In the first Christopher Nolan film ‘Batman Begins’, Bruce Wayne is discussing with Alfred his intention of demonstrating to Gotham City that it (the populace) has a power within, that because of fear, induced passiveness and lack of understanding, isn’t being utilised. Bruce says to Alfred ‘People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne, as a man I'm flesh and blood I can be ignored I can be destroyed but as a symbol, as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting.’
This symbol as we know is the Bat, and the idea is to show the citizens of Gotham that they need not allow the criminal element overrun the city with their various nefarious and wanton drives and actions.
Batman symbolises a lot more than just defiance against corruption and immorality, to many people; myself included, Batman is an allegory for self actualised Human potential. In fact, a book was published in 2008 called ‘Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero' that used this premise to describe the physiology underpinning Batman’s abilities.
Batman is in many ways an entirely self-actualised Human. He, through the driven application of hard work, that is specific, concentrated and directed, has developed his abilities to the theoretical pinnacle of what we currently deem possible; although since the Human Genome Project was completed in 2003 this viewpoint of limitation is becoming more and more tenuous.
The biggest criticism I have seen of the book is that its title is a little bit of a misnomer, although the subtitle provides a better reflection of what the book actually contains; a treatise on the necessary physiological traits needed to become Batman, rather than a ‘how-to’ guide of principles and methods required to attain the level at which Batman performs.
The latter is what I intend to do in this series.
I will be sticking mainly to the physiology, as Batman’s psychological and philosophical makeup, is just as, if not more, complex.
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