Batman as the great American epic (n)
A buddy of mine is making an argument that Batman, as a whole, should be classified as America's epic. I have only posted his abstract for you to read through. He is taking this seriously and has so far written thirty pages and counting to make his argument.
Student: Paul Mendez
Abstract: Batman: A Great American Epic (Tier One)
This essay explores the thesis that Batman is a new mode but still a traditional epic for our modern America. The discussion furthers investigation of comic books and super hero characters into the literary canon. The main claim is that Batman can be perceived as an epic, but the debate explores to some extent how the epic has changed over time. As a modern epic, Batman and its varied corpus feature characters, stories, and techniques that recur in the comics even as they are developed by multiple authors. This paper shows how Batman compares to previous epics, particularly The Iliad, The Aeneid, and Beowulf. This paper also argues that the orality of traditions and stories, typical of epics, has progressed or changed. The oral nature is satisfied and fulfilled by the visual of comics and film and by the comic medium’s graphic power. Further ideas to study both Batman and the epics’ reception are suggested. It is a basis for the explanation of ideas such as comic books and super heroes. The main focus is on how Batman can be perceived as an epic, but also on how the epic has changed over time. The descriptions come from the characters, stories, and techniques that are prevalent in the comics and this essay shows how they compare to previous epics. The inclusion and importance of oral traditions and stories shows the progression of the time and the way that the epic itself has had to adjust.
Remember, we are talking epic (n) not epic (adj.)
This link will define it for those of you who don't know what the difference is.
http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assi...wulf/epic.html