The Avengers’ fashion statements and James Reyes’s men in skirts
We are judged by the way we look, which is grossly unfair, but so are most aspects of our existence. Stupid social climbers will search your outfit for designer labels and, finding none, will judge you unworthy of their attention. Good riddance to them; you don’t need their acceptance and fake friendship. However, until everyone perfects their telepathic abilities, attentive strangers will form impressions of you based on what you’re wearing. They have little else to go on. So give fashion a little thought.
Think about The Avengers. Note how superheroes begin their world-saving careers with big fashion statements. Captain America’s unitard and shield declares that he stands for the ideals enshrined in the Constitution of the U.S.A (which his strapping constitution emulates). Iron Man’s armor proclaims him as a representative of the jillion-dollar American military-industrial complex, while Tony Stark’s Black Sabbath T-shirt expresses his disdain for authority. (Iron Man is a conflicted man-child, as Robert Downey Jr reminds us.)
Thor’s costume announces that he is a mythological deity, which he must be because ordinary mortals cannot get away with an outfit like that. Black Widow’s outfit, though, is generic hot girl, and Hawkeye’s costume seems to have been obtained from a Village People tribute band.
He still looks like Mark Ruffalo!
The Hulk’s fashion statement is the most dramatic. But he’s naked, you point out. Precisely: whenever The Hulk emerges he rips out of Dr. Banner’s clothes—a huge green mass of rage that no outward calm can conceal. Dr. Banner’s regular shirts and pants ARE the costume in which he hides his true self.
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April 29th, 2012 at 07:42
Agreed. It’s unfair to be judged based on the outside but people have to judge you within the first few seconds, maybe from an evolutionary standpoint, to see if the other person is a friendly or someone to behead. It’s unfortunate that label Nazis use it to demean or look down on those who do not really give money to Michael Kors.
Robert Downey, Jr.’s Iron Man is a contrast, alright: steel outer shell but a sarcastic, narcissistic personality inside…wait. Then the outer cover makes sense: he’s expecting people to beat him up for his remarks.
My partner turned to me during the movie: “Doesn’t he (Hawkeye) run out of arrows? Is that his power?” And yes, I find Hawkeye’s and Black Widow’s costumes generic.
April 29th, 2012 at 21:16
Iron Man to Thor: What is this, Shakespeare in the Park? Dost thy mother know thou wearest her drapes?
Classic.
Thor nonetheless is my favorite Avenger.
April 29th, 2012 at 23:59
“The Avengers” was awesome! Then again, with Joss Whedon at the helm, what else would we have expected?
@theguywithablog: Yup, actually Hawkeye did run out of arrows at some point in the movie. I suppose his and BW’s costumes were generic indeed, but I suppose it’s the best they could do to make the movie “realistic” (see Hawkeye’s actual costume in the comic book – not sure it would fit into the movie universe’s S.H.I.E.L.D. tone).
@jessica: Yes, I think they did right in actually using Mark Ruffalo’s likeness for the Hulk (through Avatar-style stop motion, I believe) as opposed to generic CGI. It lends a better ummm flavor and realism to the character, methinks.
April 30th, 2012 at 12:15
Clench up, Legolas.
April 30th, 2012 at 17:21
Seriously, I need to have a copy of Tony Stark’s lines hahaha!!!
Tony Stark: No offence, but I don’t play well with others.
Steve Rogers: Big man, in a suit of armour… take that away, what are you?
Tony Stark: Uh… genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist…
Ikaw na hahaha!
April 30th, 2012 at 20:42
Semi off-topic, and speaking of arrow-toting heroes named Hawkeye: Today is Daniel Day-Lewis’ birthday.
http://youtu.be/C9OQ0I4atCE
April 30th, 2012 at 22:50
Bursting with love for Joss Whedon but don’t know where to put it? If you’ve already re-viewed every episode of Buffy, Angel, Firefly (and Serenity) and Dollhouse, plus Toy Story (which he wrote), watch Dr. Horrible at http://drhorrible.com/.
Yay Chris Hemsworth year! The Avengers, then Snow White and the Huntsman and Cabin in the Woods. (Is Thor’s his natural voice, or did they drop the pitch and futz with reverb and stuff? Hihihihihi as our sister says.)
May 1st, 2012 at 00:05
Yes times a million to Dr. Horrible! I consider this my introduction to Joss Whedon, even though I managed to watch two episodes of Firefly before it was cancelled. It’s amazing how he manages to make you laugh and cry, and still break your heart in a good way.
Cabin in the Woods (also written by Joss Whedon) has Chris Hemsworth in the cast, as well.
May 3rd, 2012 at 08:43
There’s this picture of Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth floating around the interwebs – and a friend commented to choose one only. So hard. Eventually, I decided it is indeed now Hemsworth for moi.
On Joss Whedon: it will always be Buffy at the top for me. Love his other work, still. I wish he took a stab at Wonder Woman instead of dropping it, but I suppose if he couldn’t quite get a grasp of the character (per his own admission), it’s better to let go than create an abomination that will piss off the fans.
Meanwhile, anyone else have a strange desire to actually see this one produced locally? Mwahaha:
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/480915_378283888881318_183301425046233_994119_1170431426_n.jpg