Batman Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Batman - Research Paper Example He is a protagonist with enough drawbacks to be worthy enough of a common man. In fact it is this faulty nature that makes him adorable and identifiable with every person who likes the character. Although batman has changed multiple times since his creation, he still manages to maintain his anti-hero status every time. Batman was created way back in 1939 immediately after the success of the Superman. Bob Kane and Bill Finger created the character originally. There are several villains to give him a tough time starting from his arch rival Joker to Penguin, Ra's al Ghul, Scarecrow and Riddler. He is the only superhero to fight a league of women super villains like Poison Ivy, Catwomen, Talia al Ghul etc. Batman lives under the identity of millionaire Bruce Wayne in the fictional Gotham city. He is a playboy millionaire, making several mistakes and wasting one chance after another in his life. His only respite lies in doing something good for the world. Batman’s goodness prevents him from killing the evil people. He rather aims in destroying just the evil in them. This makes him take the blame for several murders, lose his beloved ones and render him helpless when his close friends are in bizarre need. And the worst part is he is forced to change his ways against his will in killing or harming the villains, when it is too late. Each series of Batman which emerged over the past century highlighted his ethical dilemmas, late decisions and faulty personality establishing him strongly as an antihero. Joker and the Batman Joker is a petty thief set up to get shot by his own boss for having an affair with his mistress. Batman tries to save him from death and handover him to the hands of the law. But, he is dropped into a chemical factory by accident which turns him into an ugly psychopath resembling a joker with white skin and green hair. He blames Batman for his ill fate and becomes his main rival. Batman himself has a personal revenge with him, as Joker had mur dered his parents in front of his eyes when he was a child. The incident inspired him to take an oath on his parent’s grave stating he will always fight to establish justice in Gotham city. Batman only tries to disarm Joker in several instances in spite of his personal vengeance. But each time, he manages to cause more harm than good. He paralyses batman’s friend, kills Rachel, transforms Dent into a villain and goes on unstoppable. He forces Batman to the verge of killing him each time, but escapes in the end (Robert, 2008). Batman on the other hand fears there will not be any difference between him and Joker if he completely killed him. Batman fears he does not have the right to kill or harm anyone, but can only defend the helpless. Joker character is the complete opposite of Batman. He derives pleasure in harming people. He simply cannot live without inflicting some sort of pain to others. As he himself says in the movie â€Å"you won't kill me out of some misplace d sense of self-righteousness. And I won't kill you because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever†. The relationship between Batman and the Joker is similar to that of day and night. One cannot exist without another. It takes a Joker to keep Batman from getting depressed with helplessness and guilt. It takes a Batman for Joker to keep him in line. Though Joker is considered as the prominent villain of the Batman series he is looked upon as the extreme

Foreign Architecture in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Foreign Architecture in China - Essay Example The lack of traditional Chinese form in any specific region and the ability of architects to reform China's urban landscape using experimental designs are attractive to architects (Moller 2004 p 1). China's architectural designs since the 1950's have been built heavily from Western influences, and most of the urbanised architecture from 1950 to 1970 was inherently designed and constructed by Russian builders (Moller 2004 p 1). China's spending on construction ranks only behind the United States and Japan's and is growing the fastest of the top ten spenders, at 8-9 percent annually. Remarkably, given China's cultural pride, most of the highest-profile projects now underway in Beijing were designed by foreign celebrities (Economist ed 2004 p 63). The influx of foreign architects in Beijing has incited controversy amongst Chinese nationals. Zhou Ganzhi, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, says, "No other country has opened its architectural design market to the world as wide as China. The rise of pan-internationalism threatens the distinctiveness of Chinese cities, making architectural evaluation difficult" (Hong 2005 p 15). The general consensus amongst critics of ... Is the Distinctiveness of China Threatened The influx of foreign architects in Beijing has incited controversy amongst Chinese nationals. Zhou Ganzhi, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, says, "No other country has opened its architectural design market to the world as wide as China. The rise of pan-internationalism threatens the distinctiveness of Chinese cities, making architectural evaluation difficult" (Hong 2005 p 15). The general consensus amongst critics of foreign and Western architecture in Beijing, China is that it removes the traditional and regional identity. Yung Ho Chang, architect, states that Chinese and Asian cities have a "lack of clear traditional urban structures this introverted quality is at odds with a modern lifestyle and the openness demanded by a highly developed commercial society" (Moller 2004 p 1). China's biggest cities are struggling to balance modern design with their historical structures (Mcguigan, Lin-lui and Mooney 2003 p56). Wu Chen, a traditional Chinese architect states "Beijing has become an experimental site for foreign architects" (Hong 2005 p 14). Beijing has changed beyond recognition, losing the traditional Chinese forms and incorporating more global influences and talents who have been drawn to China in the building effort of Beijing officials (Mcguigan, Lin-lui and Mooney 2003 p56). Review of Relevant Literature Each resource in this research essay has been verified as either a foreign architect working in China, or a Chinese architect. For example, Xuefei Ren received a PhD at the University of Chicago and has published several texts on urban planning (Ren 2006 p 1) Web sites of the actual architects (verified by name, address and