Entre ruelas e arranha-céus: uma análise arquitetônica e urbanística da cidade fictícia de Gotham baseada nas principais animações e filmes do universo da DC comics

Abstract

This work aims to establish a connection between the fields of Architecture and Urbanism and Cinema. Both disciplines share the ability to transform space into environments and places; while architecture and urbanism act upon the real city, cinema shapes scenarios for imaginary cities. Indeed, the filmmaker must possess a certain knowledge that, based on personal life experiences, enables an understanding of how a city functions — even if it is fictional. In this sense, the relationship between these fields will be explored, beginning with a brief overview of the history of cinema and animation, its key figures, avant-garde movements, and the essential role that architecture and urbanism play in the creation of cinematic worlds. To understand how a city-cinema operates, it is necessary to reflect on the origin of cities and their evolution from prehistoric times to the present day. The way individuals perceive the city — as a space of memory, belonging, resistance, and cultural expression — will also be discussed. Among these various urban interpretations, imagined cities stand out, particularly the so-called cinematic cities. The case study of this research is Gotham City, a recurring setting in comic books, animations, and films featuring the superhero Batman, from the DC Comics universe. The analysis will examine the origin and development of this fictional city, highlighting its main architectural and urban elements, as well as how Batman himself interacts with the urban space as a heroic figure. Moreover, selected animations and films will be analyzed to emphasize the architectural styles and urban layout of Gotham City. Therefore, this study seeks to demonstrate that cinematic cities can serve as meaningful objects of study, as they reflect aspects of real urban environments, and that architecture and urbanism are fundamental tools in the construction of cinematic worlds, reinforcing their importance within the seventh art.