Create a 5 page essay paper that discusses Superman.

in the blue tights and red cape who flew around rescuing anyone in need of help and constantly struggling against a slew of supervillians of various sorts. In many ways, this Superman can be compared to the ancient stories of the half-man, half-god Hercules and his various adventures changed slightly to fit the modern understandings of the world and provide him with powers equally astounding to the modern audience. To understand how and why Superman has become a cultural icon and why he will remain so for many years into the future, it is necessary to understand what is meant by the term ‘icon’, how this term applies to Superman and why this character fits a particular need within today’s social structure.

The first step in discovering how and why Superman is a cultural icon of both past and future is identifying exactly what is meant by the term ‘icon’. Fortunately, Margaret Kenna (1985) has already gone a long way toward identifying exactly those elements that define the true make-up of the icon. “The Greek word ‘eikon’ can be translated as ‘image, picture, portrait, representation.’ The modern use of the word denotes two-dimensional representations such as paintings, photographs, or pictures in magazines and newspapers, and three-dimensional objects such as statues. In certain contexts the word refers particularly to pictures of holy persons and events” (Kella, 1985: 347). Thus, an icon is generally defined as an object that is imbued with divine power of some sort. Taking the religion out of the equation, this equals to super power or power beyond the ordinary strength and abilities of man. In addition to its symbolic relationship with the divine, the making of an icon follows a specific tradition that is intended to provide an even deeper symbolism in that “the icon is a microcosm of the relationship between the material world, human beings and the divine power believed to have created them all” (Kenna, 1985: 348). Here we

Hi, I need help with essay on Analysis Paper on the movie, Of Gods and Men by Xavier Beauvois. Paper must be at least 1250 words. Please, no plagiarized work!

The Algerian countryside is a beautiful background for the awful events, happening there. To my mind, spirituality of monks and their ability to stay above vicissitude and wars and gain victory in the name of their highest goal is the most impressive context, shown by the director.

There is a strong historical background of the events happening in the film. The Algerian war in 1992 took away lives of 200,000 people and the Islamists killed the whole families in the name of their power in the government and their right to be elected (Jonkas, 2011). Deaths of the Algerian monks were initially acknowledged by Islamists, but later the Algerian authorities acknowledged the responsibility for their deaths. This fact makes the film even more tragic and mystical. The monks were tolerant and their attitude for the army and for the Islamists was equal: all of them were brothers for monks. Algerian monks were helping the inhabitants of the villages to remain in safety and keep the Algerian military and Islamist terrorist as far as possible from the villages (Sabbadini and Di Ceglie, 2011).

On the one hand, there is a strong religious conflict: because in spite of the fact that monks prayed for the world, it finally consumed them. After the tragedy Pope John Paul II appealed for the Cistercians in 1996: “He who loves his life will lose it, while he who hates his life in this world, will keep it for eternal life. If someone wishes to serve me let him follow me, and where I am there also will my servant be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:24-26). The Church is positioned as a Church of martyrs. There are evidences of death in the name of other people, even those one, who tortured these people earlier. The Trappists of Our Lady of Atlas, the Bishop of Oran, His Excellency Pierre Lucien Caverie and some of his sons and daughters on the African