Heroes fundamental to the human condition
October 27th, 2009Ben Saunders recently gave me a fascinating tour of "Faster than a Speeding Bullet: the Art of the Superhero," which is on view at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. The exhibit examines the work of many comic book artists and storytellers. Ben, who is guest curator of the event, is an associate professor of English at the UO..
Much of the art depicts heroes and villains with idealized and exaggerated physical forms. I was struck by how images and narratives like this are fundamental to the human condition. As a Sanskrit scholar, I found similarities in the works and their stories to what one finds in the Mahabharata, an epic that makes up a crucial part of Hindu mythology.
Ben’s passion on the subject is invigorating. I really hope you have the chance to visit the museum and tour the exhibit. The short video below provides a taste of Ben's insight and the art itself.
