Politics, Morals, and Philosophies of Assassin’s Creed, The Dark Knight, and V for Vendetta

            I have already illustrated how the media has attempted to solidify the concept of the “hero” through film, television, and other ways. But how do these identities, especially the fictional ones become what they are. I have continued my pursuit of the “hero” idea and delved deep into the realm of philosophy, politics, and morality of three very different, fictional heroes. I used Batman from the hit film The Dark Knight, V from the film V for Vendetta, and finally Altaïr from the video game Assassin’s Creed. Beyond the great entertainment value of each of these titles, they also contain many political and philosophical motifs which sometimes are dilemmas which people face in their everyday lives. Is terrorism a legitimate way to fight against a government? After 9/11 most Americans would never agree to it, but V for Vendetta makes a strong case in favor of it. In Assassin’s Creed the player is faced with the idea whether violence is a viable way to create peace and stability in a region. And in The Dark Knight, Batman struggles with maintaining his moral ideals whilst fighting the constant crime in Gotham City. On another side, all of these titles contain political motifs which mirror reality. The fascist regime in V for Vendetta is similar to the Third Reich in Germany. The Dark Knight has many parallels to the Bush administration. And Assassin’s Creed the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden is imitated by Altaïr’s quests to end the lives of various political figures. Video games and films often contain much more than simple good versus evil plots. They explore complex philosophies and politics which have importance in reality.

The Media's Pressentation of the Hero Post 9/11

            The media that surrounds us dictates our lives. It influences how we dress, what we buy, what we eat, and how we think. In a culture which is increasingly becoming driven by the media, many rely on the media to create an identity. The “hero” has always been a concept in stories and in times of duress, they come to the rescue. The tragedies of 9/11 rocked the United States psyche after one of the largest terrorist attacks on US soil. The media after this assault grabbed the “hero” identity and created a whirlwind of creation around this idea. From television shows, to movies, to actual people, the media in the 21^st century uses this identity to help rebuild the American psyche. Many of the superhero films that were created in the latter part of the first decade presents heroes that the masses would like to turn to when times are troubled. Sure, most people when the watch the shows and movies don’t think about these ideas on a conscience level, but they are present nonetheless. Batman and Captain America are two of the most well-known superheroes who had movies recently made and they both parallel the American society and are used to promote this “hero” characteristic. And the fictitious patriot Jack Bauer fights against all odds in a “do or die” situation in order to save the country. Even amongst all these extraordinary identities, there is still a place for men and women like Pat Tillman, a person in real life who fights for what they believe in and try to protect their country. In a society where people want a definite answer for everything, the idea of a hero is in flux. It changes in order to suit the needs of a generation and is now more than ever driven by the media.