The following is a practice assignment on binary opposites in a clip (chapters 22-24) from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008).
A variety of binary opposites are represented in The Dark Knight and structured through a variety of visual, audio, and technical codes. I will be analysing the representation of binary opposites in chapters 22-24 of The Dark Knight.
First of all, the lighting in the beginning of the scene creates binary opposites. As the commissioner walks in to the interrogation room, his side of the room is lit. When the camera cuts to reveal the Joker, his side of the room is pitch black behind him. This lighting effect connotes a sense of good versus evil and hope versus despair. The light connotes that the commissioner has good intentions behind his actions and that he is hopeful that he succeeds in getting information from the Joker and saving the other characters. However, the darkness on the Joker's side of the room connotes that he's unwilling to give up the information and has negative intentions. It also connotes that he's lost hope in the police or society in general, especially since he's working against them.
Another visual code is the difference in costumes between the Batman and the Joker. Batman's suit is very clean-cut, well-shaped, and orderly. It's also entirely black, which adds another level of order. Alternatively, the Joker's outfit is very creased and messy, with a variety of colours. His hair and face are also very messy and dirty. Their contrasting outfits connote oppositions of order versus chaos and potentially hope versus despair. Batman's all-black, tidy outfit represents order, whereas the Joker's colourful, untidy outfit represents chaos. Batman's suit could also be seen as a representation of vigilante justice: the hope of the people. The Joker's outfit could represent despair; he's turned his back on the world and makes no attempt to meet its standards.
Secondly, there are also audio codes that represent binary oppositions. For instance, the Joker asks the commissioner: “Does it depress you, commissioner, to know how alone you really are?” The commissioner responds: “Where is he?” This dialogue represents good versus evil and hope versus despair. The Joker is trying to get into the commissioner's head. This connotes that he's evil because he's trying to manipulate the 'good' side in his favour. It also connotes that he's in despair because he's really alone and wants others to try and understand his pain. The commissioner, however, stays on topic and continues to question the Joker. This connotes that he's good because he's doing everything he can to try and get information out of the Joker, but also connotes that he's hopeful because he believes that he is capable of getting information from the Joker.
Another piece of dialogue that represents another binary opposition is between Batman and the Joker. The Joker says: “You have all these rules,” to which Batman replies: “I have one rule.” This dialogue represents the opposition between order and chaos again. The Joker is criticising Batman and society for their various rules, which connotes that the Joker is very disorderly. On the other hand, Batman defends himself by simplifying his guidelines. This connotes that Batman is very pro-order, emphasised by him making his system of order simplified by having one rule only.
Thirdly, there are technical codes that represent the binary oppositions. In approximately the first third of the clip, when the commissioner and Joker are conversing, they always stay in separate shots. The camera switches between facing each character individually when they speak, making sure to capture the lighting differences behind each character. This represents the binary oppositions of good versus evil and also serves to emphasise how different the two extremes are too. The separate shots connote that the characters oppose so much in good or evil intentions and character that they cannot be seen in the same light.
Thirdly, there are technical codes that represent the binary oppositions. In approximately the first third of the clip, when the commissioner and Joker are conversing, they always stay in separate shots. The camera switches between facing each character individually when they speak, making sure to capture the lighting differences behind each character. This represents the binary oppositions of good versus evil and also serves to emphasise how different the two extremes are too. The separate shots connote that the characters oppose so much in good or evil intentions and character that they cannot be seen in the same light.
Another technical code is identifiable when Batman is attacking the Joker. When the camera is focused on Batman, it is angled upwards to his face, whereas when it is focused on the Joker, it is angled down to his face. This represents the good versus evil opposition again. The camera aiming up to Batman connotes that he is morally higher than the Joker, representing the good 'side'. However, the camera aiming down to the Joker connotes that he is also morally below Batman, representing evil.
With these codes in mind, it is clear that the audience is positioned to identify with and support Batman and are positioned to see the Joker from a negative perspective and see him as a threat or disturbance. Through a variety of visual, audio, and technical codes, The Dark Knight represents a variety of binary opposites: good versus evil, hope versus despair, and order versus chaos.
By Michael Vodden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We may be able to use binary opposites in our opening sequence. They are often used in romance films on the main characters. This is based around the idea of "opposites attract", with each party of the intended couple being the binary opposite of the other. For example, you could have one of them be shy and the other be outgoing, or one rich and one poor. Binary opposites might be good to include in our opening sequence to make it more conventional.
With these codes in mind, it is clear that the audience is positioned to identify with and support Batman and are positioned to see the Joker from a negative perspective and see him as a threat or disturbance. Through a variety of visual, audio, and technical codes, The Dark Knight represents a variety of binary opposites: good versus evil, hope versus despair, and order versus chaos.
By Michael Vodden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We may be able to use binary opposites in our opening sequence. They are often used in romance films on the main characters. This is based around the idea of "opposites attract", with each party of the intended couple being the binary opposite of the other. For example, you could have one of them be shy and the other be outgoing, or one rich and one poor. Binary opposites might be good to include in our opening sequence to make it more conventional.
No comments:
Post a Comment