#2019 arthur fleck | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

five-miles-over · 17 days

Note

Hi Mun 👋🏼 just found your blog off some tags lol

I would love it if you could do an age gap hc for joker? How would Arthur deal with developing feelings for a partner who is 10 or even 15 years younger than him?

Thank you so much!

Thanks for your patience, anon! I truly appreciate it. Also, Arthur's head canon turned into a bit of a fic, so I apologize for that.

Headcanon: Arthur Fleck Having an S/O Younger Than Him

"ID Please."

While Arthur accompanied you to the grocery store after your shift at work, you bought a bottle of wine to enjoy with the dinner you planned to cook for Arthur. He was coming over to your apartment for the first time, and you wanted to spoil him with a recipe you saw on a cooking show. So you bought all the ingredients, and a bottle of red.

The cashier glanced at you. "You're twenty-two huh? You look like you should be in high school."

You shook your head, flustered. "Um...thanks?"

After paying, you quickly left the store with your bagged groceries. But just when you reached for Arthur's hand, he flinched.

You didn't think much of it at first, but when you tried to talk to Arthur about something, he simply shrugged it off and said it was nothing

The truth is that, Arthur was still processing the fact that you were in your early twenties.

He knew you were a young beautiful woman, smart and kind. A total catch. And that part of Arthur, the part of his mind that told him he was an outcast and fed him nothing but negative thoughts, constantly said, "She could do so much better than you. You don't deserve her at all. She's the whole package, and what are you? Just some guy who can't even take her out to dinner."

He tried to hold it back as he saw other, bigger guys in Gotham walking with their partners, giving them bouquets of flowers wrapped in shiny plastic and other gifts, telling himself that someday he would do exactly that with you. But knowing that you were at ten years younger than him? That was just more fuel to the fire burning inside him.

"She's got her whole life ahead of her. She's going to find someone better, wait and see." The negative thoughts materialized again. "She's just with you out of pity. Date the sad clown, maybe she just wants to fool around. Wait and see. She's going to meet someone with a lot of money, a lot of status...She'll marry him, and when they're all sitting around at cocktail parties, she'll laugh about the time she dated a sad clown. And say she dodged a bullet."

"Arthur?" You tried to get his attention, and repeated his name a couple of times. "Arthur?"

Arthur, seemingly lost in thought, didn't respond until you stood in front of him, stopping him from crossing the street. "What happened?"

"Nothing," he lied. You crossed your arms, not having any of it. And this made Arthur laugh a bit, not out of amusement but out of fear. "Nothing, really," he lied again between laughs.

"Just tell me."

After a few moments of silence, Arthur simply asked. "Are you really twenty-two?...You're twenty-two."

"Yes. I am."

"That's young."

You shifted your weight to one foot. "I know that."

Arthur mirrored your gesture and swallowed. "So...well, I don't care. It's just young."

"I'm not that young," you rebuffed.

"Young enough that the cashier thinks you're in high school."

You put your hands on your hips, still carrying the bags of groceries. "Is that what this is about? He wasn't hitting on me!"

"No, but someone will," Arthur raised his voice a little. "You're young, what the hell do you know?"

"I know that you're my boyfriend and I love you. I don't care what some cashier says about me, and neither should you."

He shook his head. God how he loved the way you'd get so stubborn about your opinions. It was one of his favorite things about you, but right now, in this moment, it made him even more annoyed. How could you say such a thing, lying through your teeth? And with those three special words? "Bullshit," Arthur muttered, walking away from you to cross the street.

You followed him, huffing with your groceries. "Arthur Fleck, what is wrong with you?! Can't you just...Why are you so mad? Nothing happened! I'm still the same person I was twenty minutes ago."

"No. You're twenty-two." He turned around and lashed out. "You're twelve years younger than I am. What the hell's wrong with you? Hanging around with some old clown, waiting until some rich guy makes you his wife and you can leave me behind!" Your eyes widened. "Is that what you think of me?" Your lips quivered and tears formed in your eyes. "Is that seriously what you think this is, just...hanging around? Oh my god." You looked down as you felt a tear roll down your cheek.

