (not the childrens!) crippling, unseen, damage.

The X-Men take that to an amplified level because the ecological threat they pose is a media threat (especially Dazzler ... see Dazzler the Movie). New Media (all the reportage about the X-Men, from Uncanny #1 onward) becomes an ecological threat to the structures of consciousness. The mutant threat mutates from what would be an ecological threat posed by nuclear radiation to an anxiety about the means by which the threat had entered our consciousness (film & television). The fear of contamination isn't a fear of radiation damaging the ecology (as hypochondriac environmentalists would have it), but rather the very infiltration of our lives by mass culture. (Think about Bernard the Poet as an X-Men opponent here.)

Therefore, not only are mutants an allegory for anxiety about nuclear radiation, they are also an allegory for the means of production of that original anxiety.


Therefore, Trish Tilby is the ultimate mutant problem.

[worstblogever]

Therefore, Trish Tilby is the ultimate mutant problem.

BOOOO!!! TRISH TILBY!!!!! BOOOOO!!!!

[frog]

Therefore, Trish Tilby is the ultimate mutant problem.

BOOOO!!! TRISH TILBY!!!!! BOOOOO!!!!

We've got X-Force's next target after they take care of the Purifiers.

[DDM]

Mutants are an allegory for homemade macheroni cheese vs the instant boxed macheroni cheese.

[Godlike]

Darwin's theory doesn't have anything to do with rights. It is simply a theory of how the different forms of life on this planet have come to either adapt or perish.

OK, but what about Social Darwinism? Adaptation is the key in class struggle too, and humans in the comics often view mutants as inferior deviants, despite the fact they're more powerful and fitter to survive generally.

Rights are a human construct. They can't be proven to be valid by scientific theories.

Hmm, not many elitists or Social Darwinists would agree with that, methinks...what about concepts of "Natural Order" and "natural rights"?

[darknessatnoon]

Mutants are an allegory for homemade macheroni cheese vs the instant boxed macheroni cheese.

A Skrull has hacked DDM's password and logged on.

OK, but what about Social Darwinism? Adaptation is the key in class struggle too, and humans in the comics often view mutants as inferior deviants, despite the fact they're more powerful and fitter to survive generally.



Hmm, not many elitists or Social Darwinists would agree with that, methinks...what about concepts of "Natural Order" and "natural rights"?

Do Social Darwinists still exist? It's a laughable theory.

[frog]

OK, but what about Social Darwinism? Adaptation is the key in class struggle too, and humans in the comics often view mutants as inferior deviants, despite the fact they're more powerful and fitter to survive generally.

Social Darwinism is contradicted by the fact that humans are more collaborative than competitive creatures. I know that may not seem to be true of capitilistic societies but we really are. We have always formed groups and shared knowledge and skills to defend ourselves against the various threats of this world. Everything we have today depends on the work of our predecesors.

Most of us, stripped of all we own and dropped in the midst of a wilderness, would find very quickly how ill adapted humans are to survive alone.


Hmm, not many elitists or Social Darwinists would agree with that, methinks...what about concepts of "Natural Order" and "natural rights"?

Those are human constructs as well. Nature doesn't recognize anyone's rights to live or not!

[rZi]

I voted for racial because alot of the time i feel x-stories can relate to real life racist moments...but now im wishing i had chosen Both because the alienation aspect is strong too.

[Godlike]

Social Darwinism is contradicted by the fact that humans are more collaborative than competitive creatures. I know that may not seem to be true of capitilistic societies but we really are. We have always formed groups and shared knowledge and skills to defend ourselves against the various threats of this world. Everything we have today depends on the work of our predecesors. Most of us, stripped of all we own and dropped in the midst of a wilderness, would find very quickly how ill adapted humans are to survive alone.

Good points, indeed. Thanks. :smile:

Those are human constructs as well. Nature doesn't recognize anyone's rights to live or not!

OK.

[Godlike]

Do Social Darwinists still exist? It's a laughable theory.

It is to us, but I know some very high-up people feel it is part of their system based on ideas of a supposed "natural order".

