Jokeris an excellent example of the need for social accountability in art. Historically, art has been a mirror for society, in which all triumphs, ills, and failures can be seen. However, the best art demonstrates a sense of responsibility to its viewers by offering hope, even solutions, to the issues and travesties displayed therein, rather than indulging in relevantly disturbing and upsetting content for shock value.
Jokerdid at least something like the former in 2019 when it boldly called to the forefront cancerous institutional injustices and shortcomings. It accidentally foreshadowed a period with some of the most profound social changes and recognition of such serious problems looming devastatingly on the horizon. Thegeneral consensus ofJokeris that it doesn’t have a cohesive ideological message, which works for its more inclusive lessons about social reform and empathy.Joker: Folie A Deuxhas the power to change all that, though based on the title,which means “madness shared,“it could either signal more of the same or be a hearkening to the audience members who thought that Joker the protagonist was some kind of hero.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted issues of homelessness, poverty, cost of living, social alienation, mental illness, and neglect of those in need. Topics that, even in 2019, were still typically considered taboo. To discuss the creeping desperation and disgruntling pervasions of our current systems was still considered an indication of ingratitude and ignorance, and in this era is whenJokerwas released.
Related:Joker: Folie a Deux: Plot, Cast and Everything Else We Know
To this day, it’s still scary to even talk about the highly controversial film, lest one’s remarks mishandle its subject matter. When all is said and done, theJokersequel will be releasedin a different world. How will theJokerfranchise be received by a society whose priorities and values have grown? Compounding this rhetorical question is that the impatience and longing for a better world now shared by nearly everyone have been met with little to no real institutional change, rather a heightening of intellectual destabilization so insecure that it fears, not without reason, the impact of reckless ideas and stories. In such a society, what opportunities does one movie have to demonstrate social accountability and effective, results-driven mirroring and essentially not make things worse?
What Can the JokerSequel Do for Society?
Jokerdid nothing but hold a mirror up to society in a tone and style reminiscent of a punch in the face or a leg of the couch to a pinky toe.Jokertackles the distorted life of one man, who responds to institutional neglect, social ostracization, and poverty by adopting a dissociated sense of humor and ruthless, gory violence. The movie, fortunately, and despite the panic, does not try to suggest thatArthur’s actions are justifiable. In his own messed-up world, they make sense, but to the rest of us, they are the clear result of the failure of this man’s society to support and watch him.Jokeris the story of how one man’s spiral destroys an entire city.Jokeris one movie that forced an entire society to reflect on itself and its neglect of its citizens.
The horrendous end, the Joker’s murderous actions, make the message all the more urgent and dire, and again, this was evenbeforethe global pandemic. How canJoker 2drive this even further, all the way home? It can continue to reiterate that this man’s actions result from institutionally and individually neglected illness and widespread greed, and are not a demonstration of justly provoked rebellion, for starters.
Related:Joker: Why We Don’t Need a Sequel
Rather than stoke the fire of its frightening controversy, it can take a stance more on the side of Arthur’s onlookers, giving them, or the audience, the power to change this, to interfere, to initiate positive change by stopping, apprehending, and neutralizing Arthur’s insanity. Unless it is now, and it probably is, too far gone. At the very least, the supporting characters can be shown to actively prevent anyone else’s situation from getting this bad. This is something that stories as old asA Christmas CarolorDante’s Infernoknew: make your story as such that it gives the audience the audacity and the motivation to make the changes in their own lives that the whole society needs to see. That is how you change the world.
How Will Joker: Folie A Deux Manage its Legacy?
CanJoker: Folie A Deuxachieve accountabilitythrough the Joker’s seemingly impossible redemption? Can it be done by depicting the institutional change that would have caught Arthur Fleck before falling into despair and delirium? Support for his neurological condition, empowering, life-long encouragement to live life openly despite his disability, and most of all, interference when he was being abused could have prevented Arthur’s downward spiral into madness, according to at least one interpretation of the movie.
One movie, one painting, or one book can change the world, and every creator is responsible for ensuring that their one piece of work is a good one. Good in the sense that it is and will do positive things for those who will receive it. Just because something is well done doesn’t mean we should say “well done.” TheJokerfranchise has a lot of positive potential, should it continue down the path of social mirroring and social responsibility.
