I recently watched The Dark Knight (yeah, I know, I'm behind on my movies) and was struck by how subtly American propaganda was weaved throughout the entire movie. I didn't even realize it until I started reflecting on the differences in how The Dark Knight portrayed Batman versus how movies/cartoons have portrayed him in the past. There were a couple instances in the movie where Batman used violence to get information out of people. He dropped a man from a painful, but not lethal distance to get him to tell him where the Joker was and then he beat the Joker until he revealed the locations of Rachel and Harvey. I really can't recall the Batman I remember from childhood using violence and torture to get information out of people.
The movie never even raised any ethical questions or objections about Batman's tactics; it was just taken for granted he was doing what was necessary to save his friends. I think this is trying to subtly influence us to believe that these kind of tactics are fine, so when we hear about the U.S. government waterboarding prisoners and saying it's fine and necessary, we won't even stop to question it because the media will have already caused us to internalize that torture is okay when done by the "good guys" (which used to be enough the make the good guys into bad guys, but apparently not any more).
There are a lot of other ways the movie parallels the conflict between the United States and Muslim terrorists. The Joker was clearly meant to represent the Muslim terrorists. He uses tactics similar to theirs, such as kidnapping people, videotaping his victims, and then releasing the videos to spread terror. He uses the threat of hurting innocent people as a way to blackmail Batman (who represents the U.S.) He blows up civilian targets, like hospitals. The Joker is portrayed as an insane man who "just wants to watch the world burn." This is exactly how most Americans view Muslim terrorists, refusing to believe that the Muslims could actually have any legitimate complaints against America. Obviously, they are people who want to destroy everything that is good just for the fun of it and they can't be reasoned with. And of course, one should never negotiate with terrorists or accede to any of their demands and Batman upholds this principle throughout the movie by refusing to give in to the Joker's demands.
There is also the matter of the super spy machine that Batman builds which is able to spy on everyone in Gotham city. Though there is concern expressed about the ethics of spying on private citizens, ultimately, the message that is sent is that in extreme cases such actions are acceptable.
In other words, the Muslims want to watch society burn, we must do anything we can to stop them, including spying on ordinary citizens and torturing the bad guys.
And people say that Hollywood is full of liberals.
6 comments:
hFirst off, I would like to say I loved the movie. You bring up some valid points Matthew, but at the same time I can't help but think they are a little dramatized.
First off I believe the media is very bias and proud to roar out their opinions. It was no secret they were very against torturing, (maybe if it’d been proposed by Obama…?) So I’d be surprised if Hollywood were to suddenly change teams on the torturing debate. At the same time, I don't object to Batman's torturing of the Joker; it saved lives. Whether you’re pro-torture or not, no one can say they were disappointed to see the Joker stopped if at least only for a little while. I feel we too often worry about other's feelings when lives are in danger. Just because I feel this way doesn't mean I LIKE torture, or I crave to watch it, I in fact cringe. But some things have to be done for the country's protection.
As far as the movie being a Muslim-Haters club, I don't think the majority of people view Muslims as psychotic suicidal plane jackers. One of my best friends was raised Muslim and they are the kindest, sweetest family I know. I believe blacks, whites, Mormons and Muslims, whomever CAN have legitimate complaints about our country; but there is no way killing hundreds of people in an act of terror is okay because they have "complaints about America." Ever.
But I do appreciate the parallels you found and hope you enjoyed the movie regardless. :)
I did enjoy the movie actually. :)
First off I believe the media is very bias and proud to roar out their opinions.
Exactly.
So I’d be surprised if Hollywood were to suddenly change teams on the torturing debate.
The conservatives spend a lot of time pushing the viewpoint that Hollywood is full of liberals. While Hollywood likes to push the envelope on what's acceptable, they still are in support of the establishment. It's kind of like how the Republicans put forth all the pro-life rhetoric when they're up for election, but then forget about the subject of abortion the rest of the time. In the same way, Hollywood likes to push the boundaries, but ultimately they support the status quo.
At the same time, I don't object to Batman's torturing of the Joker; it saved lives. Whether you’re pro-torture or not,
The issue is not what Batman should or should not have done. The issue is why was the subject of torturing brought up by the movie? In the past Batman cartoons/movies, there was no need to even bring the subject up. The fact that the film makers saw it relevant to add must say something.
I don't think the majority of people view Muslims as psychotic suicidal plane jackers.
I was referring to Muslim terrorists specifically. Go back and look at the mainstream media right after 9/11 and you will see the overwhelming opinion was that the hijackers were crazy and irrational and were attacking us because they hate our freedom.
I was in no way trying to imply that Muslims in general are violent people; I have met some very nice Muslims as well. But generally Americans have a very hard time understanding why some Muslims are upset enough to attack us. Instead of trying to understand the reasons, they just tell themselves it because they hate us for being free, blah blah blah. (That's good if you don't do this, but I'm just talking about what's put forth in the mainstream media.) And just for the record, I was in no way trying to imply that using terrorist tactics are acceptable.
You make some very interesting points and they are quite relevant but I think that you missed one or two big parts of the Joker character.
The Joker is an internal character and not an outside threat like the Muslim community. That being the first the second is that he does promote the dissolution of the modern American culture, but pure Anarchy. NO matter how much someone, even the most dissolution of Islamic culture, they know that the Muslim's hate American society and it's liberalism.
If Joker had not given the line "I just want to watch it burn" as you quoted then you would be quite right but the fact that he is an anarchist and promotes complete anrachia in society I feel that you were not quite there. I do however congratulate you on finding these interesting parallels.
As far as not remembering a Barman series like the Batman in The Dark Knight, the characters and events are based off the Arkham Asylum chronicles. This tangent of the comics are quite darker than the original comics and fit the mood portrayed in the movies.
The Joker is an internal character and not an outside threat like the Muslim community.
I wouldn't say that the Joker is an internal character. If you think back to the scene where the Joker was arrested, the police commissioner said, "No matches on prints, DNA, dental. Clothing is custom, no labels. Nothing in his pockets but knives and lint. No name, no other alias" in other words, the Joker was not a part of society. He was operating outside of society and its established norms.
Okay, yes, the Joker is an anarchist and the Muslim terrorists are not anarchists, but it's a METAPHOR. Every single detail doesn't have to match up exactly for a metaphor to still be relevant. The important thing is that Americans PERCEIVE the muslim terrorists in a very similiar way as the Joker was portrayed in the movie.
I haven't seen the Arkham Asylum chronicles, so maybe that would change my opinion if I were to see it.
I would actually side with Derek, one of my favorite aspects of Batman is the psychological and philosophical depth it takes to when explored beyond the surface. All the main "super-villains" are tied to an extreme form of a certain psychological condition. The Joker was indeed intended to represent the fullest and utmost levels of anarchy. You are correct in that he completely operates outside of society and culture in the traditional sense (i.e. burning his loot) however I feel that it is meant to speak to broader cultural phenomena then merely U.S.A. vs. Muslim terrorists.
Arkham Asylum chronicles are a good read if you're into Batman, I would recommend it as well.
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