Existentialism Across the Spiderverse
Rebellion in the face of predestination
I recommend listening to the Across the Spiderverse soundtrack whilst reading this post for full immersion.
Spiderman Across the Spiderverse is the best movie to come out this year and it’s not even close. Barbie and Oppenheimer both lack any sense of identity and conviction. I've enjoyed it so much that I've watched it three times in cinemas. Dare I say it is my new favourite movie. It is a marvelous display of the existential themes of what it really means to be a superhero. Spiderman is undoubtedly one of the greatest superhero stories of all time, and Miles Morales is no different. Traditionally Spiderman explores the themes of responsibility that comes with power. Across the Spiderverse takes this to another level by framing moral duty in an existential light.
At this point in the series, Miles is exposed to all the other spidermen in the multiverse who have all had the exact same story. He is told that his story will unfold exactly like everyone else's. He will lose those close to him, just like all the spidermen. Rather than accept his fate as cursed by virtue of being Spiderman, he chooses to reject the narrative and forge his own path, no matter how many people tell him what it's supposed to be.
Everyone keeps telling me how my story is supposed to go. Nah, imma do my own thing. - Miles Morales
In a masterful display of combining plot and theme, Across the Spiderverse uses the Spiderman canon as an analogue to determinism. With each multiverse unfolding the same way, we are led to believe that every multiverse must have the same story. Although we don’t experience a multiverse, we have something very similar. The people who have gone before us, our peers and our neighbours, what we are taught by society. They behave in much the same way in convincing us that we have to travel along a fixed route. Miles Morales' rejection of the canon is an existential revolt that sees him forge his own path rather than accepting life as it's supposed to be. That's what makes him a superhero. His resolve to transcend the shackles of reality and do what he knows is right is what makes him a superhero. The movie ends on a cliffhanger, however there is no doubt in the viewer's mind that Miles is a hero. He has already cemented himself as a hero through his existential struggle. Whether he wins or loses in the next movie is irrelevant.
At the heart of it, existentialism is about recognising one’s radical freedom to choose anything you want, without the constraints that the world imposes on us. You are not defined by your nature or circumstance, but by the choices you make. It challenges the idea of a fixed destiny and encourages us to take responsibility for our actions and choices.
With great freedom comes great responsibility.
Through Miles, we are taught that we can do the impossible. Just because something hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t. We can also be superheroes because our power is realising our freedom. No matter how much the odds are stacked against you, there is a beauty in defiance.
My story
The reason why this film resonates with me so much is because I see so much of my life journey in Miles Morales. Like him, I'm also in a foreign land without any loved ones by my side. There are countless stories I can look at, and they all tell me that I'm going to fail. The chances for a solo founder to succeed are almost 0. I have no one by my side and I have to walk this journey alone. His defiance gives me encouragement, because I too am defying the world. So many times it feels all too easy to give in and choose the easy route, but I can look up to Miles and see an unwavering resolve. Indeed he really has no other option, it is life or death. To listen to what others say is to deny himself, so he must revolt out of self-preservation. The same is true for me, if I do not revolt, then the courageous part of me dies. I may survive but I won't have any respect for the version of myself that is left.
Takeaways
So what are some practical things you can take away from this?
Challenge the limitations that the world has taught you. You don't have to accept them (but you'll have to bear the responsibility of rejecting them). Here's something that might help you get started with this: Things You’re Allowed To Do.
Train yourself to be defiant.
Give yourself the self respect you need to pursue life with full force.
Don't give in to the norm (or at least be self aware why you're doing it).
Watch Spiderman Across the Spiderverse. If you've already watched it, watch it again.
Looking back at this, I've written something awfully close to a high school english essay. Nonetheless, great works demand commentary (which seldom of my high school texts were). If my teenage self were to see me now, they would revel in horror.