Why we need a Pulitzer for screenwriting

One of the cheesier MacGuffins of Superman Returns is the title of Lois Lane’s Pulitzer Prize-winning article, “Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman.” In the context of this 154-minute Velveeta-fest, that’s saying a lot. But it does get you thinking. Maybe the world needs a Pulitzer for screenwriting. If one existed, could it perk up the superhero genre? Nothing like America’s most prestigious prize to prime the competitive juices. Besides, the folks on the Pulitzer board, who laud “heroic, multifaceted coverage,” “valorous and comprehensive coverage” and “courageous and aggressive coverage,” clearly were weaned on superhero comics.