Arthur visibly softened, reaching his hand out but stopping himself just before he could touch you. "I'm such an idiot," you sniffed. "You're right, what do I know?" "I'm sorry," Arthur sighed. "I didn't mean to make you cry." Arthur looked down, into your eyes. "I...was just shocked that you were younger. I thought it would...I don't deserve you. You're great, you're a perfect girl and I don't deserve you." He added, "I love you so damn much."

"I love you too," you looked up. "And I don't want to leave you." He laughed for a few moments with pain in his eyes, and bit the inside of his cheek to quiet down. "I'm so sorry," Arthur repeated and put his hands on your shoulders. "Oh my god, please don't cry. I'm so sorry." He took your grocery bags in his hands. "Let's go."

You and Arthur went back to your apartment, and didn't talk about your age for the rest of the night. But you did spend the evening together, telling each other - and showing each other - how much you really loved each other.

Joker Having an S/O Younger Than Him Would Include...

In complete contrast to Arthur, Joker finding out you were ten or fifteen years younger than him would excite him

He'd turn it into a complete kink, calling you his "personal little baby doll"

Whenever you'd go out, you'd be on his lap, him stroking your thighs and your hair.

Unless you were absolutely against the aesthetic, Joker would love to dress you in coquettish clothing - plaid mini skirts, knee-high white socks, white and pastel blouses that he would ruin with grease facepaint while making out with you, and corsets he would rip off you before having his way with you

And if you ever called him "daddy"? Watch out and be prepared to be dragged into the most private area by the Joker. Hope you didn't have any plans for the next...hour

In general, the Joker would be extremely protective of you, keeping his arm around your waist while you walked.

He'd spoil you with anything you ever wanted, acting almost like your sugar daddy while you window shopped.

And when it got cold, he'd put his red suit jacket over your shoulders saying, "Daddy's not going to let his baby doll freeze."

#Arthur fleck #Arthur fleck x reader #Arthur fleck imagine #joker movie #joker x reader #Joaquin phoenix joker #joker 2019 #joker imagine #joker #the joker #dc joker

84 notes · View notes

ledgerserious8 · 4 months

Text

Comedy For You | Arthur Fleck & Reader

Warning : Don't copy my writing Don't steal my writing. All rights are reserved for my writing

Genre : Fluff And Sweet Interview

Summary : Arthur Getting Interviewed In Murray's Show But Not From Murray Himself..

Word count : 7.3k

Because Of Murray's Sickness The director decided to put a new beautiful journalist to make the episode of tonight

And That beautiful journalist was You...you was a smart person who can read the breaking news making reports visiting a lot of places and you was having good voice

Arthur was the guest of tonight of Murray's he was named by The Joker and he was wearing red suit with green tie and joker paint on his face

Tonight it's was his new door to be famous comedy clown so he need to be careful with his jokes to make everyone in Gotham loved him

So when he get out to the stage The crowds was clapping happily as Arthur sit on the chair and you was sitting on Murray's chair

Taking his place but not too long of time

Arthur don't need anything more then to be perfect He wanted to be perfect for this night it's now or never for him

So joker tonight it's not Murray who opened this episode because of his sickness We pray for him to get healthy soon But tonight I will be the presenter of the program and I hope we will have fun and laugh with you - you explained politely as the crowds clapped for your words

Arthur's Face Blushed when he saw your beautiful face your hair was very beautiful too making him melting

You was wearing very beautiful red dress with small white dots on it and white gloves covered your hands because it's was winter night for the show

He smiled as was waiting for Your questions to begin the jokes so he could please the crowds and make them laugh

But Arthur was nervous as the crowds was waiting to hear his jokes He wanted this night to be perfect as possible

So i heard that you're comedy clown who made shows on the stage - you started talking gently

It's mean it's not your first time being under the camera sight right? - you added as looking at him waiting for his response

Arthur was surprised with your calm tone your question was so calm, he was expecting some question about how he became a clown

Arthur took a deep breath, and he answered softly - "Yes i am a popular clown on stage, and this is the first time I'm appearing in front of the camera

It's not my first time but it's my first time in this big stage and show like Murray's show I want to entertain the people by my Jokes, by my performance." - he added

Good to hear that joker But it will be more good if you made us hearing your jokes - you explained politely making him smiled

Your beautiful smile with your white teeth..was making his heart beating so fast

Arthur couldn't hold his smile as you smiled and showed your beautiful, white teeth

"Yes, of course I will make you laugh - he thought into his mind

And I will try to provide the best jokes in front of the cameras." he explained calmly.

