Its a bird, its a plane, no its Superman, the immigrant?

A Content analysis of Smallville

SOCI. 4309- Qualitative Research Methods

Final Project: Unobtrusive Method/Content Analysis

Dr. Rachel Romero

Department of Sociology
INTRODUCTION

The story of Superman, at its core a representation of the life and struggle of immigrants.

Clark Kent better known as Superman, has struggled with his ethnic/cultural identity. Living in a

society that on one hand rejects what is alien/foreign and in the other celebrates an

outsider. Superman represents Truth, Justice and the American way. Yet he is a minority, born

in Krypton as Kal-El and raised in Kansas as Clark Kent he has carried these two personas.

These two identities have been in constant flux, Who am I? and Will they accept me? have

been in the forefront of his struggle. The television series Smallville gives its viewers something

more. Understanding how this deeply rooted American symbol represents the minority.

The traumatic feeling of not belonging drives so many to the story of Superman. The WB

(Later CW) released the show Smallville, in which the audience takes a look in to the life of a

young Clark Kent. A young man figuring out where his place in the world is. In the first episode

Pilot Clark is given the question So what are you Man or Superman? a question that hes

going to deal with for years.

Throughout the series, Clark faces the reality that he, by birth, is an outsider. This

traumatizes him, further alienating him form the society he desperately wants to be a part of.

Clarks frustration of having to carry this burden of not belonging is shown throughout the series.

The Who am I? question is carried on in following articles.

LITERATURE

The literature review for this research proposal is to answer the question, how is Superman the

embodiment of the minority? I have reviewed a total of six articles for this section, each

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providing their own perspective. The focus articles will be on understanding how Clark

Kent/Superman is embodiment of the minority?

Ethnic Identity Formation of Immigrant Children and Implications for Practice

The article by Yok Fong Paat and Dwain Pellebon (2016) discusses the struggles that

immigrant children face growing up in America. The same struggles discussed in this article is

exactly what a young Superman faced while living in Smallville. While Clark Kent may have

known he was different from his peers, its when he learns about his Kryptonian heritage when

his true struggle arose. The question of Who am I? began to shape his identity.

This article is important because of how it describes the different ways in which

immigrants deal with their ethnicity. They state the following immigrant children may adopt

different ethnic labels that best describe their life circumstances. (pg. 130 Paat & Pellebon,

2016). This is because in a society where the minority status is labeled, a hierarchy system is

formed. It shows the us and them categories in society. Adapting to said society if a long

process for the minority. The article continues by explain how family contributes into of shaping

ones identity. Assimilation into the mainstream society while not losing a cultural identity is the

challenge. Clark faces those same challenges to minorities in our present day society. My next

article will deal on super heroes and children. Shared adversities of children and comic super

heroes as resources for promoting resilience

I chose this article to demonstrate how developing children identify with fictional super

heroes as a way to coupe with their live struggles. I specifically chose this article for it speaks on

how human these fictional heroes are and how the coping with alienating traumas form the new

identity. This article demonstrate how fictional super heroes go through traumas such as the loss

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of a loved one, orphaned, abandonment, illnesses, etc. The pre-cloak or pre-hero portion (pg. 72,

2016), is the part in which the reader begins to identify with. This is the time when we see the to

be hero moment empowerment (pg. 72) in which the hero raises up and empowers him or

herself to overcome their life challenges.

I chose this because it supports my theory that the super hero can represent more than just

a fictional hero. These traumas cause by things belonging to the minority group in America,

shapes the individual identity. This is why Superman the super hero we are analyzing, is

relatable to our current immigrants in America. He like many before him are a product of society

in which he, the minority, is assimilating into.

Amazing Fantasies: Trauma, Affect, and Superheros

This article by Sandifer, P. (2008) focuses on trauma, specifically on how its key to

forming Clarks identity. In it he states that its not just the initial traumatic event, as in Clarks

case finding out hes an alien, but all the events that happen after that form his identity. Sandifer

explains how Clark adopts a new assimilated persona as both a minority and Clark Kent.

Sandifer explains that a super hero identity (representing both Clark Kent and Kal-El) and made

up of the collective traumas he has faced in the past.

The article gives an insightful look to how a minority assimilates into society over time

by overcoming traumas. By not being either fully embraced nor rejected by society the new

identity is forming. This creates a new assimilated person, as in Clarks case a person that is both

Smallville and Krypton, the minority raised in America. Sandifer continues that the events in our

Clark Kents traumas shape him. The article shows us Clark (the minority) is a product of

societies rejection of him and existing in said society.

