Media Stew

Pop culture through the lens of TV, movies, and games.

Tim Delaney teaches sociology at SUNY Oswego. Author of such books as Simpsonology: There's A Little Bit of Springfield in all of Us! and Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld. See full bio

July 30, 2008, Anxiety

The Dark Knight: Neither Superhero or Antihero

"The Dark Knight" is a phenomenon across the globe.

The Dark Knight: Neither Superhero or Antihero

During the past few months the film industry has brought us a superhero (Iron Man) and an anti-hero (Hancock). Now we have a Dark Knight (Batman) who is not quite either.

The latest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," represents a continuing departure from the comedy-driven 1960s (1966-68) television series that starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as his sidekick Robin. The TV show delivered comedic drama with quasi-loveable criminal rivals.

Although Batman's refusal to kill has remained in tact over the years, his rivals have become dramatically blood-thirsty. I don't recall Cesar Romero's "Joker" character actually killing anyone. And he did not blow up entire buildings with numerous innocent people dying in the process. Jack Nicholson's depiction was still a bit comedic but a little darker.

However, Heath Ledger propelled the "Clown Prince of Crime's" dark portrayal to a whole another level. Everyone has heard the story by now, but Ledger allegedly immersed himself so deeply into the Joker character that it contributed to his premature death.

As the brutality level of Batman's enemies increase, so to does his viciousness. The last two Batman movies, starring Christian Bale, bear little resemblance to the television character of two generations ago. And that is just as well because a lot has changed in the world over the past 40 years.

"The Dark Knight" is a phenomenon across the globe. In the United States, the film took in an opening day record of $66.4 million, an opening weekend record $155.3 million; and surpassed the $300 million mark in just 10 days. Industry experts expect "Knight" to top "Titanic" as the highest-grossing film in U.S. history.

"The Dark Knight" represents a version of Batman that fights evil but does so without the full support of the police or the community. Fighting terroristic crime isn't as simple for Batman as it once was. And isn't that that the contemporary way of the world? Makes one wonder what the next Batman will be like.