Class Struggle Of Gotham City Through A Marxist Lens

Using a Marxist lens, Christopher Nolan takes advantage of codes such as lighting to highlight the class struggle of Gotham City. It’s no secret that Bruce Wayne has beyond generational wealth. Ergo he associates with the upper class of Gotham, taking advantage of codes, Christopher Nolan uses a different warmth of light and color for Bruce’s dealings with each social class. At Wayne Manor on his birthday, the room was full of light, just how it was full of the upper class, when Alfred picked Bruce up from Tibet and they were riding on the private plane together, at the hotel when he was having dinner with Gothams other elites. All these scenes took place in warm tones. The lighting exhibits how the upper class, even though they are living in the most crime riddled city, are still protected by this sort of blanket, keeping them away from the nitty gritty cold dynamic that's going on in the inner city.

When he interrogates the corrupt police partner of Jim Gordon in the dark alleyway, when he gives the little kid a batarang, or when his parents are murdered in the dark alleyway outside of the theater. The proletariat has truly had the blanket ripped away from them, they live in the open, unprotected, left to the city’s vices. The dark lighting exhibits just how desperate people are for success or ascension. Yet they are being held back by the extreme poverty of Gotham. However, there is a middle ground. In between the proletariat and the upper class is the bourgeoisie. Halfway covered by the blanket, still struggling to move up in class while simultaneously braving the city. Most of the scenes, including the bourgeoisie, are shot with natural and/or fairly white