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Constructing Masculinity: Depiction of the Superheroes Superman and Batman

This article by Aro M. (2016) she speaks on Superman being a representation and

depiction of masculinity but touches on the immigrant. He is not even human, for he is not from

the earth (pg. 37, Aro M. 2016). She says this in respect to Clark identity. Hes an alien, the

outsider, he wears 2 masks Clark Kent and Superman/Kal-El (the foreigner). This type of

alienation creates a trauma that is relatable to so many living a country that condemns what is

foreign. She also states that much of what he witnessed in society traumatized him. By seeing

how those like him, the others in society, were perceived as a threat he developed an

alienation, she sates Hence, [his] fear of miscegenation [racially different] is still present

(pg.37, Aro M. 2016). What makes up Clarks identity is fear of not belonging. This is article

further connects the thread of how Clark is a representation of the minority. By showing the

internal struggle a minority in society goes thorough with Superman as a frame it gives us this

unique perspective on his appeal. While this article holds information on masculinity portrayed

in super hero stories, it is all part of a bigger overarching theme of identity.

The Role of Parents in the Processing of Adolescent Trauma in Smallville

In the article by Bray, G. and Muntz E (2015) they discuss the trauma Clark faced in the

television series Smallville. It discusses the acceptance and struggle of his duel identity. Clark

came to Jonathan and Martha Kent in a chaotic moment that was the Smallville meteor shower.

When Clark finds out his origin in the first episode Pilot he is faced with a tremendous amount

of guilt. Clark comes to the realization that not only is he alien, but that his arrival caused so

much suffering, this guilt resonates with the audience who some have felt that guilt to some

extant. He realizes that he is neither human nor Kryptonian, so who is he, what is he? Coogan

who is quoted in The Role of Parents in the Processing of Adolescent Trauma in Smallville states

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the following He [Clark] feels anger at having been abandoned by [the] Kryptonians (pg.

510, Bray, G. and Muntz E, 2015) further emphasizing his trauma. Clark is constantly reminded

that he isnt truly part of society. This alienation he feels is deeply is embedded in all of his

depiction. This article expands on his trials and tribulations or traumas, which forms a new

identity assimilating to a foreign home. This feeling of abandonment and alienation caused the

minority (Clark) to neither reject nor assimilate into society. This is instrumental to this

development. His interactions with the immediate family provide Clark with a way to coupe and

overcome his traumas. Mirroring a crucial development that one with the same status of the

minority requires to transition into the assimilated self.

Once a Stranger, Always a Stranger? Immigration, Assimilation, and the Book of Ruth

This final article by Carroll R Daniel (2015) deals with his take on the New Assimilation

Theory, a theory that continues the identity theme covered in the previous articles. He takes this

theme on using the perspective of the biblical character of Ruth to show the similarities to an

outsider assimilating. By using this biblical character to connect with present-day

Hispanic/Latino immigrants is a unique contribution to this study. The article discusses Ruth and

her experiences as an immigrant which for my article gives insight to how Superman (Clark

Kent) is a minority. In her tale, Ruth has immigrated into a new town and her experiences as the

outsider are damming. No matter how much she fights to assimilate society still labels her as part

of the outsider group the them and not us. As I continue reading the article its apparent that

not only is Ruth an outsider but also part of the community. You see by defying her labels as

maidservant, Moabites, the woman she had redefined her identity. Carrol R. Daniel states

the following Ruth is among them and appreciated by them, but not of them (pg.187) to show

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how the minority label redefines her. This article helps to understand present-day minorities and

the process of assimilation.

Although this literature review develops many connections to Superman and the

minority, no studies have been done for this research topic none were intended to go deeper into

connecting Supermans status as a minority. Ive gone deeper into understanding How Superman

is the embodiment of the minority by using Smallville as a frame to answer this question.