"I would love to do that, let me begin" - he continued with a slight blush

Arthur tried to breath normally, He was looking at the audience as he was ready to begin his jokes. His mind was trying to remember his jokes carefully, he needed to impress you, and the crowd

Arthur Opened His Notebook of jokes and started searching for good jokes. As you was waiting for him silently

The crowd was staring at him expectantly.

Arthur's mind was searching for jokes in his notebook he was a little nervous but he was focused on making good jokes

But He finally found a Joke

"Why do criminals love horror movies? - he asked you with the crowds.

Why?" - one of the crowds screaming from distance but you nodded silently to him to continue

A little bit smile was on Arthur's face as he was answering you and the crowds

"because the villain always wins" - he concluded making The Crowd started laughing happily and he was smiling in satisfaction.

The audiences laughed and clapped for his joke and Arthur was relieved and smiled at the audiences

You start laughing gently and softly Arthur noticed your laugh, it was beautiful and lovely.

His mind was searching again for another joke to make you and the crowds happy this night

But your words cut his thoughts

How about you made a joke about Murray I mean all the guests getting joked by him but nobody joke about him - you explained cutely in jokingly way making everyone laughing

Arthur laughed a little bit, as the crowds started shouting "yes" and clapping with laugh

"Yes i can do that" he replied to you made you smiled at him and he thought for a moment and thought of joke

The crowd was silent waiting for Arthur's joke about Murray they thought your idea was so smart

"How are Murray and his show similar? - he asked you calmly making your expression get into curious

They're both jokes" he concluded and that's The crowds started Laughing as Arthur was watching you laughed cutely at his joke

But you know why he's sick tonight and made me in his place? - you asked him calmly you was person can make jokes too

The crowd and Arthur was waiting for the punchline, he's wondering what you would say to him and he smiled a little bit but his body language turned to be nervous, he was thinking of what to reply to you

"Why?" - he asked you you with soft tone of voice

The audiences were waiting for you To give the punchline to Arthur too

It's because he can't stop laughing at himself - you give the punchline meaning Murray himself is joke as Arthur punchline

The crowd was laughing of this smart punch line and Arthur laughed softly as your punch line was so genius

He smiled cutely as he was nodding his head slightly as looking at you

"Smart one" - He added calmly

"I see you so creative when it comes to making jokes" - Arthur said softly with a little bit blush.

It's was true Because He wasn't expecting you to joke and that what made the joke so amazing for him

'Yeah thanks but actually Gotham should be lucky to find people who's joking" - you explained politely but seriously

You know this city is depressed and that's why Murray's show is here now - you added politely

Arthur nodded his head in agreement with you, as he was saying softly, "i agree." His face was showing signs of seriousness as he was trying to give the audiences a reality

"Indeed, Gotham is a depressed city and it needs more fun and light." - he continued then looked at the crowds

"I hope my jokes could help the city to get rid of this depression." - he added calmly.

The crowd was surprised by your answer as your answer was so wise and correct but Arthur liked a lot being interviewed by you

You was smart and beautiful face with beautiful body and perfect weight and tall

Arthur's heart was beating fast with love, he noticed your cute expression and that made him feel nervous because of you

"I know an other joke about the weather who want listen" - he asked you and the crowds together

"Oh me me me' - you replied with cute voice jokingly with him

Arthur was so surprised by your cute tone, it was so innocent and child And he started laughing softly as the crowds started shouting "Me too me too".

