In this special episode of Modern Age , Dan McCarthy shifts gears to examine the most talked-about film of the moment: the new Superman movie. But this isn't just pop culture commentary—it's a deep dive into the political and philosophical meaning behind America’s most iconic superhero. Dan explores the film’s liberal messaging, James Gunn’s take on Superman as an immigrant, and why the movie misses the mark when it comes to portraying authentic American identity. He traces Superman’s roots in 1930s liberalism, the immigrant background of creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and the transformation of Superman from a Moses-like outsider into a champion of “truth, justice, and the American way.” But what happens when you remove the “American way” from the story? Dan argues that the new film replaces meaningful national character with vague sentimentality—and loses the very thing that made Superman a cultural force. This episode isn’t just about the movies—it’s about what we expect from our heroes, and what that says about us.