DATA AND METHODS

This study is an unobtrusive method that will analyze How Superman is the embodiment

of the minority? I chose this topic to provide a critical look on Smallvilles Clark Kent/Superman

as a minority. The widely accepted characterization of Superman often seen as being an

embodiment of American values. Yet his story, when viewed under a critical lens, leads to

insightful look into his life. From his perspective as; the alien, the other, the minority, Superman

is much more than just your run-in-the-mill super hero. My content analysis focuses on six

episodes of the WB (Later CW) television show Smallville (2001) gives an insightful look into

Clarks characterization as a minority, a Kryptonian refugee raised in America. The episodes used

are S1 Pilot (2001), S2 Rosetta (2003) S2 Exodus (2003), S6 Subterranean (2006), S9 Salvation

(2010), S10 Finale (2011)

I viewed the series in chronological order for season one to season ten to properly

analyze Clarks characterization and progression throughout the series. I looked specifically for

themes that relate closely with the identification of minority, the outsider label that Clark

carries for the entirety of Smallville (2001). The search for the answer to How Superman is the

embodiment of the minority?

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 In the series premiere episode Pilot (2001), we discover that Clark has not assimilated

successfully into the titular town of Smallville, Kansas. This theme of the outsider, would be

further expressed in season 2 of the series episodes Rosetta followed by Exodus (2003). Rosetta

gave us and Clark a clearer image of this hidden Kryptonian identity and his struggle with the

Smallville persona tying to assimilate, to the best of his ability. This further alienates him from

his peers which is then repeated later that season in Exodus in which he feels he ruined all his

efforts to have a normal, assimilated life continuing the theme of his internal struggle as the

outsider.

While the theme of the outsider was repeated throughout the series the aforementioned

episodes dealt heavily with Clarks outsider identification. These episodes were key to providing

me with direct examples on his reasons for feeling alienated so if needed to be re-observed the

viewer can view my finding adequately. As I completed my data for the outsider theme my

second theme was nearly fully developed. The second theme of Rejection of heritage, had shared

two episodes with theme 1. Seasons 2, Rosetta and Exodus (2003) shows his rejection to his

birth culture. Clark faces a major conflict in identity when struggling to identify with the

disembodied voice of his birth father Jor-El in Exodus (2003). His first interaction with his

foreign race in Rosetta (2003) was not received well by our young Clark Kent, his foreign

identity of Kal-El, the las son of krypton, is a completely alien identity that carries the legacy of

a race/culture he does not identify with nor wants to.

My final theme was realized when viewing Clarks identity crisis. Through themes 1 and

2 we see two identities in which Clark has had to struggle with, the assimilated self and the

Kryptonian self. Throughout his whole journey Clarks has constantly struggled with these two

personas. Through seasons 6 Subterranean (2006), seasons 9 Salvation (2010) and seasons 10

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Finale (2011) we see the mixing of these identities. I would like to note that though Finale

(2011) is actually two episodes we are treating it as one for it is not broken into two distinct

stories but a conclusion to Clark Kent, the minority.

Its important to note the limitations associated with my data. Smallville (2001) had over

200 episodes. This series spanned for about ten years and much of his struggle as immigrant

though apparent, are not usually in the forefront of many episodes. His alienation can be

explained in further detailed in episodes not listed due to the limited amount of data that can be

used in a content analysis. Another limitation is that while Smallville is a story about superman it

largely focuses on his pre-Superman days as Clark Kent, though helpful for this analysis there

are many stories on his immigration status outside the show. Another limitation that should be

noted is the fact that though he is a literal outsider, a refugee from Krypton, his appearance is

that of as a Caucasian male in America. While minorities can come in many different forms

its important to understand that this analysis focus mainly in his internal struggle of the

minority.

DATA ANALYSIS

My intentions for this study is to give insight and explore the minority complex of Clark

Kent, more widely known as Superman. I use the television show Smallville (2001) to give a

critical view on the question of How Superman is the embodiment of the minority? To do this I

re-watched the entire series to gather overarching themes demonstrating the common link

between Clark (Superman) has with minorities and to demonstrate these themes I used six

episodes. The episodes used in this content analysis are; Pilot (2001), Rosetta (2003), Exodus

(2003), Subterranean (2006), Salvation (2010) and Finale (2011). These six episodes are in

chronological order to show a developing Clark Kent throughout the series. The goal is to

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provide the reader with a clear image of the development and progression of Clarks identity.

From man to Superman wasnt the only journey our hero took.

During my data collection I noticed three key themes throughout the series. (1) The

outsider, how Clarks alienation develops from a fear of assimilation because of his alien status,

(2) Rejection of heritage, his developing knowledge of his culture leads to his rejection of

Krypton, (3) Identity, Clark identity crises steams from the constant flux between his assimilated

self and his Kryptonian self, developing his true identity. In the following sections I will expand

on these three themes to provide the audience with deeper look onto Clark Kent and his minority

complex to answer the question of How Superman is the embodiment of the minority?