[darknessatnoon]

It is to us, but I know some very high-up people feel it is part of their system based on ideas of a supposed "natural order".

But I just laughed at them!

[timbox]

This is what the internet machine came up with for allegories:

8 found. Displaying all:
Mutant
Man Tut
Tam Tun
Tam Nut
Mat Tun
Mat Nut
Matt Nu
An Mutt

[Shyft]

I hate you for not including Jean Grey on the poll.

[Godlike]

I hate you for not including Jean Grey on the poll.

I hate myself for not including JG on the poll too. :biggrin:

[Godlike]

But I just laughed at them!

Yeah, they're silly! :tongue:

[mikekerr3]

Most of us, stripped of all we own and dropped in the midst of a wilderness, would find very quickly how ill adapted humans are to survive alone.
!

Been there done that, Most people could do pretty well if they don't panic. Outside the Arctic or deep desert.

[ChristosSoter]

Mutants are an allegory for not having to think up a different origin for every character in that appears in comic books.

[AnthonyJ]

Mutants are mostly about angst and a feeling that the world is out to get you, along with having Kewl Powerz; it's wish-fulfillment for people who are often social outcasts (comic book readers tend to not be part of the "in" group). I'll call that alienation for now.

[Monty_Cristo]

i'm going with social alienation. i think humans are those old people that are always telling young people (mutants) to get off their lawn.

[frog]

Been there done that, Most people could do pretty well if they don't panic. Outside the Arctic or deep desert.

Without using the experiences of others to know what to do? Humans do not instinctly know how to live in a wilderness.

[Affinity]

I love the way Nyssane voted.

[Novaya Havoc]

Therefore, Trish Tilby is the ultimate mutant problem.

Trish Tilby is and always will be the problem.

[Flâneur]

Poll incl. choose as many options as you like.

So, what is being a "mutant" actually (and mainly) an allegory for or metaphor of?

Is it social alienation, or racial theory? Or both?

It seems to me that even though it takes place in the context of a fictional sort of Evolution, the story of the X-Men and mutants in general forms a sort of Darwinian parable about the relationship between species, genetic variation and how differences between different levels of evolved beings creates a sort of moral conflict which inevitably reinforces the notion of "survival of the fittest".

Cos' let's face it, Magneto is right! :wink: The mutants should and have a right, according to Darwin's theory, to survive instead of the humans and out-breed or even destroy them in order to be the dominant species, because they actually are superior.

Or maybe I think too much...:tongue: I do hope this thread isn't a big fail.

Any thoughts, opinions/comments?

It's a multi-faceted allegory. Primarily it is about the Other in every aspect - gender, race, sexuality, the land etc. - even the old cartoon opened with the line 'they hate us because they fear us and they fear us because they do not understand' which is like post-colonial theory for kids. It's also representative of the alienation from society one faces because of the Othering.

Mutants are an allegory for homemade macheroni cheese vs the instant boxed macheroni cheese.
I will treasure this moment.

Hmm, not many elitists or Social Darwinists would agree with that, methinks...what about concepts of "Natural Order" and "natural rights"?
I think we do have natural rights and liberties to a degree but I think the concept is a flawed one - it can in some contexts be a way of saying why some groups have more natural rights than others. Many of the initial proponents for the idea of natural rights, for example, were quite racist. This can be extended also to animals, do we alter rights on the basis of the nature we ascribe to them (again note the similarity to other races here or the position women have played in some societies) or do we hold up all the aspects of liberty equally? Too often natural rights are about the implicit attempt to decide who deserves them and it is there we see the contradiction in the concept.
Social Darwinism is contradicted by the fact that humans are more collaborative than competitive creatures. I know that may not seem to be true of capitilistic societies but we really are. We have always formed groups and shared knowledge and skills to defend ourselves against the various threats of this world. Everything we have today depends on the work of our predecesors.
While it's true that primates are co-dependent animals, that doesn't completely violate Social Darwinism's precepts when we consider how various groups treat each other (colonialism anyone?). We also can see traces of it in the imposition of social heirarchies within groups. I pretty much agree with you though.