For my final project, I did an I-Search paper on the Dark Knight Trilogy. I examined Christopher Nolan's interpretation of Batman and took a more in depth look at what set it apart from other superhero movies and past incarnations of Batman. I chose this because I wanted the opportunity to practice some research skills and critical thinking on an interesting topic. I am not a film buff, nor am I a particularly huge Batman fan. It was just a topic I had enough knowledge on to want to know more about.
One of my favorite sources I used was J. M. Tyree's article for Film Quarterly called "American Heroes." It mentioned that Heath Ledger's Joker was unique in that he was given no back story, and argued that this is part of what made him more interesting than Christian Bale's Batman. The suggestion that the origin of the character is less relevant and can actually restrict a character's potential ended up being the inspiration for my thesis. From there, hearing Bane's line about how "No one cared who I was until I put on the mask," and seeing how when his true back story was revealed, it totally ruined the character, my thesis was all but written.
I wish I had known how hard it was to come by specific information on some of the older versions of Batman. I also wish I had been able to think of more creative sources to look for, things that maybe weren't specifically related to Batman but could be applied to the character and the films. I also wish I knew more about film; I feel like I grasped some of the major themes but I'm sure most of it went straight over my head.
Cheers!
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