By Dillon McDuffie, Student Writer
With the creation of art there are many different layers that construct a narrative. Narratives are built to reflect, demonstrate, and above all else inspire those that indulge in beauty that is a subjective perspective. Art innovates and translates infinite meaning through time by encouraging perspective rather than instruction. In the summer of 2025, the duality of art was put on full display through six meaningful words engrained in the core of Superman (2025): “Maybe that’s the real punk rock.”
No turn of phrase means more to the 2025 summer blockbuster than those six words. Out of context they hold no weight, but in the particular vein of Superman (2025) they reflect, demonstrate, and inspire.
To put into the quote from the film it happens to our protagonist, Clark Kent (Superman) and Lois, all time low. They remain reflective in a time of chaos in life in a simple time, to which they both claim to each other to have been former punk rock kids. This idea is however refuted by Lois because in her mind Clark is in no way true punk rock, as she redefines her statement to be more than music. She’s punk rock because she’s defiant and questions everybody. Clark apparently can’t be punk rock because he “trusts everyone, and thinks everyone is beautiful.” This all builds up to the crescendo that is Clark’s response: “Maybe that’s the real punk rock.”
So now, kindness is the real punk rock. The duality between those that live in cultural polarity now lies at the core of a kindness movement that now began to inspire. Movements are only as good as those that inspire them though, a sound structure is needed in any sense of revolution and Clark Kent is that inspiration.
Throughout this entire editorial the title character has only been referred to as one side of his alter ego, Clark Kent; consider that the “duality of Superman”. This is an all-powerful character engrained into modern culture as often as those of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. With this comes an understanding of a character’s story, but not always a character’s identity. All too often is the story of “SUPERman” told rather than the story of “superMAN”. This idea stretches beyond a comic book or the silver screen and into our own lives; we are defined by what we can do for others, not what we can do for ourselves.
Kindness is the core strength of this film, as compared to the core question; what does it mean to be human? An odd one given that the title character is famously from another planet, but does it simply come down to birthrights. Clark Kent loves, he gets scared, and he feels pain, but at the root of his heart he is compassionate. It’s a question of nature vs nurture that the film does shy from. Clark is everything he is because of who raised him. He is governed to be good by his understanding of human nature, while others’ understanding of it fuels them to doubt. Call it the “duality of human nature”.
A narrative of art built upon three simple ideas. To reflect on those very ideas of kindness and human nature’s impact on our lives. Demonstrate the ideas that the former highlights and find actionable causes in our lives. Finally, to inspire a wave of hope that transcends a film and becomes a movement of people united under one simple demographic, humanity. To reflect, to demonstrate, and to inspire.
At the end of the day, we choose what side of the pendulum we swing towards first. It is fine to switch sides, for you will in time find your way back, for with time comes age and the gift of growth. If punk rock to you is the idea of skepticism, doubts, and a life built on independence then you are entitled to that. However, if punk rock is to you, it is hope, love, and a never-ending grace you are once again entitled to that. For at the end of everything, “maybe that’s the real punk rock”.
Consider that, the “duality of punk rock”.
ECC Cornerstone 