Character Design and Aristotle
Spider-Man is one of the most recognizable and championed superheroes of the modern era. In 2002, director Sam Raimi transformed the classic comic book and cartoon into an iconic live-action film starring Tobey Maguire as its lead. This adaptation brought the character of Spider-Man into the mainstream as a powerhouse. This three-film franchise utilizes fashion and character design to persuade that this is a story worth viewing. The design elements reflect that of the original comics with modern influence, allowing for the movie to feel both nostalgic and fresh. This mode of persuasion is in alignment with Aristotle’s views on the rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos. Aristotle believed ethos to be a rhetorical appeal that enhanced character and credibility, pathos to be the rhetorical appeal that invoked emotion, and logos to be the rhetorical appeal that resonated with logic.
For Spider-Man, ethos is established in the design of the character and setting. The comic-accurate suit solidifies the symbol of Spider-Man as a true superhero. The 2002’s suit is enriched with a texture that preceding SpiderMan variants fail to follow. The dark blue ridges of the web and the small hexagonal scales encase Toby Maguire in a way that promotes authority and demands respect. The reflective eye-wear provokes trustworthiness, as the whole city is seen through the eyes of this superhero. This well-crafted and rich design of a suit represents the power of Peter Parker’s Spider-Man. What makes the 2002 Spider-Man movie truly special, is the inclusion of rips and tears and homemade sewings.
The 2002 movie is the mainstream introduction to the character of Spider-Man. This character is presented to the audience through the lens of a nerdy and soft-spoken Peter Parker, complete with 2000’s style eye frames and zip-up hoodies. When Parker begins to recognize himself as Spider-Man, he is depicted wearing a makeshift suit, complete with a red mask and fingerless gloves. This amateur touch promotes pathos, as the audience is better able to see this version of Peter Parker using his youth in accordance with his powers. This characterizes the original Spider-Man as brave, aloof, courageous, and humorous. The revitalized and refurbished suit that follows further characterizes this with small details and tangible texture. The rips and tears at the end of the movie provide realism, contributing to the suit's logos. Spider-Man is a ferocious superhero whose tattered suit is a direct reflection of his efforts to win. This state of disrepair makes the act and drama of it all feel real and raw. The suit is Spider-Man, but the man peeking through the remains is Peter Parker. The rips unite both identities to forge a stronger superhero.