Harkness Discussion

Batman BeginsHarkness

Questions
Here is a sampling of student generated questions.

1.  Where did Batman cross thresholds in the film? What did they mean?

2.  Is Bruce Wayne really Batman or Bruce?

3.  Why does he become more and more addicted to his Batman persona?

4.  Nolan relies on flashback sequences in all of his films. Which ones were the most powerful in Batman Begins and why?

5.  What is the mentor/companion contrast between Lucius Fox and Alfred?

6.  What dichotomy exists between justice in the film?

7.  What is Bruce's true fear?

8.  Who was more influential in Bruce's life: Ra's Al Ghul or Alfred?

9.  What is the significance of the train in the film?

Observations
The discussion sifted through the philosophical, moral, visual, and social aspects of the film. Archetypal codes surfaced in the form of character (mentor, young man, scapegoat) and situation (threshold, quest, fall, etc.), and symbolic (death and rebirth). While Alex offered commentary and asked questions that drew us towards a stylistic analysis of the techniques, Ian's conversation prompted comparisons between situations and characters. Ben addressed the duality and almost paradoxical nature of Bruce's relationship with Gotham in that Bruce is Gotham, yet Batman is feared by Gotham. We discussed the presence of Christ figures, different shades of justice, surrogate father figures, the function of the past, and the use of masks. Overall, the discussion moved fluidly through the various aspects of the film. See the best comments below.

Top Remarks
"Ra's is like Javert in Les Miserables in that both men never overcame their fear.  As a result, Ra's instills fear in Gotham and that is why he fell.  He was not deserving of victory." - Hannah

"The hero always sees the grey whereas the villain views the world in black and white idealism." - Ian

"When Bruce Wayne achieves his own legacy, the train dies.  Bruce separated himself from Ra's and the League of Shadows, leading to their death on the train.  He did not need them - he could lead as his own identity." - Joanna and Ben

"Nolan frames the elevator and the well scene using the same shot to show the significance of the ideal." - Alex