The ecstasy of chaos: Mediations of 9/11, terrorism and traumatic memory in The Dark Knight

Abstract

The Dark Knight (Nolan, 2008) garnered both critical acclaim and box office success, becoming the seventh highest grossing film ever.1 Like other fantasy films released since 2001, its content reveals a nihilism that allegorizes 9/11 and ‘The War on Terror’. The Dark Knight incorporates imagery reminiscent of 9/11, and draws on events at Guantanamo Bay, revealed in 2004 as a site of detainee abuses. Locating aspects of terrorism in the character of the Joker, as well as the film's themes and visual style, this article explores The Dark Knight's mediation of 9/11 and the ‘War on Terror’, and their relationship to traumatic memory. Engaging primarily with Baudrillard's study of terrorism (2003), it equates the Joker's behaviour to chaos theory in that his actions provoke scenes of spectacular destruction. This article argues that the film recreates imagery embedded within the memory of those who witnessed 9/11, thus resonating with contemporary audiences, whilst certain generic qualities enable some spectators to confront traumatic memory.