Comics Are the writers out of touch with the modern world?

[Thundercrack85]

As most people in this forum probably know, the X-Men series first appeared at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. A time when racial discrimination was everywhere. Discrimination naturally was a major theme in the X-Men comics, and a quite relevant one. Said theme continued for decades.

But in the modern, politically correct world, with countless anti-discriminatory laws and policies doesn't the whole constant discrimination theme seem a bit dated, or at the very least grossly overplayed? It's certainly at ridiculous levels in many modern stories. Ultimate X-Men opens with government-backed Sentinels hunting down mutants and killing them like animals. Circumstances in other X-Men stories aren't much better, with humans still going after the few mutants left, even though mutates now outnumber mutants, and are much more visible.

Now obviously, there will be some discrimination, with groups and individuals envious and/or scared of mutants, but writers really seem to be out of touch with the contemporary world, with this over-the-top anti-mutant theme. Everyone from religious nut-jobs, to the media, to wingnut militants to a presumably Democratic New York Senator is out to get the mutants.

It's also rather odd, that they face so much discrimination for their powers, when over in NYC the Fantastic Four are enjoying life as celebrities for having similar powers, but I'll save that for another thread.

 

[UraniaChang]

Far as I'm concerned, the discrimination part was, has always been and will be there, some countries are just better at downplaying the issue than others, or some people are just never aware of the fact that they're discriminating another group of people, race, or culture.

The issue of discrimination will always be there, and that's why the X-Men is the only hero group catches my interests - it seizes the basic human flaw and people's direct response to different things.

I'd say that the general reaction of normal humans in Marvel is the one more off the fact, not the other way around.

 

[OutcryX]

and in what world do you live in Thundercrack85? there wasnt a magical spell that made everything happy and peaceful. Discrimination and racial prejudices are still VERY real and very active and in our face more now than they were say...8 years ago. This is a problem that will never, ever go away, we just have to adapt and learn how to deal with it whenever it presents itself.

...much like how the writers of X-men have the team of outlaw mutants do. yes stories can be dull and 'played' but that is something that is at their very core. it's WHY they are.

 

[Thundercrack85]

and in what world do you live in Thundercrack85? there wasnt a magical spell that made everything happy and peaceful. Discrimination and racial prejudices are still VERY real and very active and in our face more now than they were say...8 years ago. This is a problem that will never, ever go away, we just have to adapt and learn how to deal with it whenever it presents itself.

...much like how the writers of X-men have the team of outlaw mutants do. yes stories can be dull and 'played' but that is something that is at their very core. it's WHY they are.

Apparently not the same one you live in?

Discrimination will always exist, sure, but it's really at a ridiculous level in some of these stories (see example given).

Also discrimination has gotten worse in the last 8 years?

 

[OutcryX]

uh yeah. try watching some of your local and national and INTERnational news or i dunno READING a newspaper..or, maybe taking off your rose-colored glasses. fecal matter stinks.

stop smoking that happy weed

 

[Mother_Askani]

Anti-discriminatory laws only apply for groups that have historically been discriminated against for racial or religious reasons.

Mutants have the problem of being seen as dangerous. And now there are more and more laws protecting society from anything that may harm it. The US has the highest number of people in prison in the entire world. One crime happens and every politician needs to go crazy to figure out how to stop it to get re-elected.

Imagine what the average person would do if they thought some mutant could be telepathically stealing their internet passwords or could steal their wallet telekinetically? Or the bridge they're on could collapse due to some mutant?

You could also make the comparison to mutants and "terrorists", but there's too much politics involved in that debate.

 

[storyteller]

While we in the united states may not discriminate as much as in the 70's. There is still discrimination for things like sexuality, religion, style of dress. Also it is possible to know discrimination exists and simply not have first hand experience. I have very rarely been discriminated about being black.

 

[Da_Lycan]

Where are the laws preventing Spider-Man or Luke Cage from reproducing? I get where Thundercrack is coming from. It's just rediculous how much hate is focused on mutants alone when non mutant supers are causing more trouble for the world. The mutants are leaving america but spiderman is still in new york. Where are the angry mobs getting together to catch him and beat him down in the streets?

 

[Anubis]

One Page two. The rest of the MU has finally caught up to the X-Men on the whole being hated by the public thing.

 

[OutcryX]

While we in the united states may not discriminate as much as in the 70's. There is still discrimination for things like sexuality, religion, style of dress. Also it is possible to know discrimination exists and simply not have first hand experience. I have very rarely been discriminated about being black.

there is still much discrimination based on race..it's just not as cool to be so open about it for fear of being called out on it. but blacks still face discrimination just as latinos and people of middle eastern descent do.

One Page two. The rest of the MU has finally caught up to the X-Men on the whole being hated by the public thing.

yeah the whole civil war thing was stupid. the super hero registration act is predated by the mutant registration act. and still..supers aren't as hated as mutants

 

[Anubis]

Well, to be fair, mutie's suck.