You might remember a few days ago I mentioned how a list PETA had made up of animal friendly superheroes was altered after the Dark Knight opened, with the Batman being removed because of scenes involving him fighting dogs. Simon Owen at Bloggasm followed it up, talking to the post’s writer, Christine Doré, who wondered why a superhero laden with ingenious gadgets didn’t have something to help tranquilise or distract guard dogs instead of laying into them. A friend of Simon’s was also disappointed that the usual negative portrayal of Rottweilers as vicious menaces was used, although Jim Henley pointed out that given it was in self-defence the actions in that scene could be justified. Still, after the revelations of the movie’s star allegedly assaulting his mother and sister in a London hotel I wonder if the whole violence issue has suddenly taken a less academic and more sinister tone.
Fri, Jul 25, 2008
Comics and cartoons, Film, TV and radio