tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653643798419108140.post3221413371014741736..comments2022-12-07T01:26:30.858-05:00Comments on Max Rambles: Over-thinking It: Batman's PoliticsMaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15315839036861161523noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653643798419108140.post-22624570917565145212012-04-09T03:35:49.252-04:002012-04-09T03:35:49.252-04:00Max, you might like this examination of Batman:
ht...Max, you might like this examination of Batman:<br />http://www.counterpunch.org/2008/07/26/batman-and-the-old-order/<br /><br />It might help sustain your interest in the character & it's various franchises. As well as other liberal fans giving Batman a second thought.Assmunchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653643798419108140.post-72304461472113751792012-04-07T02:27:12.398-04:002012-04-07T02:27:12.398-04:00I felt the same sentiments as Max recently. Especi...I felt the same sentiments as Max recently. Especially regarding the Nolan directed films. With 'Rises' looking to nail the coffin shut on the 99%. On the other hand DC recently released Batman:Year One as an animated feature. Which has Batman depicted as almost the polar opposite as what he was in Batman Begins. Which I would like to have seen as the screenplay as in place of the one in Begins. But there seems to be a parallel with the political agenda of the hour. And why not since it's grosses how many viewers. It seems irresponsible of hollywood. Perhaps they should find neutral ground as a platform instead. The way Denny O'Neil did when the Batfamily era ended. Or remember mask of the phantasm? I want to share Thom's optimism about it, as Bats was a character I liked growing up. But I can't seem to shake the odds with the contemporary Bat.Blanknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2653643798419108140.post-72784090144102695482012-03-09T19:20:05.476-05:002012-03-09T19:20:05.476-05:00Interesting article. The first point is a bit unfa...Interesting article. The first point is a bit unfair. Because 90% of Batman comics feature a staunch anti-killing position from the Dark Knight. And 100% of the accepted canon takes that as fact. That fact and how many writers deal with it is what keeps him from being a purely right wing character.<br />But my main thought on this is that looking at Batman as purely a metaphor for politics is to somewhat miss the point. As I see it Batman is primarily a comment on human nature itself. Most notably psychologically. Nearly all of Batman's most famed villains are a personification of a specific psychological condition. The Riddler(Narcissism), Two Face(Split-Personality), Mr Freeze(PTSD), The Joker (just straight up anarchic Insanity) and that is to miss some more complex ones like Scarecrow, Mad Hatter or Penguin.<br />Batman himself is also quite a complex view of human nature and the 'duality of man' and of course paranoia, as you said. Most famously this is bought to the fore by his duals with the Joker. Which at their best always allude to the mutual respect and basic similarities they have.<br /><br />The final point of your post I agree with to an extent. But I believe it to be a more intricate aspect of his character that makes him interesting and sympathetic. He has a level of responsibility that he often struggles with.<br />But he sticks to his belief that humans are fundamentally good and that they should be protected, the villains and the general public. If he was truly right wing he'd have a list of kills longer than Rambo and would only bother himself with criminals who threatened his money!<br />His politics are simple I think; he has none. Not right or left. He is just Batman.Thom Smithnoreply@blogger.com