Dark Knight Trilogy and 911

A compilation of findings for our class documentary. you may link different sources to your notes.

Batman Begins
batman trilogy as allegory for conservativism: http://the-right-solutions.blogspot.com/2012/07/christopher-nolans-batman-is-allegory.html -wayne vs r'as al ghul=reagan vs. soviet union -protection of citizens, american exceptionalism, acceptance of evil's existence, good will always win -oppressed poor and glorified self-serving rich (except waynes)



Dark Knight
Opening scene:  Bank robbery in process - explosions remind us that we will never be the same following 911 - Just as Gotham will "never be the same after the Joker" (Stevens )

Final scene - "Nolans' closing vision of the state of Gotham City—a pessimistic landscape of corruption, chaos, and fear—may not be to every viewer's taste. But at least it's a vision, one that, as Sept. 11 draws near again, looks disturbingly familiar" (Stevens)

DKRises:
Dark Knight Rises - only film of the three shot in New York (Occupy Wallstreet) - "hollow city" (RC )

On Commisioner Gordon's Map of the city, the area that the  football field that was blown up by Bane was renamed from the existing area of "South Hickney" to  "Sandy Hook". Sandy Hook was the elementary school in Newtown, Conneticutt where a shooter killed 20 children and 6 adults on December 14, 2012.

Picture (Annie)

The Politics
"The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming." -The Dark Knight (Harvey Dent)

The Politics of The Dark Knight Trilogy:

The Politics of 9/11 The Similaries Between Their Politics: *^REALLY GOOD LINK^*
 * 1) "If you look at the entirety of the Batman trilogy, the politics are more complex. In each installment, director Christopher Nolan plays with different approaches to crime and capitalism. There are no easy dichotomies. By the end of the third film, a clear argument for balance between authoritarianism in the name of order and an anarchist view of people power emerges."  [://prospect.org/article/masked-morality-batman-trilogy]
 * 2) "Nolan even undermines the story of the good billionaire, showing how people in authority have too much wealth and power. It’s the fusion reactor created by Wayne Enterprises that becomes the bomb, after all, a potent symbol of how even the good work done by corporations can be turned into a negative force." [://prospect.org/article/masked-morality-batman-trilogy]
 * 1)
 * 2) *​"the unprecedented failure of the US air defense system on the morning of the attacks."
 * 3) *"contradictions and dubious evidence in the official claims about the alleged hijackers and masterminds, and doubts about their real identities."
 * 4) *"evidence that the alleged hijackers were financed by states allied with US intelligence."
 * 5) *"suspicious and massive international financial trades suggesting foreknowledge of the attacks."
 * 6) "Some of these highly respected individuals even believe that 9/11 may have been an inside job. It can be very uncomfortable to even consider the possibility that certain individuals within government were involved either in allowing the attacks to happen, or in some way facilitating them in order to forward their hidden agendas." *CONTAINS VIDEOS*
 * 1) "Nolan’s Batman – taking the tough route against terror – offered a ringing endorsement of Bush policy, and that his shadowy heroism made him the living embodiment of Vice-President Cheney. More liberal critics identified Batman as the 'black half' of Obama, reading the film as a paean to the ‘politics of hope’ and a demonstration that torture, surveillance and rendition simpily don't work against terrorist threats."
 * 2) "The Dark Knight   is not merely a political allegory, but a unique, fantastical meditation on the death drive after 9/11. The paradoxical ways in which The Dark  Knight   both re-enacts and reinterprets narratives of trauma after September 11 is symptomatic  of Freud’s observation of our repetitious restaging of trauma.  At the same time, the film engages with the question of death drive, especially in the phenomenally chaotic, anarchic character of Batman’s nemesis, the Joker. Is the self-destructive tendency of humanity an aberration in response to trauma, or a fundamental instinct that propels us to return to the chaos from whence we came?"
 * 3) The concept of masculinity also figures into Susan Faludi’s analysis of the post-9/11 world. She ponders the “Twin Towers’ collapse as a symbol of nation’s emasculation,” echoing Saurette’s point of American fixation on impotence and incompetence. This inability to withstand attack is shown in the corrupt and utterly powerless law enforcement of The Dark Knight   they repeatedly fall into the Joker’s death traps, and some are complicit in  his crimes.
 * 1) Similarties between Rhas Al Ghul and Osama Bin Laden, and the how devote their followers are. Also the secrety of their organization and desire for control.
 * 2) "The entire Batman movie could serve as an allegory for the 2012 election, says Rich Watch. From the perspective of progressives, Mitt Romney is Bane, "the toughest match the Dark Knight has ever had to face," while Obama is Batman, "once thought of as a hero, now thought to be a monster, [and who] must return to fight for his ideals." (At the end of the last film, Batman took the fall for Gotham City's corruption, much the way Obama is blamed for the recession, and became a pariah.)"

