After viewing each of the films in class and looking back on many of our classroom discussions, it's easy to understand why we associate religion with the classic superhero narrative. The underlying theme in each of these stories is without a doubt about people going through a great struggle and essentially being saved by some heroic figure. The literal extent is up to debate, but the parallels are uncanny.
Throughout the vast majority of the first film, were are basically given an origin story and the reactions of citizens upon first encounter with Superman. This could be compared to the resurrection of Christ in the Christian/Catholic faith. However, during The Dark Knight, the city of Gotham is already familiar with Batman. The caped crusader stops at nothing to ensure the safety of the citizens of Gotham, and more importantly "the girl". What I find most fascinating about these storylines and their relation to religion is the fact that in a lot of popular faiths, there is often a myth where either the village is in trouble or a person of great importance, and in both of these scenarios we are shown some sort of leader arising which soon becomes heavily relied on by all the townspeople.
I feel as though the reason these are so closely related and often associated with one another, whether it is talked about or not, is because so many crave some type of guidance, at times a savior if you will, and both religion and the superhero narrative provide that. Sometimes life itself can become so dark, especially as was displayed in The Dark Knight, America outside of the film in that year went through an incredibly stressful time with the economy fluctuating, the movie sort of symbolized how people were just looking for something to bring them out of the abyss. This is why it seems like people look up to these narratives even if they don't have a religious faith as a way of relief, that there is a hope somewhere that things will become clearer.
Sierra, I think you've identified an important social dimension of myth -- authorizing a hierarchy! Where are people to look for guidance and leadership, especially during dark times? Religious stories and other cultural narratives often tell us. Sometimes the moral of the story tells us not just about what is just, but about who is qualified to administer justice! A story like "Batman" demonstrates how uncomfortable we can get when those whose job it is to make sure justice is done consistently fail to do so.
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