Hopemaxxing Superman: Why Hope is Heroic (Meme Analysis)
People live on hope, heroes, sick riffs and cartoon characters.
You may have seen the meme of ‘Hopemaxxing Superman’ taking over social media, and you may be wondering: why has such a meme become so popular?
First, we must explain what the meme is. The meme involves a picture of Superman, a short story of goodness, heroism, justice or just basic decency. All against a short audio clip from David Bowie’s classic hit ‘Starman’. An example is shown below:
Of course, many have taken humorous and even dark twists with the meme, but the spirit of the meme remains. Superman, a symbol of hope, albeit as a cartoon character, is immortalized in a meme against a backdrop of David Bowie and a small act of heroism, which is intended to restore hope in the goodness of humanity. So why is this meme so profound?
Superman: The Immortal Hero
We all know that Superman is the ultimate good guy. Not only can he not be physically harmed by an object on Earth (other than the otherworldly kryptonite), but his character seems not only impeccable, but flawless. In the majority of his iterations, he seemingly is a perfect man. He is principled, moral, strong, determined, magnanimous, truthful and righteous. He is the ultimate ideal to aspire to.
I am Superman. I stand for truth, for justice, and for the future.
-Superman
Who else but Superman could be the face of this meme? It is almost like he lives to do good to his fellow men. Many great men would do well to strive to emulate his character, his willingness to do what is right, his tenacity in upholding justice, and his kind-hearted concern for not only the people of Earth, but for any life-form he comes across in the universe. His character is so pure, than some even accuse his character as ‘boring’, due to a lack of complexity in the make-up of his character. In most iterations of him (with the most notable exception being his iterations in the Injustice series), there is not a bad bone in his body.
His strength, integrity and goodness is meant to be a metaphor for God. Why God? Well, what is God? God is good and he is immortal. What is Superman? Well, he is also good and immortal. Superman was meant to be the closest thing to God in the DC Universe. Superman is a representation of the divine, in the sense that goodness, strength, justice, and power are divine qualities, in a way. Such qualities are qualities God values, that we should all develop, and that Superman embodies in spades.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
-1 Timothy 1:17
His immortality, invulnerability, and his strong principles in doing what is right is symbolic of a simple truth: good always prevails. Superman shows us that being a hero is always the right way. That is why he is being memed many years after his conception.
You are not only something that is. You are something that is becoming — and the potential extent of that becoming also transcends your understanding.
-Jordan Peterson, ‘Beyond Order’
‘Starman’ by David Bowie: Among the Heavens
There’s a starman waiting in the sky
He’d like to come and meet us
But he thinks he’d blow our minds
There’s a starman waiting in the sky
He’s told us not to blow it
’Cause he knows it’s all worthwhile-David Bowie (‘Starman’)
Now how does David Bowie’s 1972 hit ‘Starman’ fit into the meme? Well, if you look at the lyrics, mostly the lyrics about a ‘starman waiting in the sky’, it is hard to argue against it implying that God is watching over his creating. This implies again that heroism and hope are gifts that God gives his creation to use for the good of their fellow men.
Similar to the phrase ‘wishing on a star’, the lyrics of ‘Starman’ is compelling us to dream big and hope for the best. It implies that hope, goodness, heroism, and greatness descend from the heavens, or that such qualities are otherworldly. Such qualities of heroism, faith, hope, and compassion exists beyond the confines of human life. These principles are among the stars, or among the pettiness of humankind.
There are very few things greater or more awe-inspiring than the night sky, filled with billions of great stars and the vast expanse of space. And the fact that this song is paired in such a meme implies that these great virtues are accessible to all of us, but only if we have the wisdom and courage to practice them. With practice and willpower, we can all be heroes and we can all be ‘Starman’.
More than doing our best, we should strive to become our best, to vie with the best. A man’s reach should exceed his grasp…
Certainly that reaching, that stretching is what gets us closer to heaven.
