Joker- Abrief reflection excerpts from a transcript of a talk delivered by Zulfiqar Awan
Certainly, one of the most effective ways of trying to understand modernity and its effects on society and the human psyche is by looking at key iconic movies and books that express the darker side of modernity. Modernity consists of a range of key events that have led to its construction. Some of these events include: a new philosophy that separates the human being from nature and himself, reason becoming the sole human instrument for making sense of reality, the industrial revolution and capitalism, the myth of perpetual progress, a monetary system based on usury, the ideology of liberalism and democracy.
Over the last two centuries, Europe’s intelligentsia has been promoting modernity by stating the fact that human beings ‘have never had it so good’ as a result of their belief in liberalism, democracy and capitalism, therefore giving the citizen freedom and material wellbeing. However, the reality is quite different, very different. In this regard, we shall approach our situation, by focusing on the key messages from the acclaimed movies and books in this course.
When we initially look at the ‘Joker’, the first thing that should come to mind is that the director has succeeded in brilliantly expressing our condition. This is one of the reasons why it caused so much controversy and outrage as it hit a collective nerve and expressed an unconscious and repressed collective truth.
The main four themes we will explore as found in the ‘Joker’ are:
1. The Point in History
2. Liberal Democratic Society
3. Family Dynamics
4. The İndividual & Madness
What I mean by the “point in history” is the point at which Arthur Fleck finds himself in the historical process. His behaviour pattern corresponds to a particular phase of a historical cycle. Modern universities do not view history in this manner as they teach history as a linear and progressive process. They are correct in regards to the progress of technology and science, however when it comes down to the human being, it is a very different story. We must realise that human nature remains constant throughout time. And, history must be taught by not just looking at events but more importantly the human being (s) at the centre of those events. This will give us a better understanding of history, therefore giving us more of a polished mirror to see our present situation in.
In the second theme, we will try to answer the following question, “how does living under a liberal democracy affect or forge our psyches, souls, and emotions. Because, democratic societies create a particular type of human personality. As we know the movie was set in the 1970’s & 80’s USA — by that time liberal democracy was experiencing is ‘hey day’.
The third and fourth themes consist of his family dynamics and its influence on the Arthur Fleck. One thing you see extremely clear in the movie is that as society is becoming crazier or decaying at a fast rate, so does Arthur Fleck. So, what I am trying to emphasise is you cannot separate society from the family as you cannot separate the family from the individual. This is how the ancient masters of ancient Greece and Rome understood life.
There are two basic social zones that we function in as human beings: society and family. It is very important to understand how they have shaped our lives. So, we will elaborate on how these two zones shape Arthur Fleck. Each zone is connected; Society shapes the family and the family shapes the individual, but then the individual repeats the learned behaviour thus perpetuating the status quo — it is like a mouse running on a wheel.
Point in History
Let’s focus on the first theme in a bit more detail. It is imperative as human beings that we understand the time in which we live. This allows us to act accordingly. As you can see from the diagram on the slide I use the model of the ancient Greek Polybius for this purpose. He provides us with a historical cyclical framework to understand what came before us, where we are now and what will possibly emerge in the future.
Polybius said that every society goes through a particular pattern which consists of six political systems in a cyclical manner. The six political systems being: Monarchy, Tyranny, Aristocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy and Ochlocracy.
According to Polybius a state begins in a form of primitive monarchy. The state will emerge from monarchy under the leadership of an influential and wise king; this represents the emergence of “kingship”. Political power will pass by hereditary succession to the children of the king, who will abuse their authority for their own gain; this represents the degeneration of kingship into “tyranny”.
Some of the more influential and powerful men of the state will grow weary of the abuses of tyrants, and will overthrow them; this represents the ascendancy of “aristocracy” (as well as the end of the “rule by the one” and the beginning of the “rule by the few”). Just as the descendants of kings, however, political influence will pass to the descendants of the aristocrats, and these descendants will begin to abuse their power and influence, as the tyrants before them; this represents the decline of aristocracy and the beginning of “oligarchy”. As Polybius explains, the people will by this stage in the political evolution of the state decide to take political matters into their own hands.
This point of the cycle sees the emergence of “democracy”, as well as the beginning of “rule by the many”. In the same way that the descendants of kings and aristocrats abused their political status, so too will the descendants of democrats. Accordingly, democracy degenerates into “ochlocracy”, literally, “mob-rule” or “civil chaos”. In an ochlocracy, according to Polybius, the people of the state will become corrupted, and will develop a sense of entitlement and will be conditioned to accept the pandering of demagogues as the the trust between the people and government has been destroyed.
