This morning, I was musing about Superman- well, actually about Clark Kent and the likelihood that his job is in jeopardy. In a world where newspapers are disappearing, where will Mr. Kent work? Will the Daily Planet globe follow the suit of the Seattle PI and stand still one day? A better question is, why is CK still in this business anyway?
When Clark Kent was invented, being a newspaperman carried much more significance. It was a symbol of intelligence, industriousness, success, and civic involvement. This was especially important given that Superman was an expression of American immigrant identity. In The Amazing Adentures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon eloquently makes the point that Superman is, in many ways, an expression of Jewish immigrant identity. The character was invented by a young Jewish American (as were many of the most famous superheroes), Kent has characteristic Jewish features (black hair and blue eyes) and Superman is a representation of the mythical golem, a strong creature that protected the Jews. In the early 20th century, it was difficult to be an ethnic looking immigrant. My own Italian-American family had our own struggles about what to keep or not keep – faith, language, tradition- in a time when the dark-haired Catholic 
(or Jewish, or Kryptonian) immigrant was viewed with suspicion. So Clark Kent represented the immigrant who became the idealized American: the newspaperman.
This is no longer the American ideal, and is a part of life going by the wayside. Superman does not even represent the patriotic immigrant, having renounced his US citizenship. So, what would CK do nowadays to represent the successful man in a time when patriotism and civic engagement are less valued? If he were still in print media, I think he would be a blogger. In the broader scope of success, perhaps he run a dot com start-up, a la Facebook. What job advice would you give Clark? To help him out, I started a resume:
Resume
Clark Kent
Address: 1500 Main St., Metropolis
Phone: 555-555-4376
e-mail: clark.c@dailyplanet.com
Qualification Summary:
- Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter
- Excellent communication skills
- Outstanding organizational, multitasking, and problem-solving skills
- Superhuman abilities including: super strength, hearing, vision, and speed; x-ray vision; heat vision; flight; indestructible.
Employment History:
The Daily Planet (fmr. Daily Star) , Metropolis, 1938-
Investigative journalist. Published several acclaimed and award-winning features. Specialized in investigation of corporate corruption. Frequent collaborations with award-winning journalist Lois Lane.
Kent Farm, Smallville, KS, 1938-
Staff of family-owned farm. Took over as farm manager at age 18. Increased productivity of the farm 200%.
Education
Journalism
Metropolis University, Metropolis, KS.
Kryptonian Internship
Fortress of Solitude, Antarctica
