At multiple points in life, no matter who you are, you will experience conflict. It is a natural part of being around other people and life would be too harmonious without it. Conflict encourages change and conversations. Conflict drives our favorite stories and characters. Conflict forces us to look at the root of an issue or confront feelings that we try to ignore. Conflict has the potential to lead to greater things if the conflict is resolved.
Conflict resolution can be tricky. It requires communication, the willingness to see different perspectives and the desire to engage the true problem and resolve the conflict. All of these can be incredibly difficult… even for superheroes.
For some reason, 2016 is the year superheroes just can not get along. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" was released less than a month ago and "Captain America: Civil War" comes out next month. In both of these movies, superheroes fight superheroes, but the conflicts are both very different. "Civil War" is a Captain America movie, meaning that the themes of the movie will include loyalty and the need to do what is right.
"Batman v Superman" is very different from that and the conflict between the heroes is shallow and not really fleshed out to its full potential. The movie has been absolutely ripped apart in reviews; and personally, I have so many issues with it, but my biggest problem has to be the conflict. The movie, like the title, tried to encompass too much. There’s so much back and forth between Batman and Superman’s story lines, yet both the characters are so surface level, making their conflict subpar at best.
Batman and Superman hate each other because each of them believe that the other is taking the law into their own hands and are dangerous. Superman sees Batman as a menace. He tries to take on the Dark Knight as Clark Kent, through the use of his job at the Daily Planet, which does not work. Bruce Wayne sees Superman as the guy who destroyed Gotham—the city he loves—during his fight with General Zod in "Man of Steel." He sees Superman as this all-powerful being that could destroy the world if he wanted to.
Of course, Bruce ignores the fact that Superman does not want to destroy the world and Clark does not care that Batman is doing what he believes to be right. They do not try to see the other’s perspective and they do not believe the other could possibly be trying to do good. Instead of communicating their issues, the heroes decide to fight about it, because that is totally what a superhero should do, right?
I am not saying Batman and Superman aren’t superheroes! They definitely are and I love them. I am just saying that the portrayal of these characters in "Dawn of Justice" painted them as self-righteous, antagonistic, holier-than-thou men, who simply want to be the one in charge. The title conflict is essentially instigated by Lex Luthor and an unnamed accomplice, but the main rage for the conflict comes from Batman and Superman.
Both are trying so hard to protect the city or the people that they love, that neither can see that there is a greater conflict brewing until it is too late.
Do not follow their example. Do not get so far into a conflict that your fight destroys a city, literally.
Talk about it, see the other’s perspective and be willing to resolve the issue. It is easy to let personal feelings get in the way of resolving a conflict, but I think communication is key to fixing that and helping you move forward. Conflicts don’t truly benefit anyone until they are resolved; even then, the benefits may not be worth the conflict.
The conflict in "Batman v Superman" between the heroes was resolved too quickly to truly see the resolution. I think the conflict in "Civil War" will play out more, simply because Marvel has been developing these characters and the conflicts for years. The third Captain America movie will more than likely be a better example of conflict resolution than "Dawn of Justice." There will still be examples of personal feelings and agendas getting in the way of what needs to be done, but I think the film will do a better job of truly resolving the conflict between the two heroes because Marvel movies have a good history of engaging the real conflict. And I think that’s what is important.
Actually engaging the conflict, addressing it and not just moving on to another conflict to ignore the current conflict. Batman and Superman end up working together, because they had to, not because they got past their personal differences and hatred of each other. At some point, the two heroes did get over their personal feelings, but it was not really addressed. Not addressing the issues and feelings can leave unresolved feelings, which could become a problem in the future.
It’s not often that a movie can fail so spectacularly, but teach something so important. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" showed me the need for communication, the willingness to see other’s perspectives and the desire to engage the issue and to resolve the conflict. Looking at the conflict in this movie can show you how not to handle a conflict. These two superheroes go at each other instead of really engaging each other in a productive way and trying to see the other’s perspective.
In this instance, do not be like Batman and Superman from "Dawn of Justice." Be a person that is willing to communicate and engage the real problem. Resolving a conflict can lead to better success than continuing a conflict can.
