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.