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Ex-Superman Dean Cain Says James Gunn Made a ‘Mistake’ Calling Superman an ‘Immigrant’ and ‘It’s Going to Hurt’ the Box Office: ‘How Woke Is Hollywood Going to Make This Character?’ (variety.com)

submitted 1 day ago by TheImpressiveX@lemmy.today to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world

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[–] CerealKiller01@lemmy.world -5 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Well, Ackchyually...

The "Superman isn't an immigrant" is a bad faith argument... but I think it's technically correct.

Being an immigrant implies intent of moving from one country to another, which Superman didn't have. Especially since he came to earth as a baby and has no ties to krypton. I wouldn't call someone who was born in another country and was adopted as a baby into another country and immigrant.

Superman does explore themes of immigration from its conception. Though it's worth noting that if viewed from this perspective, it's a very old fashion American model of immigration, that might be viewed negatively today - he adopts his American upbringing in every meaningful way, especially his values, while his own culture is abandoned (nearly?) completely.

Supergirl, on the other hand, is an immigrant.

[–] Glytch@lemmy.world 6 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Superman is an immigrant created by two sons of immigrants.

His parents sent him to Earth to have a better life (any life at all really). Something similar happens in reality where parents in Central and South America send their children, alone, to the US.

Also happens with babies adopted from other countries. You may not consider them immigrants, but the government sure as hell does. There's quite a bit of immigration paperwork that needs to get filed in order for one of those adoptions to go through.

[–] CerealKiller01@lemmy.world -1 points 56 minutes ago

Err... Superman's an immigrant because the parents of both his creators were immigrants? Is that actually what you're saying?

His parents sent him to Earth to have a better life (any life at all really) - Right, that was my main dilemma. Not saying you're flat out wrong, but I think 'immigrant' exists in a cultural and social context. Let's go over some examples:

A woman gives birth on vacation
A family moves to another country has a child and then moves back when the child is 12
Having a child a day before immigrating.
Having a child a day after immigrating. I'd say 2-4 are immigrants, because they and society would probably view themselves as immigrants.

If he were human, the government would consider him an immigrant - Legal status is irrelevant.

Superman didn't have to translate things to his parents because he knew English better than they did, his upbringing didn't give him an outsider insight to the culture that surrounded him, he doesn't have an accent or not can code switch from English to Kryptonian, he isn't viewed as different by his peers. He was raised as a whatever-generation farm boy from Kansas.

He does have Kryptonian heritage, which would make him closer to second generation immigrant. Just like his creators.