A New Age in Gotham (Sample Outline)

I. The introduction offers a brief overview of the success of the movie “The Dark Knight.”
*****A. How successful was it in the box office?
**********1. It earned more than $500 million at the North American box office.
**********2. It earned more than $1 billion world wide.
*****B. The film received numerous awards nominations and two Academy Awards.
********** 1. It won best sound editing
********** 2. It also won best Supporting Actor
*****C. Thesis: “The conflict between chaos and order is personified in the struggle between Batman and the Joker for Gotham’s soul .”
II. This section offers a brief overview of the plot.
*****A. Who is the audience?
**********1. What are the target Demographics?
**********2. What are the audience's Expectations?
***************a. The Dark Knight exceeded all expectations
*****B. What do people expect of super hero movies?
**********1. The characters are extremely complex.
***************a. Both Batman and The Joker are insane.
**********2. There is moral grey area
***************a. How far can a hero go to stop a mad man?
**********3. The Joker's tests provide a deep critique of the society.
III. “Batman has no limits” – Bruce Wayne
*****A. This section offers an analysis of Batman’s character.
*****B. What types of gadgets does Batman use?
**********1. He uses a sonar imaging system.
***************a. This gadget provides him with incredible power
*************************i. Lucius Fox objects to this power
*************************ii. Batman destroys the mainframe because he agrees.
***************b. His gadgets provide him with the ability to better control his environment
**********2. His other specialized equipment reflect his character.
***************a. He is so rigid, he can’t turn his head.
***************b. His gadgets grants him the Power to be Batman.
*************************i. “I’m not wearing hockey pads” -Batman
*************************ii. Are these gadgets a superpower?
*****C. What does Batman stand for?
**********1. People do not have to be afraid
**********2. Criminals do (need to be afraid).
*****D. What lines will Batman not cross?
**********1. Batman usually refrains from maliciously hurting people
**********2. Batman refuses to kill people
*****E. Batman is order incarnate because he restores order to a disorderly world (Gotham).
IV. “A better class of criminal” – The Joker
*****A. This section offers an analysis of the Joker’s character
*****B. What does the Joker favor? (destruction)
**********1. His three favorite things are essentially cheap weapons
***************a. Dynamite, which is used for destroying things.
***************b. Gunpowder, which is used for hurting people.
*************************i. Thompson Submachine Gun
***************c. Gasoline, which is used for burning things
*************************i. He burns the Money
**********2. The Joker is all about mayhem
***************a. “Nothing in his pockets but knives and lint”-Lt. James Gordon
*****C. The Joker is Chaos incarnate, because his goal is to disassemble order in Gotham City.
V. “Some men just want to watch the world burn” –Alfred Pennywise
*****A. The Final Confrontation between the Joker and Batman is extremely important.
**********1. “This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object”-The Joker
B. This section offers the connection between the characters and the theme.
**********1. Alfred’s story of the man in Burma is about a madman.
********** 2. Lighting/Cinematography also help reflect this theme
***************a. The movie has a serious tone
VI. The conclusion reiterates the thesis in new words: “The Joker and Batman both are intensely powerful characters on their own, but their effectiveness at captivating audiences comes from their complex interactions, and through these interactions they become modern archetypes of Chaos and Order.”
*****A. This section recaps the conflict between the major characters.
*****B. Poses some ideas as to why “The Dark Knight” was so successful.
**********1. Because it friggin’ rocks!