CR282 #3 Blogging
Topic 4: The City as a  Character

In Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (2005) Gotham City is portrayed as a dark, shrouded character that is in need of care and protection. With Batman having left Gotham to its own devices it has reached one of its darkest moments. On Batman’s return he finds Gotham in desperate need of his care and protection.

Gotham city is separated into three main sections: Uptown, midtown and downtown accentuating and giving visual representation of the segregation between classes (Roberson, 2008).

  

(Roberson, 2008).

Gotham City is a dark and overcrowded city represented by the shadows and oversized buildings throughout the city. 

(Centives, 2012).

Gotham sets the scene for the movie of Batman Begins. Gotham City is a vital and core character within Batman Begins; it affects each and every character within the movie. Gotham is a highly complex city both economically and socially. Separation between social classes has created a lot of prejudice within the city contributing to all of the city’s troubles. The economy issues are worsening, with crime taking over the city and making it poorer than ever.

Gotham City plays a much larger character than just that the darkness and turmoil of the city but it represents the darkness and pain within Batman’s own heart, and through serving and protecting Gotham Bruce Wayne is able to find peace and refuge within his own life and heart. Thus Gotham is not just its own character but an extension of the character of Bruce Wayne, meaning that as Batman wipes away the crime and darkness from Gotham he is also wiping away the darkness and pain from his own heart.

Within Gotham City there is a variety of people groups with varying backgrounds and traditions. Gotham City is the perfect example of a city that should be respecting and appreciating varying cultures and countries. Every culture and people group add to the city and make it what it is. “The Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia priority provides the opportunity for students to celebrate the social, cultural, political and economic links that connect Australia with Asia” (ACARA, 2011). This priority shows the value in every person and culture, respecting and valuing each culture/country.

A Christian perspective on appreciating each and every culture and person is “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Bible Gateway, 2011, p. Luke 6:31). Every person is valuable and important and contributes to the/a city to make it all that is and can and will become.

The character of Gotham is much more than a dark city faced by crime and its society falling apart. Gotham represents the framing story (the story of the society through the individual/city/community) as well as representing the darkness and turmoil in Batman’s own heart. Gotham City is a visual representation of Batman overcoming his past and facing his internal pain,. Gotham City has saved Batman as much as Batman has saved Gotham City.

References

ACARA. (2013). Cross curriculum priorities. Retrieved 30^th October 2013 from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities/Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-histories-and-cultures.    

Bible Gateway. (2011). New International Version. Retrieved 25th October 2013.

Centives. (2012). Is Batman keeping Gotham city poor.  Retrieved 30^th October 2013 from http://www.centives.net/S/2012/is-batman-keeping-gotham-city-poor/.

Roberson, C. (2008). Mapping Gotham. Retrieved 30^th October 2013 from http://www.chrisroberson.net/2008/05/mapping-gotham.html.