The United States was forever changed after the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. That day proved that our government and our people were vastly underprepared for any such attack. As a result, we created our own protectors and the live action super hero film genre was born. As a nation left traumatized, we escaped to film to soothe our wounds and create a utopic, imaginary world. In these movies we experience the familiar theme of an American cityscape under attack. Instead of the total destruction experienced in real life, we are guarded by the superhuman crusaders we’ve plucked from the pages of well-loved comic books. These men and women served their intended purpose of counteracting our feeling of vulnerability, and our obsession with superheroes has increased exponentially since then. Specifically, Nolan’s 2008 Batman: The Dark Knight addresses American concerns following the attacks. Batman: The Dark Knight reflects our fear of the warped mindset of terrorists, as evidenced by The Joker. In addition, Batman represents our own National Security as he exploits fear and power in order to create his own version of justice. The nation is willing to overlook a lot of invasive tactics if it results in the happy ending the citizens of Gotham are able to experience. The superhero genre allows us to glimpse what we wish society could be like. These similarities are effective in presenting an achievable level of peace and protection to the audience.
About the presenterLindsey Poe
I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in English Literature with a minor in Spanish from Georgia College and State University in the Spring of 2017. Following graduation, I applied to and got accepted at my alma mater. I am currently in my second year of graduate school, working towards a master’s in English.