Wei-Ting Lin
English 383
Dr. Nilsson
Response Essay 2
April 4, 2015
Batman & The Joker In Frank Miller’s work, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986), we discover that the relationship between the Joker and Batman is both a reflective and a homoerotic relationship. Around the 1950’s, there were anxieties regarding censorship within graphic novels. As a consequence, in 1954, the Comics Magazine Association of America produced the Comics Code Authority, which adopted values from both the Association of Comics Magazine Publishers of 1948, and the 1930 Hollywood Production Code. The code was originally made for the protection of young and impressionable readers from the many issues within comic books, such as violence, illicit sexuality, and homosexuality.
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By making the Joker a villain, it can be suspected that this is an example of homophobia rather than the homoerotic. But is it really?
With the Joker, it seems like they are in constant battle, but it is apparent that they have a kind of symbiotic connection with one another. We can see their relationship through the comparison similar relations that Batman forms with the other villains which he faces. One such example is Batman’s association with Two Face. While, at first, it seems perplexing how Bruce Wayne would want to financially support Harvey Dent’s rehabilitation, we learn that Wayne depends on Dent’s recovery as a hope for his own sanity. There is a parallel between the two characters that make this relationship work together. For Two Face, he was like Batman: a rich man, part of the bourgeoisie, with a lot of power and influence, but with a traumatic past. This trauma, that almost-literally creates a dual personality for Harvey Dent, is very similar to that of Batman’s traumatic childhood, where his parents’ murder lead to his own personality disorder. We are able to see Batman’s psyche begin to fall apart in several parts near the beginning of the comic. On
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He sits, watching the television with a blank face, until the bat symbol comes onto the screen and an eerie smile bursts out. It becomes apparent that the break in their mental states are almost simultaneous and dependent on each other’s awakening. The theme of reflection is repeated when the two fight in the House of Mirrors (145-146). They mirror each other in several ways, and this scene serves as a way to show how they are reflective of each other. This is done by the prediction of each other’s moves, and when one is injured the other is wounded in return, as if they are fighting with themselves. In the talk show scene, when Joker is asked to come in as a special guest, the psychiatrist tells the audience that Batman’s psychosis is due to sexual repression (26). There are links between the Joker and sexuality within Miller’s work. The first instance are his pet names for Batman, who he calls “Darling” (41) and “My Sweet” (150). This suggests a less homosocial relationship and more of a homoerotic relationship. When preparing for the talk show, he says that he “brought [his] own [lipstick]” (121). He applies his lipstick in a feminine manner, with lips puckered and his face leaning towards the mirror. It is also ironic how their last struggle ends in a Tunnel of Love (148). Within these scenes, this tunnel becomes a symbolic way to represent the lasting, almost
Alison Bechdel's graphic memoir, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, documents the author's discovery of her own and her father's homosexuality. The book touches upon many themes, including, but not limited to, the following: sexual orientation, family relationships, and suicide. Unlike most autobiographical works, Bechdel uses the comics graphic medium to tell her story. By close-reading or carefully analyzing pages fourteen through seventeen in Fun Home one can get a better understanding of how a Bechdel employs words and graphic devices to render specific events. One can also see how the specific content of the pages thematically connects to the book as a whole. As we will see, this portion of the book echoes the strained relationship between Bruce Bechdel and his family and his attempts to disguise his homosexuality by creating the image of an ideal family, themes which are prevalent throughout the rest of the nook.
...revolutionize a whole new genre of movie, a genre which is fast becoming more and moe popular. 'As filmmaking technology has made it more and more feasible to bring the worlds of the comics to movie theaters, the comics themselves have begun to provide a broader and richer array of material.. from which films might be made' (Booker 2007: Paul Benton, Lecture notes). All the mentioned arguments throughout this essay on top of; the star performances, unique marketing and special effects, help make The Dark Knight a truly great film. Prior to the movies release it was questioned wether the film could sustain the 'increasing moral weight imposed upon it', the movie to date has more than dealt with this pressure, and has become a focal point for many discussions and essays, and finally it is because of the morals and ethics within the movie that I have written this essay.
With all of that being said, I believe the more prevalent urgency of the situations was that the show was made after and partially during the AIDS crisis. At that time it was too risky to create a suggestive queer relationship between two men, (considering that the AIDS crisis mainly demonized gay men). However, the need for any positive representation of gayness was apparent. The relationship between Harley and Ivy, in this episode, and the rest of the series, suggests that the creators wanted
Pearson, Roberta E. and William Uricchio, eds. 1991. The Many Lives of the Batman. New York: Routledge.
Somebody who had established higher power in their community. Somebody who tried to run from fate, and has the moment of recognition and understanding of their destiny. Batman. Even though he is considered the strong and powerful superhero of Gotham City, Batman's characteristic features show that he relates strongly to that of a "tragic" hero. In the beginning, the Batman is presented at a higher state of appreciation, even though the police see him as a vigilante. Despite his wealth, Batman, otherwise known as Bruce Wayne, is easily relatable to audiences, which makes it easy to sympathize and empathize with the character. Batman is in a constant battle within himself, trying to be the good guy, while defeating the bad guys. His morals prove true when he admits that he won't kill any of the many villians that cause destruction for Gotham City. But, because of this moral, sometimes the villians end up escaping and doing more harm then good. In the end, this interal chaos and internal battle is seen interally and externally through Batman. At the end of the most recent Batman series, The Dark Knight, his exit at the end of the movie is, in essence, his figurative death. Bruce Wayne wants to keep Gotham City safe. And with the "Batman" gone, villians will be least likely to continue to destroy and conquer. As an audience, we cling to the edge of our seats and feel dismay for our beloved superhero and what is to become of
The caped crusader, guarding Gotham’s streets and citizens, is in reality just a man-the “Optimum Man” as Grant Morrison has pointed out in his six year study of the character(Esposito). Batman has the resources and abilities to do what is necessary to fight injustice; even with no superpowers he uses self-motivation to become the solution to every problem (Esposito). Batman is the secret identity of Bruce Wayne who, as a child, witnessed his parents murder right before his eyes. In Nolan’s film Batman Begins the mob boss Falcone tells a young Bruce “You think because your mommy and your daddy got shot, you know about the ugly side of life but you don’t. You’ve never tasted desperate.” This leads Bruce to face a turning point in his life were he now realizes his purpose and has the drive to restore Gotham from its crime filled state.
