Joker: Film Review on Social Oppression and Extremism

This essay offers a detailed film review of the 2019 movie 'Joker,' directed by Todd Philips. It analyzes the film's depiction of social oppression, inequality, and the rise of extremism within Gotham City. The essay explores the character of Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and his descent into violence, highlighting themes of nihilism, dystopian social structures, and the impact of societal factors on mental health. It examines how the film reflects contemporary social issues, including the exploitation of the poor, government maladministration, and the portrayal of American masculinity. The review also delves into the film's commentary on anarchy and revolution, portraying Joker as a symbol of resistance against societal injustices. Through various theoretical analyses, the essay argues that 'Joker' serves as a mirror reflecting the harsh realities of social oppression and its consequences.

Running Head: INTRODUCTION TO FILM REVIEW
INTRODUCTION TO FILM REVIEW
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1INTRODUCTION TO FILM REVIEW
Joker is a popular and one of the best Hollywood films of 2019 belonged to the genre of
psychological thriller. Directed by Todd Philips, the film primarily focused on the DC Comics
character Joker, the arch-rival of Batman. However, the film was particularly based on the life of
Joker and his rise as a so called clown patron of crime around the Gotham city (Harrington,
2019). The character of Joker was played by renowned actor Joaquin Phoenix and his
outstanding acting capabilities made the film as one of the cult movies of recent times. There are
different layers and mind-bending messages hidden inside the movie that intrigued the viewers
greatly. Layers like gruesome violence, counter-cultural revolution and dystopian society are
noticeable within the film. Therefore, the thesis statement of this essay is that Joker projected the
harsh reality of social oppression by the riches of the society and it resulted in igniting extremism
and violence in the society.
There are several interpretation regarding the social message and depiction that the
director Todd Philips was trying to present to all the viewers. The critical understanding of the
movie has gone through a number of theoretical analysis related to social equation between
individual and the majority. It is important to note that there are plenty of theories circulated
around the movie such as nihilism, dystopian social structure, the concept of power and
privileges, exploitation and oppression, social inequality, social hierarchy and the concept of
civilisation. All those aspects are clearly imbued into the movie and shared a thin layer of
difference that can able to justify the real image of present society.
According to Benjamins (2019) nihilism is an ultimate belief that thinks all values and
moralities prevalent in the society are baseless and fragile. A sense of extreme pessimism
associated with the paradigm of nihilism. Therefore, a true nihilist is always circumvent of fame
and glory because he does not feel any values in life. In respect to this, it can be stated that a

2INTRODUCTION TO FILM REVIEW
nihilist person is highly negative in mind and filled with radical scepticism about good for the
society (Olson et al., 2018). In addition to this, from the arguments of Friedrich Nietzsche, it can
be stated that the philosophical basis of nihilism is based on the impulse of destruction
(Zhavoronkov, 2018). Examples like value destruction, cosmic purposelessness and
epistemological failure are identified as the acute characteristics of a nihilist person. As a result
of that it will burst out into an apocalyptic mood of anxiety, anger and terror.
The movie ‘Joker’ also depicted a true sense of nihilism circulated around the Gotham
city. It is in fact, criticised as a deliberate projection of the current society where people are still
fight for food and shelter. In the 1st half of the movie, the protagonist of the movie Arthur Fleck,
later on known as the Joker, was a stand-up comedian at first (Ketchell, 2019). However, he was
suffered from a medical disorder that made him laugh in sorrow and grief. Therefore, he was
bullied in professional life even in the streets. A challenge was always followed the life of Arthur
and every time he had to prove himself to the society. All his dreams became shattered when he
terminated from his job as a stand-up comedian. There are two factors that played a crucial role
in shaping the psychology of Joker (Barber, 2019). One is associated with the social recognition
as a good person and successful comedian that he always sought to gain but due to the social
hostility and exclusion he failed to get proper acknowledgement in the society. On the other
hand, exclusion from the society and continuous oppression and humiliation from the higher
echelon of the society made him insane and violent. An anarchist mentality had been played back
of the mind of Joker due to lack of assimilation into the society. Henceforth, it can be found that
a sense of nihilism was developed eventually that turned on Joker against the social
establishment.

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In addition to this, from the review of Gonnermann (2019) it can be stated that a
dystopian social structure was projected into the movie where continuous oppression over the
financially backward class was growing at a rapid pace. Moreover, it can be stated that issues
like unemployment and unequal share of wealth were acutely prevalent in the society. As a result
of that the youths of the society were turned into the liability of the society. In this retrospection,
Arthur also lost his job and his medication was paused but his local therapist did not care as the
government did not care. A total chaos had been transcended over the city where punitive actions
were taken by the government. The dystopian social structure is clearly reflected into the movie
where the society is divided into two clear segments. One is associated with the rich billionaires
holding enough power and control of the administration and police. On the other hand, the poor
section of the society is not fit properly in the glamour and status of the society (Awan & Raza,
2016). Therefore, the poor class called for a revolution as a part of retribution and emancipation
from the continuous oppression of the riches.
In reality, the same picture has been depicted in case of modern society as well where the
riches do not have any humanity to eradicate the wretchedness of the poor people. Moreover, it
can be stated that continuous oppression and exploitation of the higher echelon is also a normal
phenomenon in the current society. The struggle for survival and social recognition are always
identified as the major demands for the poor section (Rose, 2019). They are generally fight for
the fundamental rights and life that the riches are only privileged to get. Therefore, a continuous
clash between rich and poor can be seen in the real society. Moreover, it is also true that lack of
government initiatives for betterment of the common people is also a major trait for the current
society. The film Joker successfully pointed out the maladministration of the government and
social reluctance to incorporate the poor section of the society.

