Eco-terrorism has grown to become a powerful opponent of superheroes in contemporary comic books and movies. Seen as an inevitable alternative for the androcentric views traditionally promoted by such works, Ecoterrorism has successfully... more
Eco-terrorism has grown to become a powerful opponent of superheroes in contemporary comic books and movies. Seen as an inevitable alternative for the androcentric views traditionally promoted by such works, Ecoterrorism has successfully struck a chord with the reader/viewers. Ra’s al Ghul and Thanos, two eco-terrorist super-villains, have managed to become iconic figures and garnered immense fan-favour despite their radical ideologies and extreme measures. Despite their ultimate defeat, they have successfully problematized the ideological and political scape of the superhero discourse.
From the Western Existential point of view, Arjuna's baffled state of mind in the Gita is an almost anachronistic precursor of the modern day intellectual trying to cope with the absurdities of the universe. Seen in a somewhat secular... more
From the Western Existential point of view, Arjuna's baffled state of mind in the Gita is an almost anachronistic precursor of the modern day intellectual trying to cope with the absurdities of the universe. Seen in a somewhat secular light, the opening chapters of the Gita are indeed an elaboration of the moral-philosophical debates regarding the question of choice; in this case, to be made by Arjuna, the 'agent'. He must recover from his death-drive and bring his stasis to an end. Is Krishna an outside agency here, or just a non-participating factor which makes the choice possible? Also the question of predestination further problematizes the whole affair. Arjuna must break the loop of time by playing his sva-dharma, and go beyond facticity. Killing, for Arjuna, seems as absurd as self-annihilation. But finally he does prepare his mind for Nishkam Karma. Thus he proves himself to be an existential hero, an authentic agent par excellence.