Eventually, the state will be engulfed in chaos, and the competing claims of demagogues will culminate in a single (sometimes virtuous) demagogue claiming absolute power, bringing the state full-circle back to monarchy.
Arthur Fleck and the society he experiences are functioning within the democracy-ochlocracy phase — swiftly hurtling towards ochlocracy. Fleck is a symptom of the end of an Age (a cycle of Polybius).
Societal and Individual Decay- Ochlocracy
The movie is set at that time when capitalist society begins to drastically decay as the bankers are usurping the state and wealth thus collapsing health care, creating a huge divide between the rich and poor, causing the citizen body to become powerless and helpless. Fleck’s powerlessness and helplessness manifests as violence, and we know violence is a natural extension of failed politics. In other words, Fleck’s lack of meaningful civic engagement or voice in the civic zone has led to violent acts — the only freedom he has left or the only thing he has power over.
Liberal Democratic Society in Decay
Right at the beginning of the movie we see Fleck applying his face mask. For me this sums up the entire movie and depicts perfectly the plight of modernity. Modernity has created a split in the human psyche — an inward spiritual crises coupled with a societal imposition to outwardly be happy and positive. Inward spiritual crisis, outwardly a wonderful smile!
Here are some amazing quotes from the movie:
“Is it just me or is it getting crazier out there?” (Fleck)
Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness corresponds to the decay of his society, and vice versa.
“You don’t listen, don’t you?” (Fleck to his therapist)
A lack of civic bonding and mutual concern is a modern societal wide sickness. Human beings are no longer valued as the entire administration system needs to be served, and it comes at a great cost — our humanity.
“People are starting to notice.” (Fleck)
For this purpose I will refer to Plato’s Tripartite theory of the human soul.
Plato identified three distinct elements of the soul or psyche that makeup who we are and are responsible for our behaviour patterns. They are:
-Reason (facts and rationality)
-Spirited (Thumos — spirited self, honour, victory, courage, recognition)
- Appetites (genitals and stomach)
Based on the above, what is missing is the honouring of Arthur Fleck by his family and society. What is lacking is any sort of victory or accomplishment and self-recognition.
Under a liberal democracy, the authentic self is not recognised because it’s drowned in the majority, the demos. Aristotle would call this ‘the tyranny of the majority’. My argument goes against the thesis of the academic who wrote ‘The End of History and the Last Man’.
Family Dynamics
We will use the work of the brilliant Scottish psychoanalyst Dr. Ronald Laing. He basically concludes that If you have parents (either one or both) who impose on you a particular life that does not match with your authentic self , consequently it will create a clash or a conflict. And, Laing refer’s to the consequence as ‘ontological Insecurity’ — an insecure being resulting in a divided self. This anxiety can manifest in three ways:
1. Engulfment- the loss of identity- a force moving against the individual
2. Implosion- the vacuum of an empty self- Implosion and pushed to withdraw
3. Petrification- the doubt of being alive- from a fear of not being seen they feel irrelevant
We can see Fleck experiencing all three forms of anxiety as the movie progresses. It is important to understand his unhealthy relationship with his step-mother and step-father. Both parents facilitated is gradual ontological break.
Let us not forget the family is a social witness to society. In this case, a decaying society with a severe imposition stemming from its institutions that are used to control the masses. Today, that imposition no longer stems from institutions but from within ourselves. We have been imprinted and now the control is from within ourselves.
Individual /Madness
1. “All I have are negative thoughts.” (Fleck)
2. “For my whole life I didn’t know even If I have really existed.” (Fleck)
3. “…But I do and people started to notice.” (Fleck)
4. “I haven’t been happy One minute of my entire F*cking Life.” (Fleck)
5. “I used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realise, it’s a comedy.” (Fleck)
Fleck’s invisible and unnoticed life is seen by him as a tragedy. His lack of happiness coupled with a society that doesn’t value/honour his ‘thumos’ leads to Arthur becoming the joker. His inward chaos manifests as the outward nihilistic chaos and violence. He begins to FEEL after living a numb-calm existence. However, he has chosen the path of destruction.
Right at the end of the movie as Arthur is being identified with and celebrated by the mob, a young boy in the back streets witnesses both of his parents being murdered in cold blood. When there is chaos, an individual or as group rise from the chaos and take on the heroic spirit in pursuit of virtue and order. This little boy was Bruce Wayne. Who later became ‘Batman’.
Both Fleck and Wayne experienced severe childhood trauma, and it is interesting to see how both confronted and used that trauma for different ends.
Within our cities and ourselves, both order and chaos exist. The question is ‘How do we walk the thin line that separates order from chaos, without falling into the extremes of either ?”. This is another story for another time.
Zulfiqar Awan
