My Ph.D in Horribleness (Get yours here) |
So, why do I care, beyond a good laugh, about this seemingly awful and unsuccessful self-branding? My multilevel interests are certainly a blend of clear/confused, analytic/sarcastic, personal/professional. First, the catchphrase is beautifully snarky for its (re)affirmation of education as an evil value (a big part of my draw to "an ethics of evil" is its center on intelligence). In contrast to his nemesis, Dr. Horrible demonstrates an appreciation of ethical conduct (protecting children, refusing to kill), strength of mind, and working toward social change and redistribution of power. This is not a new concept, of course, as the theme of sharp-witted evil-doers can be found stretching back over many decades through histories of brilliant mad scientists and evil world-changing geniuses in comic books or other superhero/supervillain texts such as original and crossover films, TV series, and video games (Lex Luthor, Magneto, Roxor, The Brain, Eric Cartman-- all have something in common with Dr. Horrible). On top of that the doctor theme itself is also incredibly popular among villains, encompassing genre skipping icons from Dr. Doom, Dr. Octopus, Dr. Strange, Dr. Fu Manchu (WARNING: Orientalism), Dr. No, Dr. Evil, to Dr. Robtnik. In a February 9, 2011 story on Comic Vine, Tony 'G-Man' Guerrero reminds me that I'm not alone in my consideration of this trend by asking, "Why are so Many Villains Doctors?" In this writing, he sets off to examine a few popular evil doctors for proof (or lack thereof) related to being an actual (medical) doctor. Guerrero's definition is a little too confined for my tastes, but I find the brief exploration useful as another road into the humor surrounding Dr. Horrible's Ph.D. Indeed, the catchphrase itself works to articulate the irony of claiming the title of an advanced degree (in a rather unrecognized field to boot), without having earned one(?), as part of a show of power. It's hyperbolic self-determination (perhaps he even becomes more evil/horrible the more he believes in himself as such).
Earning a doctorate of philosophy in something related to race, gender, film, and cultural studies has been a long-term goal of mine since finding said academic passions along with the drive to become a professor as a career path. In more than minor ways, that means that I have to buy into a system where credentials make the person-- a person who at least eventually appears much more like a marketable product. As such Dr. Horrible and I share a little something in common, namely the drive or desire to prove ourselves through title and qualification (his declaration) or the process of earning them (my dedication). And we're both working to sell ourselves as these neat and understandable packages-- Dr. Horrible for the evil fame and glory, and me for the acceptance letter and financial aid package. On the other hand, I like to think that we each also maintain skeptical critiques of these forms of credentialing. Ultimately Dr. Horrible's credentials are unintelligible, thus Moist's confused reaction. The "Ph.D in Horribleness" doesn't exactly fool or confuse anyone along the same twisted lines that inspire Guerrero to question the status of other doctors. It seems in fact rather clear that Dr. Horrible is not a real doctor at all, at least not in any way that can be confirmed beyond his positions as scientist and inventor, titles that describe quite a few doctors at the same time that the terms do not all inclusively overlap. That his catchphrase is at once an assertion of verifiable intellectual prowess (in a recognizable form, an advanced degree) as well as a refusal of typical ideas of what kinds of knowledges are valuable all roll together to root this Dr. in contradiction. I maintain these contradictions as a valuable space to sit and think on why-- why science, why academics, why doctors? I believe it might be that all these things, when radically embodied, have been at some time or still are seen as posing a(n evil) threat to concepts of the good, the true, or the normal.
If I could be a supervillian /evil doctor, I'd be Dr. Deconstruction. Using your own mind power or this Evil Doctor Name Generator, who would you be?
(Coming up next, more on how this relation to normalcy queerly positions Dr. Horrible...)