Speaking of (my) Super Heroes

Because of my recent euphoria of The Dark Knight, I instantly have the fever of wanting to write my views about Super Heroes. Of course that is the super heroes that I am familiar with. Which is not much.

I am going to narrow my entry only for American Super heroes. And by that I mean excluding the famous Goggle Five. Which was one of the greatest heroes for me. In fact I went to their show back in Jakarta when I was a kid. And I had a blast time. So anyway, let’s skip Goggle Five for now.

I am not a super hero comic fan per se; I never follow their growth by reading their story from the original comics. But I know by pieces about some of the greatest super heroes characters of all time. Dated a super heroes freak, I then found out that there are two greatest publishers of great super heroes comic books. There is DC who published Superman and Batman. And there is Marvel Comics who published Spiderman, Hulk and X-Men.

First my knowledge of super heroes was introduced by Superman. Who doesn't know him? We all were raised with the notion of Superman. Even long ago when I was a kid there was a chocolate bar (or what we called wafer) with Superman picture on it (I guess only children that were raised in the 70s or 80s that would likely to remember this bar!) I used to read a few Super heroes comics, but I can honestly say that I didn't find Superman as an interesting character for me. In my mind he is a wise guy. He can do no wrong doings. A perfect guy. Even if he does a mistake, people tend to forgive him. Why? Because after all he IS Superman. He has all the Super powers that anyone would want to. He can fly. He can see through massive walls. He can burn. He can freeze. He can lift immeasurable things. He is just damn perfect. Even if he is mad or upset of something, we would easily to understand that. We forgive him of the fact that he is a drifter from an outside planet, he doesn't have any family and friends, and he is a loner, a quiet guy. He pretends to be a Clark Kent to hide his natural soul as a Superman. He is in love with the perfect woman there is. And Lois Lane I think is the soul of Superman. And Clark Kent's love of his life. And that's it. Too white for my liking.

The second is Spiderman. Ah, back in the days I read quite of many Spiderman comics. Simply because I used to fall in love with this dude. Why? Because he is real. Skip the yada-yada spider contamination he had. Skip that. Focus when he used his super power to gain money. HAH! Realistic Parker! And again for what the money he needs? Just to impress a girl. HAH! Men - they would try everything to woo a girl that they like. Peter Parker is an everyday guy character that you could easily find in your high school, your work place, your book store, your neighborhood. He is a standard guy. A standard guy who wants everything - love, success and fame. Simple. And so real. So when he realized that he had the power that he could use for his benefits, he used it. He fed his ego first. Unlike Superman with his first instinct to save the human kind. No. Peter Parker or Spiderman just want to feed his ego first. By gaining money to support his aunt and uncle. To impress a girl that he likes. Somehow this side of Spiderman is the one that I think so interesting. Even after he eventually marries the girl of his life, everything doesn't go smooth. If you read the comic, you would likely to see MJ gets worry too much, and Peter really finds it hard to juggle between his night life as a Spiderman and day life as a photographer. For my taste he is it. He is honest and honesty is a very rare commodity these days.

Then is Hulk. Back when I was a kid, I used to watch the Series. I never like his figure per se - too big and fat. But his flaws were the ones that drag me in. Hulk or what we used to know as Dr. Bruce Banner is just a regular doctor. Who I think doesn't know how to manage his anger. Because if he can manage his anger, then anger wouldn't be his trigger for his transformation. That is oddly humane. And again the thing that would likely drawn me. I never read comic book about Hulk. But when it comes to motion picture, it hit me how Hulk really is one vulnerable man inside. He can't control his anger when he was Dr. Bruce Banner. Too many depressed angers.

At last my knowledge ends for now at the gate of Gotham City. Batman and his money. Couldn't be more attractive! He is dark, he is a player. Although deep beneath that thick skin lays an unbelievable delicate soul. He may be rough on the edges but he is way more than irresistible. I started my liking to Batman because of the TV series. Of course you all would know back in the times of Batman and Robin hit the TV screen. With that old school outfits. (God it felt like yesterday). I almost never skip an episode. I was a fan of Robin. But when Christian Bale made his way to be Batman, my love for Robin ended. I think the best Batman captured in Bale. Anyway, many of the people I know don't think Batman as a super hero because he wasn't gifted with the ability of super power. Like I said, he doesn't get contaminated or get nuclear injection or some sort of biological experiment that he later on have the conquest to fight the bad guys. But he owns the city. What more super power can you get in this harsh life? Let's be real, have you ever crossed path with a real man who gets contaminated and later on has super power? I mean in this world? You haven't right? Although I am not saying that people couldn't get super power from contamination. But it doesn't happen in any day sooner right? So voila, Batman is the super hero of this era for me. Fighting crime by "injecting" money to the scientist to make super equipments. Kind of like James Bond in a bold way.

In my super heroes education, villains of those super heroes are always the main attraction of the story. Oh my God I am in love with Lex Luthor. Odd to remember, I never have that sensation to a villain of Spiderman or Hulk or any other super heroes. With the exception of Joker of course. And Catwoman! (Talk about feminism!) Ah since this entry is not about villain, lets the raise this case some other time.

Speaking super heroes sometimes could make others think that you are still a kid. But frankly speaking we all are. As for me, speaking and even taking the time to google them and learn them could lead you to another whole dimension of inspirations. These fictions inspire me. In a sense that you would likely to think I am a cuckoo. But Superman taught me that even the best of people are allowed to make mistakes. Spiderman taught me that you have to be honest to your most loved one. Batman taught me that sometimes doing good doesn't mean the same for others. And Hulk, taught me that depressing angers could kill. Oh well, indeed after all I am a kid!

