This course explores the evolution of the Batman character in film by examining how he intersects with societal views in the United States. It traces the origins of superheroes in pulp magazines and urban adventure heroes before discussing Batman's creation and the social/cultural messages in his early adventures. The document outlines topics to be examined including pulps, urban history, commercialization, and Batman's origins and creators.

1. Cinematic Superhero
Exploring the Cinematic Batman
2015 Winter Intercession
Dr. Julian C. Chambliss
Department of History
Rollins College

2. Winter Intercession 2015
 This course explores the
evolution of the superhero
archetype in film through an
examination of Batman.
Tracing the historical origins of
the cinematic superhero, this
course will explore how
superhero intersects with
optimistic and pessimistic
outlooks linked to the social,
political, and economic
circumstances in the United
States.

3.  Examining Pulps
 Urban/History
 Adventure Heroes
 Inspiration
 Innovation
 Commercialization
 Batman
 From the beginning.
 What are the social and cultural
messages linked to Batman’s
adventures?

4. American Heroes
Popular Culture
&
Frontier Mythology

5. Dime Novel as Collective Mythology

6. New Context
Telephone lines over NYC 1880s

7. The Bronx, 1890s

9. New Heroes
The Coming of
the Detective
 Appearing in 1886,
Nick Carter pre-dates
Sherlock Holmes!!


10. Pulp characters reflect the
American mind.

11. Popular culture in a context of social and
economic inequality.
• The children of strikers in Lawrence, MA were sent to live with
sympathizers in New York City during a work stoppage in 1912.

12. The Great Depression undermined the
our collective sense of national
progress.
These unemployed men are lined up outside a soup kitchen opened by Al
Capone in Chicago ( February1931). The sign reads, “Free Soup,
Coffee, and Doughnuts for the Unemployed.”

13. The Adventure Hero Evolves

14. A kind of
adventure
hero!

15. Cinematic Antecedent
The Mark of Zorro (1920)

16. The Origin
 The second superhero created by
National Publications
 For much of his publication
history, Batman has been the
second most popular character
published by DC Comics.
 Created by Bob Kane
 Concept
 Initial character design
 Bill Finger
 Helped co-create major
characters and co-wrote or wrote
early stories.
 Jerry Robinson
 Artist that helped defined the
visual look of Batman