27 September 2013

Ben Affleck As Batman & Work Of A Social Marketing Coach

By Robert Sutter


There have been many stories recently that covered the Ben Affleck as Batman debate and it's one of the most heated I have seen in quite some time. I don't think anyone can argue against the idea of Affleck being seen with such controversy by the comic book-loving audience and, as a result, grievances were aired. However, are all of them warranted? It's a curious topic but it's one that I am sure a social marketing coach would be able to weigh in on.

If you want evidence, keep in mind that people have actually been petitioning to have Affleck booted off the project. In fact, nearly 70,000 individuals have signed it, stating that they do not believe the actor can play such a threatening and dynamic superhero. It's definitely a topic for discussion but it is one that can bring a great deal of debate to life as well. Why do I say this, you may wonder? Well, you have to look at the past to see another Batman actor who's been looked at with scrutiny initially.

Michael Keaton is currently regarded as one of the better actors to have ever portrayed Bruce Wayne but you wouldn't have known this before the Tim Burton movies were released. The same man who had prominent roles in "Mr. Mom" and "Beetlejuice" couldn't possibly portray someone who was seen as such a dark persona, right? However, Keaton embraced the role and became one with Batman, it seemed. Is it possible that the same can apply to Affleck, thereby making him a stunningly good choice to don the cowl?

You have to take into account that the initial reactions made are the ones that are not exactly concrete. I'm sure that just about anyone will be able to say this but sometimes it's easy to fall into the trap of making a quick assumption without fully comprehending the news that is set out. I believe that a social marketing coach can cite the importance of allowing news to sink in, even though the idea of relevance is vital. Being able to keep this in mind is important and authorities along the lines of S-M-M-C understand this well.

The question remains: can Ben Affleck effectively portray Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel? It's hard to say but to make an assumption right off of the bat and stick with it may not be the best choice on the matter. Yes, I understand that the role of Batman holds great importance but one has to believe that Affleck would not be chosen unless it was determined that he was suitable for the role. In 2015, I suppose fans will have to see how strong Affleck's performance is.




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