The Good and the Bad of Batman (and Every Story Ever Written!)
It is [the story], therefore, obviously the product of adolescent male power fantasies and wish–fulfillment. It is also, in this day-and-age, a potentially dangerous narrative that can be easily exploited as propaganda that supports the excesses of American imperialism and global capitalism.
However, at its best, the Batman story is about justice, restraint, and the desire to take a stand against evil - to make society as a whole better for the effort. (DiPaolo, 68-69)
For diehard Batman fans, this statement that DiPaolo makes in his book War, Politics, and Superheroes is an outrage (49-69). How is Batman propaganda? How can Batman ever be called dangerous when he has a ‘no-kill’ code? For others, though, it is hard to think of Batman as having restraint, and that he makes Gotham a better place. How can the Batman story be about restraint when he goes around smacking those he wants all night? How does Batman’s actions make Gotham a better place when there is always a new villain lurking in the shadows? Both sides have their points, and both sides of the Batman story are valid. I agree wholly with DiPaolo’s statement above. Any piece of work can be seen as having its’ good side and its’ bad side. Batman is seen as a piece of propaganda just as equally as it is seen as a story of
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A feudal lord can be described as a person with authority, who bestows services or gifts on his/her subjects; this definition can also be used to describe Bruce Wayne. Wayne uses his tragic past (as well as his family’s heritage in Gotham) as a defense of the authority he has over Gotham as Batman and he sees that it is his duty to protect his subjects. This is similar to American imperialism, when America assumed it had authority to rule over other entitles and expanded. And these aspects of Batman can be seen as ‘the excesses of American
Batman is a depiction of hope. Batman was the answer to a lot of people’s problems in a place where nobody felt safe like they should in their home. He was like the rain after a long, dry spell for
Although Superman is unable to be controlled or contained, Batman is much to unpredictable and goes well outside of the law to get what he needs. Superheros are the fictional embodiment of all of our greatest aspirations, they are also a symbol of hope and give families a lightness in times of hardship or struggle. Sometimes people need something to take their attention off of everyday things.From the day we are able to walk, people want to run, but what happens after we run? We want to run faster, jump or even fly. As people we naturally want to be able to do more. Since we can’t do these thing that we all dream about doing, people write and tell stories about people that can do the things we can’t.
Batman is the fictional character that is either loved or hated. In Andy Medhurt’s essay “Batman, Deviance, and Camp” he argues that Batman is interesting for “gay” audiences. On the Contrary, I believe Batman is heterosexual. Batman should not be judged on cherry picked images, women distract batman, and the Joker’s words cannot be taken seriously.
Is this modern concept much different than other stories we have grown up watching from an early age? I believe there are many similarities in stories of superheroes and comic many of us grew up reading and watching on Saturday mornings. Batman, a well-known super hero, fought crime in Gotham and was the “Dark Knight” that restored peace in his community. While Batman did not kill the criminals he was chasing after he did bring them to justice!
More specifically it uses Batman as an example in how people look into deeper meaning into topics. And in this it states, “Heroic men and women are on the case, fighting for the rest of us. It’s all rather sentimental and unre alistic — in short, a fantasy — but as a popular expression ...” this means that we want to see a hero or heroine on a screen fighting and being able to see their world. To fall in ,escape, into their world and be involved in what is happening in their story. And wanting to have a more exciting life by going to go watch these shows and movies.This is how people tend to leave reality through what they are
In choosing to persecute Batman the idea is reinforced that Batman isn’t a Hero people to turn to for hope. Bruce won’t get any praise for his actions, but his unselfish acts
In a movie where good and evil are divided by a very thin line, the Dark Knight rises up to fight against injustice and corruption in Gotham City. An action sequel to the original Batman Begins, this installment is a lot darker filled with more explosion, twists, and suspense. For the first time, a comic has been integrated into the issues of the real world. With the help of District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant Gordon, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining mob members and clean the streets of Gotham for good. Their success is only short-lived when they encounter the Joker, a mysterious mastermind who is out to prove that nobility cannot hold in a world of anarchy.
The artistic representation of the Batman myth is an important cultural artifact of our time because it represents modern society's thirst for heroic ideals in popular entertainment. Since his creation, readers and viewers have admired Batman's unique ability to battle villainy, transcend the law and administer justice. As cultivators of the noir genre in film as well as in literature, Americans have always identified with this enigmatic hero, who exists on the margins of society and yet represents one of the largest corporations in the world. The evolution of Batman in particular and the superhero genre in general (from comic book to television to film and back again) has seen in the latest adaptation from Christopher Nolan's Batman revamp a veritable tilting point for the character once known as the World's Greatest Detective. This paper will analyze why Batman is an important cultural artifact of our day, how he came into being, what he means for society, and how he will be treated in the future.
