I've only seen the first two films, but isn't it a bit obvious for them to be metaphors for Jews because Prof X and Magneto were shown at a concentration camp??
Whats possibly more relevant to the symbology is exactly which mutations end up on the side of 'good' or 'bad', Some Like Wolverine/Sabretooth have direct parallels. Others are almost directly opposed like Prof X's psychic mental abilities/Magneto's ability to alter the physical world mentally.
Can I say all of the above, depending on the specific X-person and period of time?
I'd say that, originally, the X-Men as metaphor for Jewish people would be the dominant one, because so many of the Golden and early Silver Age comics creators were Jewish, as Men of Tomorrow says, with Xavier / Magneto dividing upon assimilationist / separatist lines (i.e. Magneto as quasi-Zionist figure?)
But with someone like Nightcrawler you have a character whose physical difference is more evident, so the metaphor there is maybe more Black people.
The gay people one I think would be a more recent aspect, simply because of the X-Men originating pre-Stonewall.
Of course, the X-Men (individually and together) can represent a lot of things, up to and including a generalised concept of "outsider". But I do tend to read them as "gay" rather than your other examples - largely because of the "they come from among us!" thing. Plus the idea that the mutant gene is something biological that they can't help, that can be a plus or a minus for them personally but can't be changed, only hidden.
Originally clearly intended to be abouut the Jews. Gay fits better than black because one of the key points is that you can hide your mutanthood and "pass". But obviously also extended in recent times to be metaphor for any group that perceives itself as shunned - teeangers, geeks, goths etc etc.
Given that what the X-Men are INTENDED as metaphors for is a] not actually specified in the comics/films all the time and b] changes over time, I presume this quiz is meant to ask what your readers themselves see the X-Men as metaphors for.
Therefore "geeks" being the most popular answer is unsurprising, since I imagine that of your journal readers, the "geek" category will have more members than the other three.
I am a member of various social groups and subcultures, and when I identify with things, it's because they're like -me-. So if I see something as a powerful metaphor, it will often be because it has a resonance for -me-. So I'm unlikely to watch X-Men and see it as a clever metaphor for the Russian Revolution or the Great Depression.
This came up with Buffy, actually and we've talked about this. When it was first on, some people I knew couldn't believe that every ned/trendy type/generic TV junkie at my work watched it and liked it. They didn't realise that the things they watched it for and identified with were sometimes only there for them, and that other people got different things from it entirely.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
andrewducker) wrote2007-07-06 07:20 pm
no subject
Whats possibly more relevant to the symbology is exactly which mutations end up on the side of 'good' or 'bad', Some Like Wolverine/Sabretooth have direct parallels. Others are almost directly opposed like Prof X's psychic mental abilities/Magneto's ability to alter the physical world mentally.
OMG I'm analysing a pulp comic!! Nevertheless...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
I'd say that, originally, the X-Men as metaphor for Jewish people would be the dominant one, because so many of the Golden and early Silver Age comics creators were Jewish, as Men of Tomorrow says, with Xavier / Magneto dividing upon assimilationist / separatist lines (i.e. Magneto as quasi-Zionist figure?)
But with someone like Nightcrawler you have a character whose physical difference is more evident, so the metaphor there is maybe more Black people.
The gay people one I think would be a more recent aspect, simply because of the X-Men originating pre-Stonewall.
These are all speculation...
(no subject)
no subject
Mutants are also supposed to be teenagers, growing up and coping with bodily changes etc etc.
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
no subject
Of the above groups, the one they're REALLY not like is geeks.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Therefore "geeks" being the most popular answer is unsurprising, since I imagine that of your journal readers, the "geek" category will have more members than the other three.
I am a member of various social groups and subcultures, and when I identify with things, it's because they're like -me-. So if I see something as a powerful metaphor, it will often be because it has a resonance for -me-. So I'm unlikely to watch X-Men and see it as a clever metaphor for the Russian Revolution or the Great Depression.
This came up with Buffy, actually and we've talked about this. When it was first on, some people I knew couldn't believe that every ned/trendy type/generic TV junkie at my work watched it and liked it. They didn't realise that the things they watched it for and identified with were sometimes only there for them, and that other people got different things from it entirely.