Batman Sociology

900 Words2 Pages

On Saturday February 18, I watched the new Lego Batman Movie at the Celebration Cinema in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, with my mother and sister. The Lego Batman Movie is a 2017 animated film about the famed DC Comic hero, Batman, featuring the voice acting abilities of Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes. It was directed by Chris McKay. The movie is set in the fictional city of Gotham, which is protected by Batman from a (often reoccurring) cast of zany and elusive criminals. Batman is a much loved, mysterious celebrity in the city. What the citizens of Gotham do not know is how empty Batman’s life truly is. In the absence of criminals to battle, it is quickly made clear just how lonely Batman’s life is. Batman’s refuses …show more content…

It is of great importance to understand the societal values present at the time and place in which a person lives; it is one’s social responsibility. One does not necessarily have to agree with modern societal values, and, in fact, often different media outlets present differing or conflicting views that challenge norms or changing ideals. It is simply a person’s responsibility to learn about the different societal perspectives (both mainstream and counter-culture) to better understand the world he or she lives in, create his or her own informed view point, and to be a socially aware citizen. Movies (and other media) are an ideal source of much cultural information. They express opinions in promotion of certain societal expectations, against mainstream societal expectations or making fun of societal expectations, and/or some space in between. The Lego Batman Movie, for example, emphasizes the importance of family and friends, the idea that wealth does not equate happiness or a good life, pokes fun at common comic and action movie tropes, and implies the popularity of the Lego franchise, to name a few. The movie also contributes to academic enhancement through the liberal use of references to common pop culture. Pop culture is of vital academic value as, through its analysis, one can gain a deeper insight into the views and beliefs prevalent in United States society at …show more content…

The movie promoted family, a rather traditional societal notion, however it did seem to advocate non-traditional family structures, featuring adoption, a single-father, and choosing one’s own family (not necessarily blood-related), which shows a shift in traditional societal values. Also, the police commissioner was female, challenging gender norms by placing a woman not only in a leadership role but also in a male-dominated profession, once again challenging traditional roles. There were also homosexual overtones and, though they were mostly used for comedic value, they do emphasis the general movement towards acceptance (and even support) of non-heterosexual relationships and

More about Batman Sociology

Open Document