The DCEU- A Closer Look at Its Impact

The Impact of the DCEU Films on the Industry

DC FILMS was founded in 2016 off the back of the critical and box office failure that was 'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice' (Snyder, 2016). They primarily focus on superhero fiction and comic book adaptations. DC is home to some of the most recognisable/iconic superheroes and characters in the history of cinema and comics.

The impact that the DC Films Aquaman and Shazam! have had on the success of the DCEU After the critical failure of Batman V Superman and Justice League (Snyder, 2017) the future of the DC Films was uncertain. With their long time competitor Marvel Comics/Marvel Studios films flourishing, the success of DC Films next ventures needed to be evident.

Aquaman (Wan,2018) was released to immediate box office success, grossing $335,061,807 domestically and with a global box office of $1.1 billion (Aquaman - Box Office Mojo, 2018). It is currently the highest grossing DC Films movie to date. The success of the film was a surprise to critics and movie goers alike, which left the question of why was

this particular film a success.

DC Films took a sharp change in direction when concerning Aquaman. There was a

shift in marketing for the film, with the 'less is more approach'- Marketing began only five months prior to filming. An article from the popular movie commentary website 'Screen Rant' reports: 'This was a marked contrast from other DCEU films like Suicide Squad and Justice League, which kicked off their marketing campaigns a solid year in advance' (Donaldson,2019). A less exhaustive approach to their films allowed for anticipation and excitement to build.

Both Aquaman and Shazam! (David F. Sandberg, 2019) were marketed successes for DC Films. Shazam! although it grossed significantly less than Aquaman, with a box office of $366 million dollars worldwide (Shazam! - Box Office Mojo, 2019) it was still a success as it had a much lower budget than their other films. Where Shazam! proves itself different from previous DC films, lies within its tone.

A criticism that was levelled at previous DC adaptations such as Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice '...was generally regarded as too grim, too serious, and unoriginal even though it was the first time that Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman have shared the screen together in a feature film' (Brown, 2011 ,p157). This left a black mark on DC Films to follow, all of which

had to fight hard to tear away from this stigma.

Long time movie commenter Sandie Chen commented on Shazam!, saying it was a '...light hearted entry in the DC Extended Universe...thanks to standout performances, broad humor, and positive messages' (Chen, 2019). The same can be said for Aquaman, with Director James Wan stating '...We’re creating a very different character...I wanna see you more of that light-hearted goofiness of you that is gonna service the movie well' (Graves, 2018).

With the success of these two movies, allowed the DC Films in being successful in creating the start of the DCEU. Under the weight of the pressure of beating out other Superhero film competitors. The success of Aquaman and Shazam! allowed for the growth of the DCEU, with

more superhero adaptations planned in the upcoming years.

The Impact of DC Films on the representation of mental health issues on film

Historically, characters in comic books have mental health issues, which are mostly presented as villains. Villains are painted as dangerous and unstable. However, some heroes/superheroes have presented mental health issues but it is rarely displayed as a character flaw but rather a characteristic that gives them their edge. For example, Batman has antisocial personality disorder and a phobia of bats, both of which contribute to his persona and his effectiveness as a crime fighter.

One of the first big hits for DC Films came from Joker ( Phillips, 2019) which gave a stark representation of mental health issues and what that can do to a person. This was seemingly a win for the mental health community as the film highlights how mistreated Arthur Fleck was even though he was severely ill- hewas left without help or medication.

Dr Adreine Raine states '[The film] was a surprisingly accurate prediction of the kind of background and circumstances which, when combined together, make a murderer' (Miller, 2019). The film consistently shows what can happen to someone if they are left without care and the extremes that they have to go through. Raine also states that the film is a great '...educational tool' for those who want to study the makings of a murderer. However in the end Arthur is seemingly accepted by the public, even though he has in sighted riots, what he has done was not so heinous and he was no longer ostracised from society- he had found his

place. This is something that severe mental health sufferers battle with every day.

However, the argument of impact is not so cut and dry. DC films such as Joker and Suicide Squad (Ayer, 2016) represent people with mental health issues as being dangerous or having the potential to become so. Certain characters become caricatures of mental health sufferers, often used for comedies sake. For example, when Harley Quinn hears voices it is played for comedic effect.

These representations of mental health have long since caused problems for professionals, with Psychology Professor Skip Young stating '...professionals have long been concerned that these kinds of portrayals are exaggerated...inaccurate and potentially damaging to those experiencing real psychological problems' (Young,2013, p45 ). Also by having mental Health issues radicalised and stigmatised in these representations can be extremely damaging. 'Accordingto data from the IHME's Global Burden of Disease...13% of the global population...suffer from some kind of mental disorder' (Rice-Oxley, 2020) therefore these films lack proper representation of mental health disorders- painting them out to be stigmatised.

The Impact of DC films on the Representation of Women on Film

When Wonder Woman (Jenkins, 2017) was released it was met with instant praise and recognition for its predominant female cast and female director Patty Jenkins. The film was a first of its kind for the industry, in particular for a comic book/super hero adaptation.

From the success of Wonder Woman came The film Birds of Prey (Yan,2020), although received poor reviews was still instrumental for the depiction of women in cinema. With an all female team up and also being directed by Cathy Yan.

Women in DC comics and comic books in general have always had a problematic approach to depicting women. Although the female readership has increased from 7% to 37% - according to separate market research by The Nielsen's Company (Hudson, 2012) and findings from comic book sales (Johnson, 2017)- the audience remains predominantly male.

Comic books have been somewhat sexist in their depiction of women. DC characters in particular boast strong characters such as Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Batwoman- they are all represented as having an unachievable body, are scantily dressed and pose provocatively.

Jeffery Brown comments on the character: '...Wonder Woman... has also managed to become a symbol for audiences, young girls and older fans alike of female strength. She emerged as a popular feminist icon...' DC Films seemingly took a step in the right direction with the release of Wonder Woman which displayed a strong and dedicated female character. (Brown, 2011, p235) Diana was not demonised as either a femme fatale or presented as a damsel in distress but a hero in her own right who was just as, if not more so, capable than her male counterparts.

Although the character is very often praised, throughout the DCEU movies that she has been in there has been some backlash to the way her character is depicted. It has been commented on several times that the character is subject to the Male Gaze, that she is only there to be looked at.

Laura Mulvey famously commented on women in cinema, saying: '...Going far beyond a woman's to-be-looked-at-ness, the cinema builds the way that she is to be looked at into the spectacle itself' (Mulvey, 1989, p122). This is often displayed in the DCEU movies by the fact that she wears significantly less clothes then her male counterparts. Diana wears a corset like top and short skirt whereas the male heroes are mostly covered from the neck down.

Diana's beauty is also excessively commented on, especially by her male comrades, which reduces the character to merely her appearance. This can also be seen in Suicide Squad with the objectification of Harley Quinn, with long fetishist shots of her body whilst men stare at her.

Conclusion

Although a relatively new film studio it has already had a big impact- both positive and negative- on the industry when concerning the representations of both mental health and women on film. Also with the impact of their own losses and successes on the future of the DC

extended universe.