Dark Thoughts

The Batman “The Dark Knight” edition of the trilogy movie series that proved to be a box office sensation in 2008 leaves some suggestions as to why with the clever advertising exhibited here. The poster is a multifaceted marketing tool and is yielded quite admirably by the makers of the poster. It is clear that the poster is being used to evoke several specific emotions. The “Joker’s” imprisoned gaze comes only second to the sight of smeared blood in the overall attempt to draw fear into the viewer. These two elements coupled with the presence of textured glass leaves a nothing less then eerie feeling in the observer’s heart and brings forth in the viewers subconscious pathos response. The mirrored glass serves additionally to “cloud” the future, as if to draw the observer’s interest, and even goes further perhaps in offering up hope with the symbol synonymous with Batman himself. All of these elements appeal to the viewer’s senses and tingles the metaphorical “taste buds” to find out the next chapter of the saga. Language also comes into play in the advertisement. Although simple, the words “Why so serious?” are too being used to create an heir of uncertainty regarding the situation exhibited and looks in fact to personify the villain in the tale as a less than absolute evil once again appealing to the inquisitive nature of humanity and serves again to appeal to the ever-present logos subconscious of the world.