Do we Need Strata Superheroes?
or, which superpower is best in strata buildings …
In pop culture, superheroes help ordinary people by using super-human powers and skills to avert disasters, stop evildoers and make the world a better place. Perhaps, strata citizens could benefit from a few strata superheroes too. Let’s consider the possibilities.
[8:50 minutes estimated reading time, 1715 words]
INTRODUCTION
Superheroes have become very popular in modern popular culture.
Strictly speaking, a superhero is a benevolent fictional character with superhuman powers that help humankind. And there are many many popular examples [like Superman, the Hulk, Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Spider-Man, etc] and they have taken over much of mainstream film and streaming.
Ok, so strata title isn’t the hippest, coolest or most sexy thing, but it is slowly catching up and it is important to many people.
So, maybe we should find or create some strata superheroes to help all strata citizens?
In this article, I explore the concept of superheroes for benefits and disadvantages, and that fanciful idea to see what it might reveal about the kinds of superpowers [think skills and aptitudes] that would help in the strata title sector.
WHY SUPERHEROES MATTER
Superheroes, both in comic books and their adaptations in movies and television shows, offer numerous cultural, moral, and societal benefits.
Here's why superheroes can be considered a good thing:
Moral Lessons: Superheroes often operate based on a moral code, and their stories can teach readers and viewers about the importance of values such as justice, honesty, courage, and self-sacrifice.
Representation and Diversity: Over the years, there's been an increasing emphasis on diversifying the range of superheroes, leading to the representation of various ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds. This has helped in creating role models for all readers and viewers, making the world of superheroes more inclusive.
Inspiration: Superheroes, despite their superhuman abilities, often deal with human problems. Their resilience in overcoming adversity can inspire readers and viewers to face their own challenges.
Escape & Fantasy: Superhero narratives provide an escape from the real world. They allow readers and viewers to explore fantastic worlds, advanced technologies, and scenarios that challenge the imagination.
Social Commentary: Many superhero stories tackle pressing social issues and mirror the concerns of the times in which they were created. For instance, X-Men comics touched on issues of prejudice and discrimination, while Black Panther addressed themes of African identity and cultural pride.
Artistic Expression: The world of superheroes has given rise to some of the most memorable art and storytelling in pop culture. Graphic artists, writers, filmmakers, and other creatives have used the medium to push boundaries and innovate.
Community Building: Fans of superhero franchises often form communities where they can discuss, debate, and share their love for these characters. These communities can be positive spaces for socialization and mutual appreciation.
Economic Impact: The superhero genre has become a massive industry, contributing significantly to the entertainment sector. Movies, merchandise, conventions, and other related activities generate a significant amount of revenue and job opportunities.
Innovation and Science: While the abilities and technologies depicted in superhero stories are often fictional, they can inspire real-world scientific inquiry and innovation. For instance, the idea of Iron Man's suit or Captain America's shield might spur interest in technological advancements and materials science.
Universal Appeal: Superhero stories often revolve around universal themes such as love, betrayal, honour, and redemption. These timeless themes make them relevant across different cultures and age groups.
In summary, superheroes can be seen as a reflection of our aspirations, fears, challenges, and values. While they are, of course, fictional constructs, their influence reaches into various aspects of society, providing both entertainment and deeper insights into the human experience.
All those things seem like good things and I can see how they would benefit the strata title sector and, especially, its strata citizens.
SOME DOWNSIDES TO SUPERHEROES
Of course, it’s not all good news and there are arguments suggesting that the superhero genre can have negative implications or effects on society including the following.
Perpetuation of Black and White Morality: Superhero narratives often portray a clear distinction between good and evil, which can oversimplify complex moral and ethical issues. This binary viewpoint can sometimes discourage nuanced understanding and dialogue.
Over-reliance on Violence: Many superhero stories resolve conflicts through physical confrontations or battles. This might inadvertently send a message that violence is a primary solution to problems.
Reinforcement of Stereotypes: Earlier superhero comics, in particular, have been criticized for perpetuating racial, gender, and cultural stereotypes. While there's been a movement toward more inclusive representation recently, some works still fall into problematic portrayals.
Influence on Consumerism: The superhero industry, especially with the advent of blockbuster films, can be seen as a machine that pushes merchandise, from toys to clothing, thereby promoting materialism.
Unrealistic Standards: Superheroes, with their often-perfect physiques and infallible moral compasses, can set unrealistic standards for young readers or viewers in terms of body image and behaviour.
Stifling of Other Genres: The dominance of superhero films, especially in Hollywood, might overshadow other genres and stories, leading to a lack of diversity in the kind of stories being told in mainstream cinema.
Reluctance to Change Status Quo: Often, despite the cataclysmic events in superhero stories, things tend to revert to a status quo. This might suggest to readers that real change is difficult or impossible, which can be a pessimistic viewpoint.
