On superheroes and their mafia: Using The Lego Batman Movie to explain relational aspects of narcissism

Abstract

Objective Contemporary social discourse often emphasises the role of popular culture in the emergence of narcissistic disturbances. That the very same popular culture might be uniquely positioned to explain narcissism has been less explored. This article is part of a discussion series developed to teach registrars psychoanalytic concepts through the medium of film. It explores the depiction of narcissism in the 2017 The Lego Batman Movie. Conclusions Surprisingly for its genre, Lego Batman does not reify pejorative archetypes but rather draws out the relational genesis of Batman’s narcissism. The film closely aligns with an object-relations view and can help challenge the tendency, even among psychiatrists, to emphasise the self-importance in narcissistic disorders over underlying object-related conflicts. Furthermore, with its striking audio-visual techniques, the film both enlivens and distils complex psychoanalytic concepts and therapeutic processes for a general psychiatry audience.