Students and faculty grappled over justice with Batman and the Pi Sigma Alpha politics honorary Sept. 27 as part of an ongoing series discussing political themes such as justice, corruption, and the rule of law through the lens of the popular Batman trilogy.
“I thought the Batman trilogy might be helpful and useful,” said Adam Carrington, assistant professor of politics and Pi Sigma Alpha faculty advisor. “The films ask some pretty interesting questions about how different political societies can break down, how they can be restored, and the relationship between the rule of law and the rule of human beings.”
“Batman Begins,” released in 2005, is the first installment in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. The film introduces the audience to billionaire Bruce Wayne, an orphan seeking to avenge his parents. Wayne transforms into a hero who fights crime and corruption in the city of Gotham.
This movie and discussion series is part of an ongoing effort on behalf of Pi Sigma Alpha to find new ways to engage both members and other students this year, Carrington said.
“We’re trying to build and maintain a community among those interested in politics here on campus who aren’t necessarily thinking in the terms of College Republicans and College Democrats,” Carrington said. “This is for people wanting to look at politics from an angle that isn’t partisan.”
Justice was a central theme of discussion among first time viewers and more seasoned Batman fans, as the group identified two themes which were prevalent in the movie: justice as vengeance and justice as harmony.
“I came tonight because I like the movie first of all, and watching the movie more than once helps in understanding it,” Tara Ung, a junior and Pi Sigma Alpha member, said. “The discussion afterward was really good to have other inputs.”
“Batman Begins” presented questions which are addressed by Plato and Aristotle as well as by more modern thinkers and present day politics. The students discussed the expectations Bruce Wayne and the League of Shadows held of human beings and political institutions.
“Watching it with an eye to what’s going on in the movie as opposed to just watching it for fun is also really great, because my brain was tuned to the political themes happening, and I hadn’t seen a lot of those beforehand,” Ung said.
The attendees hope to build on these themes and discussions at the next movie screening.
Junior politics major Nathan Lehman attended the movie night though he is not a member of the honorary.
“Movies are great, but it’s even more fun when you can unpack what exactly makes a movie wonderful,” Lehman said.
Carrington said the group plans to watch “The Dark Knight” in mid-October and “The Dark Knight Rises” in early November.
“I want the honorary to be a place where politics majors and minors in general can feel like they can do things together and have a community and be able to talk about these things in a way that’s fun,” Carrington said.