Fascibertarian? Liberascism? Huh?
Eric Alterman says, about The Dark Knight:
I saw The Dark Knight yesterday afternoon, and I think it pulled off the neat trick of being both libertarian and fascistic, which is to say it is damn confused
Atrios, “trying to get a handle on the odd politics”, thinks that nails it. His commenters then proceed to burn it, and then Frank Miller, to the ground. (And here I thought that this was just a game for the right-wing fringe of Blawgworld.)
I’m no fan of Frank Miller’s political views, any more than I am of, say, Mark Helprin’s. But Helprin’s politics don’t change my opinion that he’s an amazing writer, or reduce my capacity to be amazed and delighted by A Winter’s Tale, or Soldier of the Great War. Likewise, Miller’s political views, misguided as I believe them to be, don’t undo his achievements as an artist and story teller (or change the fact that he wasn’t involved in making the film).
Of all the things The Dark Knight had me mulling over, none of them were anywhere close to “gosh, I’m confused by the politics of this movie… is it Libertarian or Fascist? How confusing and inconsistent.” Batman’s roots are in detective novels, and The Dark Knight is about the dance that Batman and The Joker have been doing since the 50’s. I came away from it thinking it was a superb manifestation of that story, an impressive work of film making, and a truly stunning performance by Heath Ledger. Pondering the film’s political ideology would have diminished the experience.
I understand that when politics and media are your life, as an academic, or a pundit, it’s natural to look at everything through those lenses. And I care about politics, no question. But it seems to me like going down this path with everything is a surefire way to suck all the life and joy out of art, be it fine or pop. Why do that?
[UPDATE]: Ezra points to what’s probably the best post on the politics of Nolan’s Batman I’ve read yet, in that reading it didn’t leave me with a clenched jaw wondering why-oh-why people have to do this to comic book movies.