4INTRODUCTION TO FILM REVIEW
It is obvious to find out that the movie Joker rightly portrayed a social inequality within
the society and the severity of the situation that led to clash between rich and poor. It is
important to note that in the current social design there is also a distinctive demarcation between
the haves and have nots. From an apparent point of view, it can be found that the fictional
Gotham city was full of life and joy. People are very happy to live there and highly successful in
personal and professional life. On the other side of the situation, a dark and disturbing picture of
White American masculinity. According to the research of Rutherford (2016) it can be argued
that the glamorous and heroic actions in the Hollywood movies protect American values against
any perceived threats from the outside force. Those projections were certainly associated with a
virile and violent image of the American males but the violence was purposefully glorified for
the benefit of the society. However, the Joker shattered the image of American slick and stylish
male violence by showing a gruesome picture of the American society where bullying and drug
abuse are increasing at a rapid pace. Moreover, the male chivalry of the American film genre
also changed a lot where Joker was not muscular as depicted in the previous films. Suffering
with mental illness and failed to protect himself projected a real life picture of the sufferers who
are facing the same problem (Xiao, 2019). As a matter of fact, the face behind the American
chivalry was associated with sex, rape, violence, money and employment. From that point of
view also Joker successfully narrated a clear image of the society and its actors.
From the article of Starkey and Starkey (2019) it can be stated that Todd Philips’s Joker
was more humane and dark than the previous Batman movies. A clear motive and cynical social
background transformed the character of Joker to a different person where he stood against all
the exploitations and oppression faced in his lifetime and intended to bounce back in more of a
heroic manner in the manner of a villain. It is also crucial to note that the same perception has

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been followed in the context of notorious psychopaths. The film Joker tried to emphasis on that
aspect and formulate a rational and scientific justification behind the changes in the nature of
Arthur. The isolation, past trauma, mental disorder and failure of Joker unleashed the monster
inside him that was belonged to the so called culture of a celibate man with anger and misogyny.
In the American society these types of issues are very common and it led to violent crimes. Most
interestingly, during the premier of the film in United States, Joker faced huge criticism from a
group of people who were alleged that the film was trying to glorify those psychopaths (Hung
2019). However, in reality it is a very real issue and rapidly escalating stress and later on burst
out violently. From that point of view as well it can be stated that Joker is straight narrative of
criminal behaviour of the psychopath and also highlighted the nefarious acts of the society like
exclusion of people who are mentally retarded.
A sense of anarchy was smartly depicted in the film Joker where Joker became the icon
of anarchy and disturbance in Gotham City. On the backdrop of the riots and violence, Joker
made a cynical smile, the smile of anarchy that he had initiated. He knew the fact that it was a
movement against exploitation and oppression that the so called civilized Gotham City needed at
that time. It was the city that he loved and hate simultaneously so that burning the city was a
expression of rampage that is considered to be equivalent to anarchy (Rutherford, 2016). As a
matter of fact, it is very important to note that the symbol of anarchy and the impact of Arthur
Fleck’s presence within the mob made him the clown prince of crime. From the research of
Adams (2019) it can be argued that anarchy is a concept of realism where no such power or
representative is existed to govern the people. People alone are identified as the ruler or
controller of the system.

6INTRODUCTION TO FILM REVIEW
It has been pointed out through the film Joker that the social oppression and exploitation
can be mitigated through the rise of anarchy as a part of movement. In response to this, Moses
(2018) figured out the fact that anarchy is a part of revolution where the violent mob intends to
overthrow the existing system and introduce a new one of their own interest. As a matter of fact,
Martinsdotter and Johansson (2019) believed in the fact that revolution never be ended rather it
transcends from generation to generation. The same projection was found in the last scene of
Joker where he was the mastermind of all incites but someone inspired by Joker murdered
Thomas Wayne, the mayor of Gotham City. In fact, in the end scene Joker was laughed and told
his psychiatrist that she would not get the joke what he laughed at (Ketchell, 2019). This is the
epitome of anarchy where violence continues and change the society as per the need and toppled
down the strong edifice of existing system.
The review on Joker as a mirror of the contemporary society is clearly visible where it
can be confirmed that Joker is not only an icon of violence and anarchy rather he was projected
as a medium that can help the viewers to understand the social problems and prejudices that
society follows. As a matter of fact, the concept of dystopian society and clashes between
different classes of the society are also projected within the movie, Joker visibly that the viewers
can easily link with their current social life. From that point of view, it can be concluded that
Joker truly projects the real picture of the society and highlights some of the social problems that
can bring a revolt against the existing society.

7INTRODUCTION TO FILM REVIEW
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