I would give anything to be Normal

Theme 1 The outsider, how Clarks alienation develops from a fear to assimilate because

of his alien status.

Minority by definition is the smaller, less than part of a society. This is a relatable

feeling that those who identify as a minority. See the part of feeling less than the majority group

leads to a feeling of alienation and rejection because of ones status in the society. When viewing

Smallville most can see how Clark is like the present-day minority and his struggle to assimilate

the same as countless others. As Clark becomes more aware of his differences the more he feels

secluded. This is the appeal to the Superman, a child from a war-torn land, arriving to America in

the hopes of a better life. This resonates with so many people. This tale can be seen in so many

others own stories. Leaving/escaping, Mexico, Cuba and the Middle East are modern day

examples of people escaping war, poverty and despair. When arriving many feel the sense of

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being the outsider. Superman has the same title by extension. Which is why his story has

resonated with so many, born on Krypton raised on earth, lead him to his alienation.

Clark struggle has been having to keep his identity a secret his whole life. In Smallville, a

show about a young Superman, introduces Clark when he is already in high school. We can see

that he desperately longs to be part of his society as part of the majority. Knowing that he cant,

he re-evaluates his identity. The first episode sets up this theme for the entirety in the series

primer. Clark finds out that he is a foreigner, a person who truly does not belong to this society, a

minority, he feels it and know he knows why. This type of trauma is instrumental in forming

Clarks identity as the other.

By seeing Clark constant re-evaluation of himself in society, it is strongly reminiscent to

that of the minority currently in todays society. His repeated attempts to belong to society

further alienates him. Every time Clark attempts to assimilate he is contently reminded of how

society rejects those who are different. This repeated pattern of attempting to assimilate is seen

time and time again in Smallville. When Clark Kent meets other Kryptonians, he hopes to

assimilate with them but once again he is feels as an outsider. He is not one of them but

doesnt belong in society either. This feeling of alienation forms a fear to embrace their culture

and by extent their status as a minority. This leads into the second theme, rejection of heritage.

Im nothing like them

Theme 2 Rejection of heritage, how Clarks rejection of his ethnicity leads him into developing a

new identity.

Clarks first introduction into his ethnic background lead him to push away from this

identity. This rejection alienated Clark further from his friends and family because he felt that

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they could not understand his circumstance. He already felt different from those in his

community. When finding out he belonged to a damned race of people (nearly extinct) he

rejected his ethnicity, his perceived status in society is re-evaluated. Being a Kryptonian

(minority) was like the Scarlet Letter on his chest.

Well into the series, we can see that Clark feels like a visitor, an outsider in society. He

constantly goes back and forth with his biological father Jor-El, his only connection to his race.

His continued rejection of his fathers lessons led him to adapt what he learns. Since he cant

embrace his culture at this point in his journey, he finds ways to counter birth culture. The act of

defying his culture is in the hope to solidify his status in society, Hes resist his culture for he

feels hes not Kal-El the immigrant hes Clark Kent, American. Yet this struggle he faces still

alienates him for he belongs to both worlds. He is part Kryptonian, part American.

This struggle is crucial for bridging the gap between the fictional character of Superman

and what societies labels as minority. His continued adaptation of his Kryptonian culture leads to

a blending of both the minority and the assimilated identity. This process of pushing away his

heritage is similar to many of those second and third generation minorities in our society. Like

Clark most come to a realization that through the process of assimilating into any society they

gain a new perception on their place in said society.

These were my trials

Theme 3 Identity, Clark identity crises steams from the constant flux between his assimilated self

and his Kryptonian self, developing his true identity.

As discussed in the previous themes Clark has been constant struggle with his identity.

As the show progresses Clark goes through the process of accepting both his Kryptonian (the

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other) and his human identity (the assimilated). This is the natural progression in the life of a

minority. Its in the series conclusion where Clark solidifies his identity accepting both Kal-El

and Clark Kent to become Superman the symbol of not just The American way but in the

grander sense a symbol for self-acceptance.

