The Four Color Media Monitor

A contributor to Psychology Today talks about how the physiques in comic adventures allegedly shape perceptions of body ideals, which sounds more like a claim they mislead everybody, and aren't meant as fantasy wish fulfillment in any way:

Comic books have long been a source of fascination and entertainment, captivating readers with their larger-than-life characters and extraordinary storylines. However, have you ever stopped to consider the portrayal of these characters' bodies and the impact they may have on our perceptions of beauty and attractiveness? A study, recently published in the journal Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, took an intriguing look at the exaggerated physiques of DC and Marvel comic book characters and their potential influence on our own ideals about body image.

Body Proportions of DC and Marvel Comic Book Characters

In the latest study, Rebecca Burch of the State University at Oswego and David Widman of Pennsylvania's Juniata College expanded on a 2020 study looking at Marvel Comics characters by doing the same with DC Comics characters. This included analysing body mass index (BMI) data for thousands of comic book characters.

Perhaps not surprisingly, these characters exhibited distinct differences in body proportions compared to real-life bodybuilders, a sample of most-searched-for men and women on popular porn sites, and a nationally representative U.S. sample. The comic book characters displayed exaggerated muscularity, with higher BMI values and larger waist-to-hip ratios. These findings suggest that comic book bodies serve as supernormal stimuli, presenting an idealized and hypersexualized version of the human form.

Whether this alludes to old or new character designs, they largely obscure how in the past decade, such designs were badly dumbed down in the mainstream, and this hasn't improved much since. But, most intriguing they should focus foremost upon the Big Two's productions, because that's how they got to the deep levels of despair they're at now - because corporate mainstream makes a far easier target for these propagandists than creator-owned comics. Something's also pretty fishy about the citation of porn sites, because I'd sometimes noticed how these SJW propagandists, over past years, tried to compare the approach of Good Girl Artists to that of pornography.

Comparison with Real-Life Bodybuilders

To further understand the unique characteristics of comic book bodies, the study compared Marvel and DC characters to the physiques of real-life bodybuilders. The research revealed that comic book characters had significantly higher BMI values and waist-to-hip ratios compared to bodybuilders. This disparity highlights the extent to which comic book artists amplify certain physical features to create visually striking and attention-grabbing characters. The study's findings provide valuable insights into the portrayal of idealized bodies in the realm of comic books.

Waist-to-Hip Ratios and Cultural Influences

One intriguing aspect of the study was the comparison of waist-to-hip ratios between comic book characters, the average U.S. woman, and the popular pornography sample. The results indicated that comic book characters had higher waist-to-hip ratios than both the average U.S. woman and the pornography sample. This suggests that comic book artists may emphasize exaggerated curves and hourglass figures, potentially influencing societal perceptions of attractiveness. It is important to recognize the role of cultural influences in shaping our ideals of beauty and to critically examine the impact of these representations on body image.

But does this still hold true in an era and society where now, ugliness, much of it emphasized through transsexual surgery and such, has disturbingly become a norm? They certainly give away where they stand when they speak of "critical examination". I guess escapist fare ingredients are throughly illegitimate, huh? No doubt, even what Jack Kirby came up with, in example.

Implications and Discussion

The findings of both studies suggest few real differences between Marvel and DC characters but raise significant implications for our understanding of the portrayal of idealized bodies in popular culture. The use of supernormal stimuli in comic book bodies may contribute to the perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards and body expectations, particularly for young readers who may be more susceptible to these influences. The study also highlights the potential impact of cultural influences on our perceptions of attractiveness and the need for critical examination of these representations.

Moreover, the study findings have implications for the representation of gender in comic books. This research revealed that comic book artists tend to exaggerate masculine features such as shoulder-to-waist ratios and upper body muscularity, as well as feminine features such as waist-to-hip ratios and breasts. This reinforces traditional gender norms and may contribute to the objectification of women's bodies. It is important to recognize the potential impact of these representations on gender roles and to promote more diverse and inclusive depictions of bodies in popular culture.

And so, we have a huge giveaway as to what this puff piece was really written for - assailing any kind of positive beauty standards, regardless of whether they're "realistic" or not, and what's this about youngsters being susceptible to these elements? Again, this sounds awfully hypocritical when there's transsexual surgery being influenced around the USA, and whatever a fictional fantasy tale is emphasizing pales in comparison with that. What a shameful lot the writer of this petty garbage is being. Does he and the rest of the magazine even care about the objectification of children by LGBT ideologues lately? And there we go again with "diverse and inclusive", without acknowledging that much of what's seen in that context comes at the expense of any beauty standard they despise.

In conclusion, both studies shed light on the exaggerated physiques of DC and Marvel comic book characters and their potential impact on our perceptions of beauty and attractiveness. By highlighting the use of supernormal stimuli in comic book bodies and the potential perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards and body expectations. Also, while this research focused exclusively on comic book bodies, many of these same conclusions likely also apply to the numerous Marvel and DC superhero movies which have come out in the past two decades.

Such research underscores the need for critical examination of cultural influences on our ideals of beauty and the representation of gender in popular culture. Further research in this area can help us better understand the impact of these representations on body image and promote more diverse and inclusive depictions of bodies in popular culture.

If Brie Larson's Capt. Marvel movie is any suggestion, the conclusions probably don't apply to the movies, but in any event, this "study" is petty, and obscures far more pressing concerns like the aforementioned indoctrination of youths into LGBT ideology. It goes without saying these propagandists also have no ability, despite what they try to make it look like, to distinguish between fiction and reality. Where they really fail miserably is in making an argument why it helps to make clear that what you see in science fantasy is just a lot of wish fulfillment, and the artists/writers would surely assume the readers can understand this. Or, the propagandists make no attempt to encourage educators to point out the boundaries between fiction and reality, why they don't inherently match, and why nobody should expect they'll be able to mimic what you see in a science fiction story. Which reminds of a time I was watching a news show years before, where a guest was talking about the Six Million Dollar Man, and how there were youngsters said to be trying to imitate how Lee Majors would be seen jumping off roofs. How come nobody complains about how any parents of such children never taught them no matter their age why you can't imitate that kind of stuff in real life, and that it's dangerous to do so? As a result, what's that about "better understanding" again?

These would-be psychology experts really need to get their priorities straight.

Labels: dc comics, marvel comics, misogyny and racism, msm propaganda, science