Perception of Vigilantism: Superheroes often act outside the law, making decisions on behalf of society without any checks and balances. This could potentially glamorize vigilante justice and undermine trust in actual legal systems.
Economic Monopolisation: The control of major superhero franchises by a few large corporations can lead to monopolistic practices in the entertainment industry, potentially stifling independent creators and innovations.
Overexposure: With the sheer volume of superhero content available, there's a risk of audiences experiencing fatigue, which might lead to a decline in the quality of stories as companies try to saturate the market.
Stagnation of Characters: Unlike regular fiction where characters can evolve, age, and even die, mainstream superheroes tend to remain static due to their iconic nature. This can sometimes limit the depth and progression of their stories.
Perversely, I can also see these kinds of negative outcomes in the strata title sector despite the absence of strata superheroes.
USING SUPERHERO POWERS IN STRATA BUILDINGS
Superheroes possess a wide range of powers, many of which have become iconic and commonly associated with specific characters.
Here's a list of typical superpowers that many superheroes possess, along with a few examples of characters who have them, and my ideas about how they could apply to strata.
Super Strength [Superman, Wonder Woman, The Hulk, Thor] would be very helpful to hold things up when there are structural failures or to move heavy things around when older residents can’t or catch falling planter boxes.
Flight [Superman, Green Lantern, Jean Grey, Thor (with his hammer)] has a lot of practical onsite benefits for high-rise buildings covering façade inspections, window cleaning, rooftop deliveries and more.
X-Ray Vision [Superman, Supergirl] would be useful to find hidden leaks and other building defects and search for embedded infrastructure since the building doesn’t have as-built drawings.
Super Hearing [Green Lantern, Daredevil] would allow complaints about noise, hard floors, etc to be checked and verified instantly and disputes averted or resolved immediately.
Super Speed [The Flash, Quicksilver] could help with getting late meeting notices delivered instantly rather than waiting for the notice days plus the postal rule countdown to expire.
Telepathy [Professor X, Jean Grey] would allow strata committees and managers to know the questions that strata owners want answered before they even ask, predict the emails before they arrive and be ready for those phone calls.
Invisibility [Invisible Woman, Violet Parr (from The Incredibles)] so building security could use this to find and prove by-law breaches everywhere.
Regeneration [Wolverine, Deadpool] seems less useful unless it could be done on a whole strata building basis as a better method of strata renewal for ageing buildings than the current systems.
Shapeshifting [Mystique, Beast Boy] would help make those parts of strata buildings like plant rooms, risers, and foyers that are just too small for equipment and people a bit bigger, and car parking space fit those oversized SUVs.
Energy Projection [Cyclops (optic blasts), Iron Man (repulsor beams)] is particularly handy when it gets too hot for the existing building grid or there are brownouts.
Time Manipulation [Doctor Strange, Hiro Nakamura (from Heroes)] would be handy for those strata lawyers who need deadlines for building defect claims extended.
Weather Manipulation [Storm] & Manipulation of Elements [Human Torch (fire), Iceman (ice), Aquaman (water)] if they could work in reverse, would virtually eliminate water ingress and mould issues. It might even reduce insurance risks and premiums.
Teleportation [Nightcrawler, Blink] in the worst cases, could quickly get you out of that difficult strata meeting.
Size Alteration [Ant-Man, The Atom, Giant-Man] would be great for building inspectors, engineers and tradespeople to get into all those cavity spaces without destructive work.
Manipulation of Elements [Human Torch (fire), Iceman (ice), Aquaman (water)]
Enhanced Senses [Daredevil (all senses, despite blindness), Wolverine (smell and hearing)] allows everyone to predict disputes before they get those legal demand letters, Tribunal applications, and legal claims.
Control over Technology [Cyborg, Iron Man (to an extent with his suit)] this doesn’t need explaining, does it?
Magic [Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Zatanna] would be handy to keep everyone entertained whilst waiting for meeting quorums.
Animal Abilities [ Spider-Man (spider-based abilities), Black Panther (attributes of a panther)] to communicate with pets in strata buildings to understand their issues and what’s best to do for them.
BUT, THERE’S ALREADY A STRATA SUPERHERO
In case you didn’t know, Australian strata titles has had a superhero in NSW a little while back called Strataman.
You can still find him floating around Strataland here.
He’s a bit outdated, but like so many of the lesser-known members of the Marvel universe, he could still make a comeback. But, perhaps this time, as a woman or as a dynamic duo instead.
CONCLUSIONS
I know this article has been a bit silly, but it’s not completely pointless.
Exploring the potentially good and bad qualities of imaginary strata superheroes reveals what new skills, aptitudes and approaches might be ideally suited to strata title sand what potential drawbacks exist and what negative consequences might flow from excessive power or strength being exercised in strata buildings.
Plus, imagining how a variety of typical superhero powers might be used in strata title situations helps identify the many simple and complex challenges still facing ordinary strata citizens everywhere that need solutions.
November 28, 2023
Francesco ...