In the final episode Finale, he states the following I shouldn't have tried to push away

my Kryptonian side. My strength is accepting it accepting you to his birth father Jor-El. His

rejection of his heritage had held Clark back by alienating himself because of his status as the

outsider. Clarks or Kal-El arrived to Smallville USA as a refugee of a planet ravaged by war with

the hope of his parents to live a full life. Though to him the feeling of abandonment, alienation

and the constant struggle of identification caused him much grief these were trials that the

minority has to face to adapt and become a new assimilated self. In the final part of his journey

he is confronted by both Jor-El the representation of his Kryptonian self and Jonathan the

representation of his assimilated self as he prepares for his biggest trial yet the Darkness, the

physical manifestation of all that alienated him. As he dons the Superman identity, Clark finally

finds his place in society. While being the son of foreigner, its within his trials that he finds his

true place in society.

In conclusion, while minorities have many varying experiences from one another they all

in some way or another have to go through a long process of assimilation. While its a

complicated process, many face the same challenges that the beloved Superman experiences. The

reason why Superman is the embodiment of the Minority is because of the same struggle he

faced by being the other in a foreign land. He is neither just the Kryptonian Kal-El or the

Kansas bred Clark Kent but a combination of the two.

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 The first theme is that a major contributing factor to the minority through Clarks feeling

of alienation. My findings were that because of Clarks status as an immigrant, he was constantly

re-evaluating his identity. By not fully belonging to either culture he developed a deep rooted

insecurity. He longed to fully assimilate but because of this label as the other/minority he was

hesitant to let others find out where hes from.

The second theme was on Clarks rejection of his heritage. Clark blames his circumstance

on his Kryptonian heritage. With his introduction to the culture being segmented and bias he

perceived Kryptonians as being less than. His rejection of his ethnicity furthered alienated him

for both cultures. As he grew to understand his culture he bridged the similarities to that of the

society that he rejected. This in turn helped create the foundation to Clarks new sense of self and

his place in society.

The final theme was on the Clarks identity. Smallville provided us with a unique look to

the long process of assimilation. This evident in our society even today. Minorities face

alienation in so many ways. Whether is the media, society or the community, there is a sense of

us or them. By understanding that those belonging to minority label go through a difficult

transition is key in understanding Clarks connection to the minority.

This tale of assimilation is told time and time again through many mediums. When seeing

how Superman has been embraced by so many cultures with then minority label I decided to

research this further. The continuous rejection of his Kryptonian identity caused Clark to grow

into a complex human being challenging to notion of what it is to be assimilated. By belonging

to both Earth and Krypton and overcoming his lifelong trials are key to understanding why he,

Clark Kent, is the embodiment of the minority.

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 References

Beeman, Greg and Fair, Kevin 2011. "Finale" Smallville. Tollin/Robbins Production,

Millar Gough Ink, DC Comics, Warner Bros. Television. November, 2016

Bray, G., Muntz, E. (2015). The Role of Parents in the Processing of Adolescent Trauma

in Smallville. Journal Of Popular Culture, 48(3), 507-519. doi:10.1111/jpcu.12280

Carroll R., M. Daniel. 2015 "Once a Stranger, Always a Stranger Immigration,

Assimilation, and the Book of Ruth." International Bulletin of Missionary Research

39(4):185-188. Retrieved from EBSCOhost on Nov 29, 2016

David Nutter 2001. Pilot" Smallville. Tollin/Robbins Production, Millar Gough Ink, DC

Comics, Warner Bros. Television. November, 2016

Fradkin, C., & Weschenfelder, G. V. (2016). Shared adversities of children and comic

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Greg Beeman, 2003. "Exodus Smallville. Tollin/Robbins Production, Millar Gough Ink,

DC Comics, Warner Bros. Television. November, 2016

Greg Beeman, 2010. "Salvation" Smallville. Tollin/Robbins Production, Millar Gough

Ink, DC Comics, Warner Bros. Television. November, 2016

James Marshall, 2003. "Rosetta" Smallville. Tollin/Robbins Production, Millar Gough

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M., J. j. (2016). Constructing Masculinity: Depiction of the Superheroes Superman and

Batman. IUP Journal Of English Studies, 11(1), 32-38.

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 Paat, Yok-Fong, and Dwain Pellebon. "Ethnic Identity Formation Of Immigrant Children

And Implications For Practice." Child & Youth Services 33.2 (2012): 127-145. ERIC.

Web. 27 Sept. 2016.

Rick Rosenthal, 2006. "Subterranean Smallville. Tollin/Robbins Production, Millar

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Sandifer, P. (2008). Amazing Fantasies: Trauma, Affect, and Superheros. English

Language Notes, 46(2), 175-192.

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