Images: 
 * 1) Image of a winged bird with a clown face that symbolizes the Republican and Democratic parties. The clown face that is on the bird could allud to the joker and his hidden and corrupt agenda, just like what is found in our goverments poltical parties. [http://www.google.com/search?q=the+politics+behind+9/11&safe=strict&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=mjpNU76-C8LjsATh9oDIAw&ved=0CAsQ_AUoBA&biw=1024&bih=587#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=Wr60jYR0OqRR4M%253A%3B1XVB355ju9GwGM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.sott.net%252Fimage%252Fimage%252Fs2%252F55418%252Ffull%252Fdeesvote.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.sott.net%252Farticle%252F222300-9-11-Mission-Accomplished%3B468%3B395]
 * 2) 

Christopher Nolan
"The films genuinely aren't intended to be political." -Nolan (2012) (Annie)

"We just write from the perspective of the world we live in, what interests us and frightens us." -Nolan (2008) (Annie)

The Conspiracies
[No-Planes theory] - no planes, just missiles that were made to look like planes

[minute conspiracy theory] - "Behind closed doors"/ loss of trillions of dollars only a day before/ destruction of records

The similarities between the destruction of Gotham, and the events of 9/11 are parallel- it is described as hauntingly familiar imagery  It goes on to say that the parallels between the movie and the events of 9/11 are so striking and visceral that they prompted the London Times to ask, "Has the new Baman plundered its plot from 9/11?" The Times, which calls Gotham City "New York's alter ego," draws abundant parallels between the film and the real world concerns of a post- 9/11 American Society.

Article, "The Hero We Need: An In-Depth Analysis of Batman in Post-9/11 America" states that Nolan is representing the perspective among some Americans that we are responsible for the creation of Al Qaeda

The 11 Most compelling 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

Youtube video: Sandy Hook corrolation to Dark Knight and article of how Sandy Hook was labeled in the Batman film

Post-9/11 Patterns in the Films

Post 9/11 Patterns in Film
Batman Begins- was released right after America invaded Iraq; movie from the perspective of the criminals; almost like a horror movie (Batman is the ominous figure); Ra's al Ghul- Wayne's surrogate father; central theme- fear [begins as post 9/11)] -rachel morris

Dark Knight- right after Iraq war; obama elected; batman is blamed by Gotham; he cannot save the damsel and he kills someone- he is breaking his own code; Batman need allies; Harvey Dent- fallen white Knight; Joker is the terrorist- has no greater cause- the face of the operation; the main theme in this movie is choice; the people of Gotham start to show the good in them (when on ferries); "there are no heroes, only dark knights" [knight as post 9/11)] - rachel morris

Dark Knight Rises- america is losing hope in obama; focuses on mostly bruce wayne, not batman; he can now only function with technology; no longer has a team of allies; tate- plays new damsel; catwoman- vixen; white knight exposed as a myth; baine is characterized by physicality- can break batman; batman is a symbol; "batman can be anybody"; bain's persona is a lie; talia is neither damsel nor vixen, but the villian; main theme is hope; hope is only used as a weapon when people act in sin to reach what they hope for [knight rises as post 9/11)] - rachel morris

Batman:

"Batman represents America and is partly responsible for terrorism" (Reel Changer ) "Wayne is spying on people in Gotham which is representation for the surveillance society envisioned by the Bush/Cheneyadministrtion after 9/11"  (Emma)

Bane:

"Bane is more like a brutal expression of Obama endorsed Occupy Movement" (Shone )

Bane's agenda aims to upset social order - to destroy Gotham's financial infastructure (RC)

Joker: "The Joker is a contemporary example of nihilism, someone who destroys for the pleasure of destroying... He reflects modern day Islamic Terrorism and how we deal with it" ChristianCinema

League of Shadows:

-Patriot Act: Act passed by Congress where the government can tap into any perosnal device. Direct connection to the machine made by Bruce Wayne to use every device in Gotham to find The Joker. However, this is used to show the justification in certain breakdown of civil liberties.

