supercurricular

Unraveling Gotham’s Madness: Can the Joker Ever Be Trusted?  

James Rose’s article about Joker dives into the intricacies of Arthur Fleck as an unreliable narrator in Joker, offering a breakdown of how the character’s fractured mind is central to understanding the film’s impact. Arthur’s story is not just about becoming Joker; it’s about how trauma, poverty and mental illness results in a man whose grasp on reality is constantly questioned, making the audience wonder what’s real and what’s just in his head.  

The socio-economic landscape of Gotham City contributes to Arthur’s transformation into Joker and is presented as a dystopian setting that reflects real-world issues such as income inequality, mental health stigma and neglect, which acts as a catalyst for Arthur’s descent into madness. The article also highlights how the film delves into the “madman” narrator archetype in fiction but flips the script on typical depictions on mental illness and presents Arthur as a complex character than just a villain, which pushes viewers to empathise with him.  

The role of cinematography and sound design amplifies the film’s narrative and emotional depth. The use of close-up shots allows the audience to intimately experience Arthur’s emotional turmoil, while the disorienting camera angles mirror his fragmented perception of reality. Additionally, the music composed for this film is characterized by its haunting melodies and jarring crescendos, enhancing moments of tension and confusion.  

In my opinion, I think one of the most striking parts of Arthur’s unreliability is how the film blurs the lines between what happens and what he imagines. His supposed relationship with Sophie is the biggest example. The article examines how Arthur’s relationship with Sophie as a vital narrative device underscores the film’s exploration of loneliness and isolation. Initially portrayed as a source of hope, the scenes that show their dates and her support are later revealed to be products of his imagination, emphasizing the profound disconnect he feels from the world around him. This isn’t just a storytelling gimmick; it reflects Arthur’s broken mind, shaped by neglect and mental health struggles. It makes us question everything we see, drawing us into a perspective that’s both disturbing and oddly relatable.  

I think this portrayal feels relevant to today’s conversations about mental health. Many people can relate to feelings of isolation and the desire for connection, even when it’s unattainable. Arthur’s struggles resonate with viewers, making his eventual transformation into joker feel both tragic and inevitable. Arthur’s descent into madness is a direct result of the toxic environment that has shaped him and is a reaction to the social neglect that turned him from a victim to a perpetrator. It not only reinforces his deeply unreliable and skewed perspective but also sheds light on how his trauma is a product of broader societal issues regarding neglect and abandonment; society’s treatment of mental illness and systemic failures creates individuals like him. His story compels us to reflect on the factors that lead someone to embrace such darkness, but also how Arthur’s transformation into the Joker is emblematic of the chaos within Gotham itself.  

TRIANGLE OF MACRO AND MICRO (Mon 18/11/24) (made on Canva):

Good as Gold shelter video: (Mon 18/11/24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr7Y-ddGzew

The Good as Gold video by Shelter is a Christmas advert that highlights the reality of children living in temporary accommodation. It follows an 8-year-old girl named Maddy, who is on her best behavior and helping others, hoping for the gift of a home for Christmas. However, the advert ends with a stark reality: Maddy wakes up on Christmas morning in temporary living situation, saying "But I was so good.", showing that all she truly wanted was a place she could call home, yet despite working hard and being on her best behavior she still couldn't achieve that, subverting stereotypes that 'homeless people are lazy and choose not to work' (which is Shelter's brand message). The video aims to raise awareness of the growing number of children in temporary housing in the UK, with the goal of generating support for the charity’s work.

Burn the witch - Radiohead and Sun goes down - Lil Nas X

When I first watched Burn the Witch, it felt offbeat, even though it’s presented through stop-motion animation, which has a weird, nostalgic vibe. It’s immediately clear that something isn’t right with the village the inspector is visiting. At first glance, the village appeared friendly and picturesque, but as I watched further, it's revealed that the village is hiding something dark, like satanic rituals and sacrifices. In the cartoon figures, none of them have mouths except the one who is being burned in the tower, which gives an eerie, creepy feeling. The villagers seem robotic in their obedience, part of a system where individuality is erased. The lack of mouths seem symbolises their inability to speak or express themselves, as if their voices are completely suppressed. The one figure with a mouth, burned in the tower, contrasts this by representing the only one who can challenge the system- but their fate is saled because of it.

In Lil Nas X's Sun Goes Down used the video to show that while his younger self was struggling with feelings of isolation, he has since come to terms with who he is. The contrast between the past and present was clear—the video showed him watching over his teenage self, comforting him in a way that felt both protective and healing. It was clear to me that this video was about self-acceptance and personal growth. He was no longer just the kid he once was, but someone who had accepted his identity, especially in the face of the challenges he faced as a teenager.
There was also a deeper layer about reconciling faith with his sexuality. In the video, Lil Nas X prays and expresses his struggle with religion and his identity. This felt like an exploration of the conflict many LGBTQ+ people face when they grow up in religious or conservative environments. Unlike his more openly confrontational videos like Montero, Sun Goes Down had a gentler, more healing message.