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Superman was invented from a tragic tale

It was a secret that the men who created Superman kept close to their chest for six decades and eventually took to their graves. For all that time artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel let people think that they dreamed up the bullet-proof flying avenger as a way of attracting girls since they were a pair of amateur youths at the time. But now the comic world is abuzz with a new tragic tale…

‘Superman’ was the invention of teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1930’s. They were studying at Ohio High School when they wanted to do something amazing to impress the girls. This led to the belief that it was the inspiration behind the creation of our superhero “the Superman.” Now it appears that the presumption may be wrong, as it appears that personal tragedy, rather than desire to impress their peers, could be the real reason behind Superman’s birth.

Jerry Siegel’s father, a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania, was residing at Cleveland. On June 2, 1932, a night time robbery at his second hand clothes store resulted in Mitchell’s (Jerry’s father) death. Even though gunshots were heard, Siegel’s family and the coroner said the death was due to a heart attack. According to Brad Meltzer, the best selling author’s theory, it is the sudden loss of his father that resulted in pushing a distraught 17-year old to invent a bullet-proof super-being to avenge evil and fight for justice.

Museums and galleries to benefit from generous grants

Thirty one museums and galleries are going to benefit from grants, worth around £4m in total, to improve their displays. Recipients include the Egyptian coffins of the Ipswich Museum, the Roman Baths Museum in Bath and Norwich Castle’s crime displays. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is receiving the largest award of £300,000. The funds are aimed at enhancing visitor experiences. The money has been distributed by the DCMS (the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) and the Wolfson Foundation.

Culture Minister Margaret Hodge stated:

“I hope the awards will help people all over the UK, particularly those with a disability, get improved access to the wonders of the beautiful and intriguing objects in museums and galleries.”

This is the seventh year of the DCMS/ Wolfson Foundation Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund.   The money awarded to cultural institutions around Britain so far equals a total of £24m.

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery will spend its grant on a new gallery, narrating the tale of the city from medieval times to the present. Museum head Rita McLean stated:

“I would like to thank the DCMS/ Wolfson Foundation for recognising our need. A new gallery will bring long term benefit to local, regional and international visitors.”

TV star Jade Goody Bigg Boss contestant rushes back to London

Jade Goody, 27 year-old TV star, was in the middle of taking part in Bigg Boss, the Indian version of the Big Brother reality TV show. Unfortunately after just two episodes, one phone call from London ended her dreams of achieving the possible crown. The TV star, according to media reports, will undergo a hysterectomy after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Goody is the single mother of two sons, five year-old Bobby and three year-old Freddie. According to a report in the Sun, the doctors have warned Goody that the tumour in her womb may have spread to her bloodstream. In such cases, patients need radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Goody is likely to get her uterus removed. She told the Sun:

“I am fighting for my life. I have got no control over this disease and I am bloody terrified to fight the damn thing every step of the way because I have two beautiful boys who are my world. But I have to be realistic and face the possibility that I might not live to see them grow up.”

She revealed that four previous tests to detect cervical cancer had revealed pre-cancerous cells in her womb. Taking up the Bigg Boss assignment is considered by many as publicity stunt. Goody denied that her illness was a publicity stunt, saying:

“I am sitting here desperately trying to come to terms with the fact that I might die, while people out there accusing me of making my illness up.”

We are sure that people from both countries will be praying for the speedy recovery of Goody, so that her two young sons can enjoy good times with her.

Steve McQueen’s Hunger wins the Camera d’Or prize at Cannes

Steve McQueen’s debut movie Hunger, about IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands’ last few days, has been honoured with the Camera d’Or prize at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The award is given out to first-time film-makers each year. It was given to McQueen this year by US actor Dennis Hopper. McQueen told the festival’s closing ceremony, “This film is about people in a situation of extreme pressure and also what people do and what we do.”

The film stars Michael Fassbender as Sands; he died aged 27 in 1981. There was this fellow named Bobby Sands whose image appeared on television with a number underneath it. The actor had to go on a strict diet for portraying Sands, who starved for 66 days to be recognised as a political prisoner. The film is yet to have a UK release date.

McQueen told the BBC he was inspired by the memory of seeing Sands on television news when he was 11. McQueen won the Turner Prize (1999) for a collection of films that comprised a Buster Keaton-style silent movie stunt.