Post 9/11 Males are meant to be the protector more than ever. Batman is the protector and knight of all the movies in this trilogy. (Annie)

Post 9/11 security in US is a symbol of the "desomation of human rights" it is throwing peoples freedoms away for the sake of protection. (Annie)

Dent represents the "duplicity of the law" and it is physically represented by his 2 face in The Dark Knight Rises. He is a symbol that is important to Gothum and he is an honest looking man that is stripping the laws of citizens. (Annie)

Terrorists are like the Joker: they have no meaning of destroying people and things they just want to "watch the world burn." (Annie)

-"In desperation, they (the people) turn to a man they don't understand." (Alfred)- Connection to Obama, Gotham needs a hero with a face. "Change" (the campaign slogan for Pres. Obama) is the cleaning of the streets of Gotham's criminals.

-"Not looking for anything logical, just want to watch the world burn." (Alfred)- Al Queda just wants to kill Americans and "watch us burn".

-"Things are always going to get worse before they get better." (Alfred)- Could possibly be an analogy to the stock market "crash" in 2008. Gives the people help after ome panic after the minor "crash".

-Alfred explains how in order to catch the mole, they burned the entire forrest down- "War on Terror". Essentially a war with a terrorist group led primarily by one man- Osama Bin Laden. Went to war with all of Al Queda to kill Bin Laden.

-The connection between Osama Bin Laden and The Joker is almost stupidly apparent. The ideals of The Joker to "show the schemers how pathetic plan to control things are" are the direct image given to Osama Bin Laden. However on obvious plan, Bin Laden hid in the mountains and caves, seeming as a mole who just kills without any plan.

-"In the end, the “good” guy doesn’t win and we are left to feel guilty for allowing ourselves to become the type of place where the good guys (us) have to show their dark side (Guantanamo Bay; Patriot Act) to defeat evil (i.e. terrorism).

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:16px;">Isn’t that what good film is supposed to do: put a mirror in front of our faces and make us question ourselves?

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:16px;">Even if that film has characters who wear masks and make-up to cover up who

they really are... but then again, don't we all?"



<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:16px;">"The parallels between this poster and the events of 9/11 are so striking and visceral that they prompted the London Times to ask, “Has the new Batman plundered its plot from 9/11?” The Times, which calls Gotham City “New York’s alter ego,” 1 draws abundant parallels between the film and the real world concerns of a post 9/11 american society"  (Emma)

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:16px;">"The film’s violent imagery, its tacit political commentary and even its characterization of Batman all evoke the traumas, struggles and moral quandaries central to 9/11 and the War on Terror " (Emma)

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:16px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:16px;">"Batman Begins (2005), displays an overt preoccupation with terrorism (Emma)

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Film Clips Needed:  Running List
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2yjuhGyXuU (Annie)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoNvtfIVs3Q (Emma)

Interrogations and Torture Connections
Batman drops Sal, breaking his legs -

Batman beats up the Joker in the prison

Batman lets Harvey fall to his death

Joker's form of torture and punishment

Abu Ghraib connections?  More information about the original videos released pre-trailer that included

- "The Fire Rises" - first look at Tom Hardy as Bane

-"Outbreak" - chanting amid an Abu-Ghraib like prison

-"419" showing signs of building destruction (crumbling towers, anyone?)

All sense have been removed.

Abu Ghraib - Bush and Rumsfield's knowledge

Abu Ghraib - Nolan Connections - if Bane's pit is supposed to be a representation of Abu Ghraib prison, then what does that mean?

-In The Dark Knight when Batman goes to China to kidnap Lau and bring him back to Gotham to be arrested directly correlates with controvercial issue of the CIA holding prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.

he New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal have disclosed memorandums that show a pattern in which Bush administration lawyers set about devising arguments to avoid constraints against mistreatment and torture of detainees. Administration officials responded by releasing hundreds of pages of previously classified documents related to the development of a policy on detainees.

Scapegoats:
Batman: Batman was a scapegoat for the crimes committed by Harvy Dent. Batman was accused of the murder of five people, two of them being police officers and the murder of Harvey Dent.

Bush: Bush has been accused, by some, to have been behind the 9/11 attacks. He, like Batman, is most likely not the one behind the attacks. Since he is an authority figure who is supposed to keep America safe, he gets blamed for either letting it happen, or being behind it.

<span style="color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:12px;line-height:20px;">“What is the meaning of it Watson?” said Holmes solemnly as he laid down the paper. “What object is served by this circle of misery and violence and fear? It must tend to some end, or else our universe is ruled by chance, which is unthinkable. But what end? There is the great standing perennial problem to which human reason is as far from an answer as ever.”[1] 1. Holmes’ Two Bodies

Joker: People use the evil done by the Joker to justify their own evil actions and blame them on the Joker.

Iraq: America uses the evil done by terrorists to justify torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners and even citizens.

Sources:
The Dark Knight Trilogy and The Godfather

Dark Knight Allegory

Fear and Allegory (video)

The 'REEL' Deal