The purpose of the essay is to answer the question: How has Archie Comics reflected changing gender norms in the United States of America from World War II to the present of women in contemporary American society, in its eventual challenge of the position of men as the dominant sex, and in its inclusion of previously marginalized sexual orientations? As entertainment primarily targeted to middle-class America, Archie is a helpful avenue by which to understand acceptable views. This paper will present gender roles portrayed in Archie Comics in three different time frames: the Forties, the Sixties, and the new millennium. It will analyze the establishment of traditional gender roles set forth in the earliest Archie Comic strips. Next it will critique the ways in which it responded to the challenges to these traditional norms and assess whether the comic incorporated these challenges or rebuffed them. Finally, this paper will evaluate the role of modern-day Archie Comics as a vanguard in the new discussion of gender roles and sexual orientation in America. For the purpose of analysis, issues of Archie representative of the era will be examined in conjunction with larger historical developments. These include: the sexual revolution of the 1960s, the post-feminist world following the 1970s, and the rise of LGBT acceptance.
Many Americans like to watch movies, specifically comic book based movies. Watching super heroes and villains with abnormal powers bring pleasure, excitement to numerous Americans across the country. The Joker is one of the many villains Americans enjoy watching. Movies like The Dark Knight and Batman have been created based on the Batman comic books, though, the villains in both films have a couple similarities and differences. Through analyzing both villains, it can be evident which Joker is more like the original Joker from the Batman comic books. The Joker from Batman and The Joker from The Dark Knight have both similar appearances and behaviors, but are very different when it comes to their goals.
Besides of Batman almost killing the joker, Batman hold himself because of his moral judgment, the Joker kill himself on purpose to frame the Batman to cause the media goes against him and his ideological position. Because Batman as the myth or the hero, it keeps Batman in a ubermensch, position were what he believes to be morally accepted or not, directing his morality the reference, although the dark nights use violence, weapons, threats against others he keeps a certain level of morality or decision of what is more important putting justice to its hands. The Dark Knight Returns, Batman is seeking information from a thief. In the middle of his “interrogation,” Batman throws him to a window. The man sits in large piece of glass stuck in
Author Frank Miller wrote this comic in an interesting way and has since changed Batman for the future of his comics and movies. Miller starts out with Bruce Wayne talking to the Commissioner as they are both noticeably older and Bruce is disappointed about the way Gotham has turned out and he still shows signs of guilt from Jason’s death. This is evident in his thoughts as he comments to himself that he has failed to protect the city and also failed to protect Jason. It is also present in the environment as we see Bruce remembering the first time he found the bat cave and also when we see that there is still a Robin suit shining through glass in the Batcave.... ...
Batman (Christian Bale) is hoping to hand on his crime fighting duties to D.A Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) yet when Batman’s cards are on the table the twisted mastermind who goes by the name of the joker (Heath Ledger), forces the masked vigilante to go against everything he ever stood for.
Batman and police commissioner James Gordon try to rid the Gotham of organized crime while combating the rise of the menacing and terrorizing psychopath villain, the Joker. (uci.edu) It’s important to take notice of the other clowns featured throughout the movie as well as their roles in the heist. This is crucial and singles the Joker out as the odd man.
When comics were first coming out, they were not all that popular but in todays’ world, they have become very popular and well known. Several of these comics have been turned into films, which is one of the many reasons why the popularity has been rising over the years. One of the most well known comics is Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. This comic was composed and released in 1986 by Frank Miller. With the usage of Frank Miller’s powerful, intense lines and the artwork done by Klaus Janson’s and Lynn Varley’s it has elevated this comic up to the very top of mainstream comics. In Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, the skillful illustrations on the pages successfully create the thought that there are underlying meanings, which makes the atmosphere a very intense one throughout the comic. The work of art that is presented on the pages in this comic are embedded in such a way that the pages become the continuum for the meaning. One of the main themes that are imbedded on the pages through the artwork in this book is the ideological struggle between Bruce Wayne and Batman.
Why so serious? If I were to ask you that question six months ago, you wouldn’t understand the phrase. Now that The Dark Knight has been made though, most people will understand what I am talking about. Ever since The Dark Knight was created, the joker has been thrust back into the public eye. Most people only know the joker from the performances of Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight and Jack Nicholson in the 1989 film Batman. Most people forget that the Joker has been a villain since 1940 in Batman #1 (spring edition). The Joker has been reinvented every decade since his first appearance. He started off as a homicidal maniac, then a criminal that was just a harmless nuisance to becoming a mass murdering, schizophrenic clown that we know today. He has been named number one on the Wizard’s list for one hundred all-time villains. In this speech I will tell you how the joker was created, the criminal career of the joker, and trademark characteristics of the joker.
The Joker shows lack of a conscious when he took a grenade and put it in a guys mouth and pulled the pin and just left him there so if the man where to open or move his mouth in any way the man would die from explosion and joker had no regards for the man whatsoever.