© frettyaulia, 25.07.08

tak bisa menulis dan cepat bosan membaca

Sepertinya saya selalu lebih condong mempunyai minat lebih besar terhadap gambar - imaji - lukisan - patung - film atau apa saja yang tidak melalui bentuk kata-kata tertulis. Minat sih ada (besar sekali) untuk menulis atau membaca. Tapi bosannya itu loh, lebih cepat datang daripada misal mengambil kamera dan mencari subjek atau bikin sketsa awut-awutan.

Ada beberapa waktu saya suka nongkrong di depan monitor komputer, menulis sekenanya. Gak penting juga sih, cuma lagi ingin saja. Itu juga tidak terhitung sebagai puisi, karena saya bukan puisiwati (inilah saya, punya kecenderungan menciptakan terminologi sendiri). Atau tiba-tiba menulis satu dua kalimat di buku coret-moret jurnal. Tapi ya segitu saja. Sekedar curhat.

Bulan lalu, saya tiba-tiba mengambil keputusan untuk "mendalami" hal perihal puisi. Itu juga bukan mendalami sih, lebih tepatnya mencemplungkan diri ke kolam besar penuh ikan-ikan yang rasanya menarik. Salah satu teman kantor saya mengenalkan saya ke salah satu oknum yang notabene aktif di perkancahan sastra Indonesia (bukan begitu mas Dedy?). Mas oknum ini bersama teman-temannya mengadakan apa yang dikenal Malam Reboan, malam sosialisasi (itu term saya loh) para puisiwan-puisiwati dan prosawan-prosawati. Suatu ketika, saya melihat status Yahoo Messenger Mas oknum berubah menjadi "berminat membaca puisi?" (atau semacam itulah, saya lupa!). Saya yang mudah penasaran (kecuali dengan hantu dan teman-temannya) langsung bertanya perihal statusnya itu. Pendeknya, tiba-tiba saya mendapati diri saya HARUS membaca puisi di Malam Reboan. Dan alangkah lebih baiknya bila itu puisi sendiri. Halah!

Jadilah saya membaca puisi, ciptaan sendiri, yang jujur katro dibanding semua pembaca puisi Malam Reboan kala itu. Dan itu membuat saya berpikir. Betapa sulitnya bagi saya untuk berbicara dalam bentuk tulisan ketimbang dalam bentuk gambar atau imaji. Apalagi puisi yang berbicara bagi semua orang. Sekelas C. Anwar (saya cuma tahu satu dua karya beliau, tapi siapa sih di Indonesia ini yang tidak tahu dia? Dan Krawang Bekasi-nya?)

Seseorang pernah berkata pada saya, menulislah untuk dan dari halayak banyak. Secara tersirat, ia menginginkan saya bisa menulis sesuatu yang bisa menjadi inspirasi banyak orang. Bukan sekedar numpang curhat. Yang saya akui dan rasai, semua tulisan penting-gak penting saya yang bertebaran di komputer rumah, flash disk, dan buku adalah cuma curhatan belaka. Terlalu "lokal" dan tidak bisa diserap semua orang.

Membaca juga begitu ceritanya. Hanya satu - dua buku yang membuat saya terpincut dan merasa harus menyelesaikannya. Dulu waktu masih sekolah, semua buku yang pernah saya baca rata-rata selalu sampai halaman terakhir. Mungkin karena masih dibangku sekolah, ingetnya ajaran guru dan dosen yang selalu bilang "baca dulu sampai habis, baru bicara!" Sayangnya kebiasaan itu menghilang karena tiba-tiba bisa bilang ke diri sendiri "hey I got the point already - now stop bored me!". Walau seringnya merasa berdosa karena ingat kata guru dan dosen dulu.

Masih ada banyak buku di kamar saya yang semuanya belum selesai dibaca. Belum lagi daftar buku yang saya ingin baca dan punyai. Wuih, kalau ingat itu, jadinya mau tidur saja. Atau lari ke kamera pinjeman untuk mencari subjek sendiri. Atau menonton film dan mereviewnya sendiri (lagi-lagi untuk diri sendiri, kapan bisa memberi inspirasinya kalau yang diberi makan cuma sendiri dan teman dekat?).

Intinya, saya merasa saya tidak bisa menulis. Dan cepat bosan membaca. Bagi saya ini tentu saja bukan perihal yang sehat. Karena untuk menjadi manusia yang bijak, kita harus bisa belajar dari banyak hal. Dan bisa menjadi inspirasi bagi yang lain, membuka gerbang ide untuk semua orang. Jadi alangkah lebih baik bila saya bisa melihat dunia ini dari 1000 sudut, termasuk sudut yang sulit dijangkau. Dan sudut yang sulit dijangkau bagi saya sekarang ini adalah menulis dan membaca. Menulis bukan atas dasar cuhatan belaka, dan membaca untuk mendidik diri sendiri. Hum...mari bantu didik saya!

© frettyaulia, 07.07.08

ada apa dengan Yudas?

Ini cuma sekedar pertanyaan semu belaka yang singgah sekian detik di kepala..uhm..semua orang tahu soal prinsip Ying dan Yang, hitam putih, kanan kiri. Jadi kepikiran soal Yudas Iskariot gara-gara melihat puisi teman. Kenapa ya Yudas sedemikian pengkhianatnya? Pernah terpikirkah kita kalau dia juga manusia? Pasti ada satu dan dua emosi yang putih, yang kanan, yang Ying dari dirinya kan..Kira-kira apa ya itu?

Hum jadi ingin meng-google beliau.

frettyaulia, 03.07.08