Batman contradicts his morals while he is fighting the mutant leader and when he is about to shoot him he stops himself with “though that means crossing a line I drew for myself thirty years ago”. While Batman did not kill the mutant leader, earlier on Batman shoots a mutant grunt with a machine gun and faded blood is splattered behind the criminal holding a baby captive (Miller, 64). Later on in the novel Batman says to the joker “a gun is a coward’s weapon, a liars weapon” (Miller, 149). Batman has power to stick to his morals, to take on the evil of Gotham City, and to make the decision to deliver justice no matter whose side of the law he is. However, in the novel he has clearly stated that killing someone crosses his morals and that he despises guns yet he uses them to kill criminals. Batman crosses his golden rule of not killing criminals and shows that he will go above his own moral code of justice.
This source gives a good intake on how a person’s point of view and the targeted audience can play a big role in how the character is viewed upon. I plan on using this source’s context on publication and target audience to make points in my essay on how it affects Batman’s image.
Another work by Crutcher emphasizes that ‘Many Lives of the Batman’ and ‘Batman Unmasked’ are bought in three areas: popular culture studies, popular culture as it relates to marketing and consumerism, and the nature of the comic publishing industry. Most writers have examined the impact of Dark Knight Returns on cultural consciousness, politics, and so on. This antihero construction sparks centuries old dialogues on ethics, the kind of business that comprises the bulk of Batman. “The complexities and graphics in the novel and comic of Batman have been defined as his duality with his villains” (Crutcher 66). Due to popularity and the existence of Batman, people began using the Batman symbol as paraphernalia on personal belongings such as clothing, equipment, and supplies.
Batman: The Dark Knight directed by Christopher Nolan is non-stop action thriller that continually did the unexpected. The film is based off of the original Batman comic book but additionally changes the perception of the everyday world as good to naturally bad. Throughout the movie, Batman stands for honesty and goodness while the Joker is a symbolism of chaos and evil. Both sides are forced to make quick-witted decisions in order to stop the opposing vigilante from doing his desired work. The citizens of Gotham are put in the heart of this circumstance and feel obligated to go against their values to stop the chaos. Numerous people habitually pursue their dreams and values but often become blinded from their
Heroes have the tendency to fight crime or serve the public without having to have a personal reason, this is not the case for Batman. Batman regularly, if not constantly, fights crime for his own benefit. While Batman was still Bruce Wayne, his parents were killed by a soon to be supervillain, this caused him to have an alternative motive to become a “hero.” Even if he does not directly advance on his parent’s murder, he still attacks ever villain that he thinks did him an injustice. “He smashes any and everything in his way while pursuing his ends,” (Wilson). While Batman smashes through his own intentions, Captain America fights crimes/serves the city for the people not for his own benefit. Batman might seem to be doing what a hero is supposed to do, but he is merely trying to avenge his parents death. “ Police are perplexed, worried the group will turn into vigilantes and doubt that the superhero policy is ever stopped any crime,” (source A). This is the same with Batman; the police do not know what to fashion of him, but are worried that he will insert himself in trouble. Batman might seem to be doing activities for others, still he does them for himself.
The Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher Nolan, demonstrates the idea of good versus evil. Batman is known as the protagonist, and Joker is known as the ultimate villain. The representation of crime in the film is seen from the actions of both characters. The film essentially depicts the act of deviance meaning, “behaviour that violates social norms, including laws”. In normality the government would have the greatest amount of power, but in the Gotham city, power is complex. There is minimal structure of law and order in Gotham city due to powerful people like Batman and the Joker. Citizens of Gotham city can no longer fight for themselves in a world filled with supernatural powers. Therefore, the only hope that citizens have rest in the hands of Batman. Although Batman attempts to save Gotham city from Joker’s criminal intentions. Batman, however, also plays a role in deviant activity while attempting to catch the Joker. Realistically, Batman violates the moral code due to destructive behaviour, and putting the lives of citizens at harm. He does not care for social norms, nor whether his acts are of legality. He is devoted to combat organized crime with Harvey Dent, a district attorney in Gotham city. Batman is in fact, the definition of crime, he understands but does not abide to individual rights and social contracts which make up the rule of law. In addition, the man behind Batman, Bruce Wayne also portrays a form of deviance by disguising himself as Batman.
Batman is one of the many fictional superheroes which appears in the “American comic books” that is published by the DC comics. The character is a secret identity for Bruce Wayne, the only heir to Wayne Enterprises. Bruce Wayne swore an oath of vengeance when he witnessed the death of his parents;Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne (Diamond, 2015). Bat man combats criminals in Gotham: a fictional city, with assistance from various characters, for example, his butler Alfred and Gordon; Gotham city police commissioner. Unlike many of the superheroes characters, Batman possesses no powers .Bruce Wayne trained himself intellectually and physically .it is from dedication to training he possessed the useful traits of physical prowess, martial arts skills, detective skills and indomitable will to fight for justice. Though his motive is to combat crime and protect people of Gotham city from criminals, the justice system in most of the times views Batman as a villain and vigilante. He can inflict fear to Gotham city criminals thereby bringing calmness to the city. I identify myself with the Batman character through his selfless will for justice, his strong determination to do good