Since his inception in 1939, Batman has become synonymous with popular culture as a whole. Though first beginning as a tacky average Joe in spandex, who scaled buildings using only a rope and fought off sea predators using shark repellent, Batman has evolved into a brooding symbol of hope for civilians and fear for criminals. In this submission, I will be comparing and contrasting the first live action iteration portrayed by Adam West, to the most recent in Robert Pattinson.
Batman as a character signifies hope, and as dc.com puts it: “a light in the darkness”. A main aspect that Batman signifies is the idea of “justice”, where Batman protects and inspires the citizens of Gotham City, where most, if not all, iterations of Batman are set in.
Batman is known for his many attributes, from his nearly inhuman strength to his elite hand to hand combat, but his most known attribute is his detective skills. The nickname: “World’s Greatest Detective” has been synonymous with Batman just as long as he has been around. The nickname is thought to be due to Batman’s first ever appearance in “Detective Comics” in 1939, as well as his ability to find criminals by using his aforementioned detective prowess.
A handful of Batman’s attributes are not considered to be constructing masculinity, however attributes such as his fighting ability, physique and overall, his demeanour and how he is portrayed, are most definitely constructed masculine aspects.
There are many expectations that can be fostered in real life, though the most realistic being the expectation to be strong and have an almost otherworldly physique. It is to be considered that Batman could also inspire the notion that violence solves everything. Rarely, if ever, has Batman ever received information or beaten a villain without first distributing ICU worthy injuries to whoever opposed him.
Though Batman could inspire the idea to do the right thing, he can also inspire a poor narrative that you must confront every issue through physically and combat.
The psychological effects these notions can have can be both good and bad. For starters, Batman could inspire someone to work to improve themselves through their physique and then make another believe they can do the same things that Batman does, which can result in them hurting themselves or others. It really depends on who is able to comprehend Batman and his message and how they choose to interpret it as well as acting on it.
Batman has undergone many changes since first hitting screens in 1966. The interpretation of Batman on TV was first played by Adam West. In the Dennis Allen and Leah Wilson published “Batman Unauthorized, Author, Lou Arthur, describes West as “campy” (goofy). West was in no way an imposing looking figure as he had an average physique that was snug tight in a spandex suit with dark blue undergarments on top. Comparing Adam West’s costume from 1966 to Robert Pattinson’s costume, the changes are night and day. While West’s costume was merely fabric on top of skin, Pattinson’s is constructed using highly advanced military grade armour, as well as the tacky yellow bat from the West era being replaced by two “batarangs” in the shape of a more realistic bat. Batman’s overall “attitude” has also changed. In his book, The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary Gothic, Author Michail-Chrysovalantis Markodimitrakis notes that in the Batman focused chapter, Adam West’s Batman would crack jokes. Also, in the book The Man Behind the Mask, Author Kyra Hunting describes West as a “Wholesome Batman”. Comparing these descriptions of West’s portrayal to Pattinson’s, it would not be far fetched at all to believe it was two completely opposite characters. Pattinson portrays Batman (and Bruce Wayne) as anti social, dark, cold and grief ridden. There are many factors that go into why Batman has changed so much over time, with much speculation being to make out of this world superheroes somewhat more realistic by having them deal with real world issues, such as PTSD. Another reason is basic human interests, with most preferring to see a Batman that beats violent criminals to a pulp before they commit another heinous act rather than watch Batman ward away sharks with a spray bottle while surfing. The main change of the attitude of the two portrayals was really only based on target audiences, with West’s being aimed towards children, while Pattinson’s was meant for more mature audiences. Pattinson’s portrayal involves Batman having to scramble cyphers left at gruesome murder scenes in order to find the psychotic and cunning “Riddler” villain. With many instances of extreme violence in the newest Batman film, compared to the childlike adventures of the West show, it is interesting to think where the character will be in another 66 years from now.
Bibliography:
“Batman Unauthorized.” Google Books. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=62AVBQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA17&dq=adam%2Bwest%2Bbatman&ots=LFcAzNLNlz&sig=65fKeEoLKSSEnMEX5_Ll7Pr1bRw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=adam%20west%20batman&f=false.
Markodimitrakis, Michail-Chrysovalantis. “The New Batman.” SpringerLink, January 1, 1970. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-33136-8_69.
Hunting, Kyra. “The Man Behind the Mask: Camp and Queer Masculinity in Lego Batman.” SpringerLink, January 1, 1970. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-32664-7_13.
Image: Dowling, Ahsan. “Fan Art Gives Robert Pattinson’s Batman an Adam West Makeover.” Game Rant, October 10, 2021. https://gamerant.com/batman-robert-pattinson-adam-west-fan-art/.
jayden
Peyton does an effective job comparing and contrasting Adam West’s and Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Batman, covering various character traits such as costume, attitude, and target audience. Peyton describes the evolution of Batman’s character from a child-friendly hero to a darker, more mature character who goes on to complete very ruthless acts and services.
The comparison between the costumes of West and Pattinson highlights the significant changes in the design of the costumes, with West’s spandex suit with a doughier-like figure to Pattinson’s military-grade armor and muscular type build. Peyton accurately points out the differences in each Characters demeanor, such as West’s wholesome, humorous Batman compared to Pattinson’s portrayal as an anti-social, almost troubled character.
This analysis is well constructed, with West’s Batman aimed at children and Pattinson’s at mature audiences. This comparison is essential in understanding how the portrayal of Batman has adapted to fit the growing demographic viewership over time.
Peyton effectively incorporates scholarly sources to support his analysis, referencing books such as “Batman Unauthorized” and “The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary Gothic” to provide insight into the different representations of Batman. However, I believe Peyton could have further explored the culture surrounding the portrayals of Batman, including how society acts and thinks towards a more masculine and heroic portrayal of the character.
While Peyton successfully uses images of Adam West and Robert Pattinson to visually illustrate his discussion, a deeper analysis of the visual aspects of the costumes and demeanor could have strengthened his points even further.
In conclusion, Peyton’s critique provides a thorough analysis of the depictions of Batman, comparing and contrasting the portrayals of Adam West and Robert Pattinson. Peyton could enhance his analysis by diving deeper into the cultural effects this change could have on the viewership of this drastic character change.