Media

Speaking out at a press event

At a press appearance for We Live in Time, the host asked Andrew Garfield: “What do you want most? There are more than five hundred people here — clap your hands and they can make it happen for you.”

“I'm actually already very happy. We should put our energy into the things that really matter.”

The host pressed: “What could matter more than this right now?”

“Maybe the lives of Palestinians and people in Gaza right now, and the lives of everyone in the world suffering under terror.”

The studio audience applauded. He continued:

“Maybe that's where we put our hearts and our energy — anyone who is suffering, anyone who is oppressed, anyone suffering under the weight of terror today, anyone who cannot live a life of dignity. That is where our energy should go right now.”

This account is translated from a Chinese-language write-up and is a paraphrase, not a verbatim transcript.

Power and responsibility

The Spider-Man story is not only a display of superpowers; more than that, it is an exploration of responsibility and of growing up. Peter Parker's motto — “With great power comes great responsibility” — reflects his inner world and his values.

As a very particular kind of superhero — your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man — Peter has to handle threats from outside while also managing an ordinary life: school, work, and the people around him. The reason the character is so widely loved is that he shows what it might look like for an ordinary person to become a hero. He has no illustrious background, no endless wealth, not even a perfect body, and yet through his own wit and courage he overcomes one obstacle after another and keeps his city safe.

Spider-Man's story is a legend about growth, courage and responsibility. From the comics page to the television screen to the big screen, his image keeps changing, but the spirit at its core stays the same. He is a hero to children and a mirror for adults to reflect on themselves.