Angus wrote: ↑August 2nd, 2019, 11:05 am
The tagline is just too weird for a Nolan movie without it meaning something significant. Nolan signed off on this; there's no way it's as simple as
"Time has come for a new protagonist" in the literal sense.
So I got to thinking: "Protagonist" has another definition not related to heroes and good guys.
pro·tag·o·nist
/prōˈtaɡənəst,prəˈtaɡənəst/
noun
an advocate or champion of a particular cause or idea.
synonyms: supporter, upholder, adherent, backer, proponent, advocate, promoter, champion, exponent, standard-bearer, torch-bearer, prime mover, moving spirit, mainstay, spokesman/spokeswoman/spokesperson
I think a protagonist in this film's universe is a "job title." As in, "What do you do for a living?" / "I'm what they call a protagonist."
This seems to feel related to the definition of "Tenet."
ten·et
/ˈtenət/
noun
a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.
synonyms: principle, belief, doctrine, precept, creed, credo, article of faith, dogma, canon, rule; theory, component of a theory, thesis, conviction, persuasion, idea, view, opinion, position, hypothesis, postulation, presumption; ideology, code of belief, teaching(s)
I think "protagonist" is a supporter, and "tenet" is a cause.
Meaning that JDW is a supporter of a cause;
He's a protagonist of the tenet.