For instance, equality can often come only at the expense of liberty, and liberty at the expense of equality. This creates tension between two noble ends that appear at first glance to be fully compatible: between justice and the rule of law – but as the late Isaiah Berlin taught us, even the most highly-regarded liberal ideals don’t always harmonize. The hero may stand opposed to crime and corruption but viewed in a different light he is a vigilante running afoul of the laws of the city he professes to protect. Superhero stories pose an often overlooked dilemma for democratic societies. They are simultaneously blockbuster action-adventure thrillers and heart-wrenching portrayals of the tragic dimensions of our moral universe. This is why writer and director Christopher Nolan’s installments of the Batman series, first with Batman Begins (released in 2005), and then with The Dark Knight (released last summer), have been such remarkable achievements. ![]() They can be considered part of our culture, but not part of our Art. They may entertain, but they do not provoke. Although they dazzle us with special effects and provide a means of escape from our harsh realm of reality, these pictures are morally uncomplicated. Take recent films such as Spider-Man and Superman Returns, for example. This Manichaean structure underlies most superhero narratives – the thème du jour on the silver screen. Most morality tales depict a simple world where a clearly defined struggle between good and evil plays out, where recognizably good values do not conflict with one another, and where the unjust are punished and the righteous rewarded. SUBSCRIBE NOW Films The Dark Knight Todd Walters reports on justice, rebellion and random acts of violence in Gotham City.
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