Analysis

Edgework in Batman The Dark Knight Returns Octavian Jaekel, Romina Schumann

Uncertainty and Speculation in Contemporary American Comics (BA Research Seminar)

Conclusion

References Beck, Ulrich. "Living in the World Risk Society.” Economy and

Society 35 (3) (2006): 329-345. Web. 19 May 2016

Chauvin, Bruno, Hermand Danielle, and Etienne Mullet. "New Age

Beliefs and Societal Risk Perception.” Journal of Applied Social

Psychology 38 (8) (2008): 2056-2071. Web. 19 May 2016

Cortiel, Jeanne and Laura Oehme. “The Dark Knight’s Dystopian

Vision: Batman,Risk, and American National Identity”. European

Journal of AmericanStudies 10.2 (2015). Web.

Lyng, Stephen. "Edgework, Risk, and Uncertainty." Social Theories of

Risk and Uncertainty: An Introduction. Ed. Jens O. Zinn. Malden, MA:

Blackwell, 2008. 106-37. Print.

Abstract

“[Edgework is] the voluntary pursuit of

activities that involve a high potential for

death, physical injury or psychic harm“

(Lyng 107).

In Batman The Dark Knight Returns,

we have an alternative story from the

original Batman stories. Batman is 50

years old and just returned from his

retirement to come back to “work” again.

To prove to himself that he is still as

much in shape and as masculine as he

was before and that he is still able to

fight against his enemies, he takes every

chance to put himself in situations where

he goes on the edge of his

capabilities.

Although his actions are not always

necessary to prevent crimes, they

sometimes even aggravate the situation

or create a whole new endangerment,

he still enjoys the challenge of regaining

control.

We claim that with this actions,

Batman's character can be seen as an

example of the modern society, which

Ulrich Beck calls „risk society in the

sense that it is increasingly occupied

with debating, preventing and managing

risks that itself has produced“ (Beck

332).

With a close reading of the graphic

novel, focusing on key scenes and by

analyzing them, using Ulrich Beck’s text

on world risk society, as well as

Stephen Lyng’s text on edgework, as

basis, we will show how Batman’s

behavior reflects this society.

Workshop Blood in the Gutter: Uncertainty and Speculation in Contemporary American Comics July 15, 2016

After analyzing the depicted

scenes, it can be pointed out

that Batman’s character can be

seen as an example of

modern society, regarding his

actions and behavior during

his fights and while solving

crimes. While being true that

he helps to fight and solve

crimes on the one hand, he is

also creating new issues on

the other, which lead to a

public menace, as critics in

Gotham City state publicly.

Him being part of risk society

is emphasized in the interview

of the new police

commissioner (Img. 5), where

she calls him a vigilante and

therefore sees him as a risk

for the public safety because

of his actions.

Methods

[Miller, p.11]

[Miller p. 173] [Miller p. 116]

[Miller p. 65]

[Miller p. 77]

[Miller p. 34]

Img. 2 Fighting makes

Batman feel young and

powerful again

Img. 1 Introduction scene – Batman

enjoys being in a life-threatening

situation

Img. 3 Batman during fight – thinking about

crossing line of not killing

Img. 4 Batman places himself

above the law

Img. 5 Interview with new chief of police

department – criticism of Batman's actions Img. 6 TV Interview about Batman causing

more trouble than help