On Taste | On David Hume's Of the Standard of Taste

In response to David Hume’s "Of the Standard of Taste," I would like to present the 2008 film, The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan to express how this certain film is supposed to be considered aesthetically pleasing in correspondence with the criteria expounded by Hume in his work. This film is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, as it is included in several lists of it being stated to be so, it became a “cult” favorite and the film is well-known by the masses even outside of the realm of superhero comic fans. This is a clue that supports the fact that it is subjectively good, as many of those who have watched the film have openly argued that it was an authentic re-telling of Batman’s story which was further amplified by the cast of characters in which it consisted of. To back this up, a lot of critics have given the film a high score, and it can be seen through this link. Hume had expressed that it is necessary for the standard of taste to be in coherence with those who have mastered the craft itself. The names listed there are considered to be known film critics that have the capacity to influence the public’s view on the reception of the film when it is released in cinemas already. 

In order to comprehend the experience that a viewer would have felt through this film, we have to look at the director first. Christopher Nolan is a renowned director in Hollywood that is most notable for his multitude of awards bagged in the film industry. His films have definitive themes that concern morality, identity, and even metaphysics. In this case, the Batman film has explored the themes of choice, that people are both good and bad, and it also provided a social commentary as depicted with the happenings in Gotham and the stark differences between Bruce Wayne and The Joker. Hume appreciates these ethical concepts being opened up by the film as it concerns the discussion on human nature and how it mirrors the issues that we currently face in real-world because it promotes the act of introspection and reflection since it has the capacity to affect us in the way we perceive things and do things in real life.

To add to this discussion, Hume has opened up the path to give a “breathing room” to the concept of taste. It did not enclose people to a specific set of rules, meaning that it can be adjusted even if there are people who would generally know more than the layperson. Through films, many people are allowed to give and share their insights as to why they have enjoyed it or not and I think this is what Hume wanted out of his work: to see people interact and discover more about themselves and the people around them in order to create a more authentic experience in life. 

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