“The Joker,” with its stark depiction of societal decay, is a premonition of the potential collapse of modern Western Society. Today, this warning rings truer than ever. The movie offers an astute prediction of the genesis of the Revolution in the West; a prediction that, when juxtaposed with recent events, suggests that we are teetering on the edge of this precipice.
By studying the narrative of “The Joker,” we can identify four distinct stages that foreshadow societal collapse and revolution in the West: No Social Cohesion, Resentment, No Social Relations, and finally a breaking point.
The initial stage is marked by societal disconnection, where communities are dismantled, and loneliness becomes a pervasive reality.
Stage 1: No Social Cohesion
As we delve into the first section of the movie, the opening shot of the Joker provides a mirrored reflection of our protagonist, Arthur, akin to peering through a Looking Glass. This reflection reveals a man steeped in sadness and vulnerability, forced to don a public mask to assimilate into the society he inhabits. The reason behind Arthur’s need to camouflage himself becomes evident as we witness the grim reality of his existence. Arthur is employed at a company dubbed “Hahas”, where he performs the role of a cheap clown, a fitting metaphor for his circumscribed role in society. Despite the jovial nature associated with his profession, his life is far from the typical cheeriness and exuberance of a circus.
However, instead of basking in the limelight of the circus ring, Arthur is relegated to the fringes, spinning signs on busy streets and taking on other menial tasks. His mundane existence is disrupted one day when, while performing a sign routine, a gang of reckless teenagers snatch his sign and bolt. Without a moment’s hesitation, Arthur gives chase, only to be ambushed and struck with his sign. As he lies helpless on the concrete, the bandits add insult to injury, subjecting him to a brutal beating. This encounter depicts the initial fissures in Gotham’s society, a tangible consequence of the absence of social cohesion. The scene serves as a grim testament to a society where empathy and community have been replaced by opportunism and violence, setting the stage for the impending societal collapse.
The Looking Glass Self is a sociological concept that reflects how our self-perceptions are shaped by our perceptions of how others see us. This notion becomes increasingly significant as we delve deeper into Arthur’s psychology. The harsh reality is that Arthur lives in a society where no one seems to care about him or his well-being. Every interaction, every glance, every word uttered by those around him serves only to reinforce his feelings of insignificance and isolation.
In the bustling metropolis that is Gotham, Arthur’s plight goes unnoticed. Despite the evident cruelty inflicted upon him, passersby offer little more than indifferent glances. No one intervenes, no one offers a helping hand. This lack of empathy and understanding echoes the reality of life in Western mega-cities, where individuals often feel lost in the crowd, their struggles rendered invisible amidst the multitude of faces.
Arthur’s sense of self becomes distorted, molded by the apathy and disregard of those around him. He internalizes these negative experiences, and his self-perception reflects the societal neglect he experiences. This is the essence of the Looking Glass Self, and it serves as a psychological accelerator, hastening Arthur’s descent into the chaotic mindset that will later produce the Joker.
The Formation of the Looking Glass Self: A Three-Step Process
The process of forming the Looking Glass Self is not an overnight transformation; rather, it is a gradual, three-step process that starts early in our lives. As children, we observe and internalize how other people react to our actions and behavior. This is the first step in forming the Looking Glass Self.
In the second step, we interpret these reactions and attribute them to judgments about our actions. We morph these judgments into an understanding of societal expectations and norms.
The final step involves shaping our self-image by how we believe we are perceived by others. Our self-image is molded by our interpretation of these perceived judgments, thereby shaping our behavior, thoughts, and ultimately, identity.
In the context of Arthur Fleck, these three steps played out harshly. He perceived the reactions of societal indifference and hostility towards him, interpreted them as judgments of unworthiness, and formed a self-image of an outsider, a misfit. This distorted self-perception, a byproduct of the societal neglect Arthur experienced, ultimately precipitated his transformation into the Joker.
The Looking Glass Self: A Distorted Reflection
Charles Cooley, the sociologist who first coined the term “Looking Glass Self,” posited that this social process is what makes us human. According to Cooley, our self-perception is a complex interplay of interactions and interpretations. It is a perpetual feedback loop – we present ourselves to others, perceive their reactions, interpret their judgment, and adjust our self-image accordingly. However, the film “Joker” subverts this concept, casting a critical light on the potential for distortion within the Looking Glass Self.
In Arthur’s case, his self-image is marred by the cruel indifference of society. He is caught in a detrimental feedback loop – every negative encounter with society reinforces his belief in his worthlessness. This is a stark deviation from Cooley’s concept, which assumes a balanced and neutral external evaluation. Here, Arthur’s Looking Glass Self is not an objective reflection of his actions or behavior, but rather a mirror grossly distorted by the harsh judgment and apathy of others.
The negative reinforcement Arthur continuously receives only strengthens his self-deprecating belief. Every time Arthur is treated poorly, he internalizes it, mistakenly believing that he deserves such treatment. This conviction fuels his negative self-image and compounds self-loathing, creating a cycle of self-hate that continuously feeds on itself.
The movie “Joker,” through the tragedy of Arthur, illustrates the dark side of the Looking Glass Self – a warning of what can occur when society’s mirror reflects nothing but disdain and neglect. Arthur’s transformation into the Joker is a testament to the power of societal perception in shaping individual identity, highlighting the potential dangers of a distorted Looking Glass Self.
The character of Joker strikes a resonant chord with millions of individuals who identify with Arthur’s narrative of societal isolation and neglect. Our contemporary culture, with its emphasis on individualism, celebrity worship, and nihilistic tendencies, has inadvertently created fertile ground for loneliness and mental health issues to thrive.
Men like Arthur are not anomalies but symptoms of a deep-seated societal problem; they are the castaways of a society that often unwittingly, yet decisively, pushes them toward feelings of worthlessness, anger, and estrangement. In a world that constantly signals their insignificance, these individuals are driven to believe that they are aberrations deserving of nothing but contempt. Such a societal dynamic is not only profoundly tragic but also alarmingly dangerous, as it breeds a sense of despair and rage that can potentially trigger catastrophic outcomes, as evidenced by Arthur’s transformation into the Joker.
The scene where Arthur confides in his therapist serves as a poignant illustration of his escalating desperation. He questions, “Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?” But his plea for understanding is met with nothing more than professional detachment. His therapist, his supposed beacon of hope, offers no comfort or reassurance. Instead, she mirrors the cold indifference of the society that surrounds him. Arthur seeks an increase in his medication dosage, a desperate attempt to numb the ever-intensifying pain, but even this request falls on deaf ears. His statement, “All I have, are negative thoughts,” is an explicit cry for help, a desperate plea to be seen, to be understood. Yet, in the deafening silence that follows, Arthur finds no solace, only the cold echo of his despair. This scene underscores the tragic reality of his situation. He yearns for relief from his torment but ultimately finds no respite, not even within the confines of a therapist’s office.