The Dark Knight and the Evilness of Evil

Ashley Cocksworth

doi:10.1177/0014524609106841

The Dark Knight and the Evilness of Evil

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The problem of evil is a recurring cinematic motif. However, in the theatres as much as in theology, evil is often misunderstood. Its peculiar ontology (as neither created nor divine) and its problematic presence (as defeated yet hostile) makes evil conceptually hard to speak of. Surprisingly, then, the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight, offers a very good (or rather, very evil) account of wickedness that aims not to `solve' the problem of evil but to expose wickedness in all its savaging awfulness. This article will discuss some of the issues that stand behind the account of evil proffered by Batman's archenemy and Gotham City's agent of chaos, the Joker.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	541-543
Number of pages	3
Journal	The Expository Times
Volume	120
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0014524609106841
Publication status	Published - 13 Jul 2009

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10.1177/0014524609106841

Cite this

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