Umberto Eco asked hard questions about the myths we can’t help believing

Most people know Umberto Eco as the author of The Name of the Rose , a medieval detective story that caused a sensation. But the postmodern author, who died on Saturday, published a slew of novels that questioned the nature of belief and truth.

Eco wasn’t really known as a science fiction author, although he wrote a couple of children’s books in the 1960s about aliens, astronauts and other adventures. Eco was well known as a theorist and semiotician, who wrote extensively about pop culture.

His essays on comics are still taught in campuses everywhere. Including a highly influential analysis of Superman called (in English) “the Myth od Superman,” where he explores why the Man of Steel needs Kryptonite, and what exactly Superman’s adventures mean. He’s fascinated by the lack of tight continuity between 1960s Superman stories, and the proliferation of imaginary “what if ” stories about the Man of Steel marrying Lois Lane, and so on.

In the end, he concludes that Kal-El has enough power to take over the world if he chose, but that his use of powers is instead an exploration of the question, “What is good?”

Even if you never read Umberto Eco’s work, his explorations of the nature of truth, and our uses of mythology and conspiracy theories, have played an essential role in shaping all of your favourite narratives.