-Ryan Holiday, ‘Right Thing, Right Now’
Story of Heroism and Small Hopes
The basic purpose of the short story is simply this: to restore hope in the goodness and humanity of, well, humanity. Even though many versions of the meme have taken humorous turns, the premise and purpose of the short story remains the same. They stories may involve small acts of goodness and heroism, while some might involve great acts of courage and justice. And, of course, other versions are just over-the-top, unrealistic, or plain ridiculous.
But the reason why these stories are so inconspicuously powerful is because even the little acts of good adds up. They matter. They restore even a little bit of hope in humanity, and given the state of humanity today, such stories of hope are badly needed.
Each of us is capable of taking a step. Each of us can do a little good… and this little good adds up.
-Ryan Holiday, ‘Right Thing, Right Now’
The fact that such small stories of hope and heroism are paired with a song about a man venturing among the starry heavens, and an immortal superhero that is the quintessential symbol of justice and good, show a simple truth: every small act makes a big impact. People need to hope in something greater, something beyond themselves. People’s hope in values such as righteousness and justice must be restored.
However, it is hard to hope, especially given how much despair and chaos in this world. That is why there is one truth that must be burned into the hearts of every man: hope is a heroic act. The more you hope, have faith, and love your fellow men, the closer you will be to God and the divine. In this world, nothing is more heroic than to hope, and to live as properly and as uprightly as possible.
So why not start small? Start with doing little acts of heroism, and bring even a little bit of hope to people. As a citizen of this world, it is your responsibility. if the people in the short stories can muster even a little bit of courage and just action, you can too.
Every man and woman has a deep desire to be good, to do good, and to bring hope to others. Everyone wants to be the hero of their story. Everyone wants to be a beacon of hope.
The desire to be a hero and to be good comes from our desire to transcend the world. It comes from the desire to live among the clouds and to dwell in the divine presence of God. It comes from our desire to be immortal, to live forever. The heroism of character lives within all of us, but it all starts with the act of hope.
Hope powers us, and by spreading this hope we perform a heroic act.
-Ryan Holiday, ‘Courage is Calling’
However, hope and just living requires courage. Greatness, reaching for the stars, being the best you can be, realizing your vast potential as you navigate this world, bringing hope to others, being a light in a dark world, requires courage. You cannot be a hero without courage.
This is what heroes do. They make an impact. They make a difference for others. Today and forever.
-Ryan Holiday, ‘Courage is Calling’
So how can we demonstrate this courage to hope? We strive to be the best we can be in whatever role in life we play. It takes courage to succeed in our professions. It takes courage to be a man of God and to serve our fellow men in our community. It takes courage to treat our body and mind rigorously to strengthen it and make it more vital. It takes courage to be a good mother, a good father, a good husband, a good wife. It takes courage to be a good friend, a good companion, a good leader to your organization or your work colleagues. It takes courage to strive to be a better caretaker of your body. It takes courage to be a wiser manager of your finances. Most especially, it takes courage to be a good man or woman, and to live virtuously, with justice and truthfulness. All of these are heroic acts.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
-Matthew 5:14–16
But we can also start small, because every hero has a beginning, and the fire of hope begins as nothing more than a small ember. What are some small acts of good and justice you can do right now? Observe the world around you, see what good you can do, see what small order you can bring to the great chaos around you, and do that.
And when we engage in such heroic acts, when we strive to live in goodness, we inspire others and give others hope. We inspire them and give them reason to believe. We renew their sense of purpose. We influence them to become better in all aspects of life. We light a way for them to follow. Everyone wants to follow the paths their heroes have laid out, and everyone wants to be a hero to those that follow in their steps.
The fire within us can burn bright enough to warm others. The light within us can illuminate the path for others. What we accomplish can make things possible for others.
-Ryan Holiday, ‘Discipline is Destiny’
Every leader or person of influence wants to be a hero to the next generation within their field of expertise, the same way every father or mother wants to be a hero to their children. Every soldier wants to be a hero for their country, and every charitable Samaritan wants to be a hero in their community.
Having hope in others is heroic, and striving for heroism is an act of hope. So look to the profound, yet unorthodox and unlikely example of Hopemaxxing Superman, the ‘Starman’, for the heroism of hope.