Arthur was smiling with happiness as he was laughing his mind was telling him that he have found himself in love with you

The crowds was looking at you with a cute impressed smiling face and he noticed it with delight

"Okay, here's the joke" - he replied excitedly and Arthur took a deep breath and began telling the joke

"What do you call a raincoat with a hole in it?" - he asked you as he waited for your answer

You didn't speak but you put curious expressions making him biting his bottom lip lightly trying to not feel high on his cheeks

Arthur couldn't avoid looking at your face as he was about to finish the joke as The crowds and her were looking expectantly your smiling face make him nervous and feel excited in one time

"A raincoat with one less hole then before" - he concluded and make The crowd started laughing again the crowds was surprised by the joke that he gave

And you was laughing too as hearing the crowds clapping for him happily and he was smiling softly by seeing the joy in the crowds

But he also saw your face with that beautiful laugh sound that made him more attracted to you as feeling nervous

Well thanks for this beautiful funny jokes You know everyone deserve to laugh but everyone deserve to get know too - you explained politely as put serious expression

And before this episode going to ended I'm going ask you a few questions that people want to know about you But i will ignore the questions about your name or age because you told me you don't want this - you finished as looking at him waiting for his response

The crowd was shouting "yes" after your announcement And Arthur is ready to answer any kind of question, he was still smiling and feeling proud.

"Alright, go ahead and ask me some question that I can answer and everyone will be thankful to you." - he replied nervously as you would ask him something about himself.

He took a deep breath trying to calm himself down as he knew it should probably be something that he would hate to tell

"Okay so what are your questions?" - he asked you softly

I won't ask you something you don't want okay? - you whispered as looking at him Reading his nervously

Arthur's face showed relief as he was nodding his head in agreement with you in a very softly way as you said you wouldn't ask him something he didn't want he gave a smile to you,

he was really nervous by you staring at him by your shiny eyes and that your soft smile was making him feel more and more attracted to you

As i said before Gotham is depressed city it's like the idea of being comedy is so rarely - you started softly

'So the first question saying how you was fighting this as you're comedy clown How you was trying to be famous." - you asked him calmly as looking at him

Arthur laughed when you said that humor was a rare thing in the depressed and dark city of Gotham he liked how you started your question

But Arthur stopped laughing for a moment to think about your question properly and give you good answer

"Well, as a comedy clown, I've always tried to be famous in this city and bring joy and laugh to the people - he explained calmly as his eyes was shining

"It was a very tough battle, but I fought hard to become popular as a comedy clown in the city." - he finished as smiling at you

Of course there's a lot of comedy clowns need to find a way to be like you Sitting here and make shows in Gotham just like you - you explained politely making him nodded to your question

So what do you have to say to help them as advice - you added calmly as wanted to know how his mind was thinking

The crowd was intrigued by your intelligent question Arthur loved how smart you is, as you knows that there are many people trying to be famous like him but he took a couple of seconds to think about your advice question.

"The advice to help their career in comedy is to be themselves" - he responded.

"And to also be creative and think of different creative ways of making jokes, and that will for sure create a new and exciting career for them." - he concluded as smiling at you but he had a strong feeling that you was going to ask him a hard question

Okay the last question Focus on it okay? But before i asked you - you explained seriously making him focus on you

'Are you a old fan of Murray's show like you watched all the episodes" - you added calmly

The crowds was silent, they were all watching with their eyes glued to him waiting for him to answer your question as Arthur's mind was thinking about the question you just asked him before the final question

"Yes actually, I've been watching Murray's late-night show since it first aired." - he explained calmly

Then his mind started thinking about your final question which seemed like a hard one for him

Well the last question said Who better in Presentation of the program Me or Murray Answer honestly - you asked him calmly as chuckled softly

The crowd was shouting "you!" as you asking him who is better at presenting the program between Murray and you

Arthur was so stunned by your beauty and also your question as he was smiling softly, your eyes alone could melt anyone as the crowd to shout your name

"You, you are better in presentation! You're more beautiful" - he answered in low tone

"You..You're more fun... and comedy than him." - he added softly with a little blush on his face.

Well now because the episode ended and I'm sure Murray now lying on his bed Look like a brown bear from Disney films - you joked making the crowds laughed

And we're enjoying a lot of the joker perfect jokes I believe you all should go to your houses now because the show is ending - you added jokingly to the crowds

The crowd is laughing really hard because of you as you was giving your punchline to their show's ending

Arthur laughed too as The crowd is waving to the screens and him was laughing softly with the crowd.

Arthur had never seen a better crowd before than this one. The crowd started waving their hands and saying good bye. He started waving back to them

"See you next time" - he said with a cute smile.

Arthur's mind thought that he just finished today's show perfectly with a lot of jokes

The lights of the studio shut down and the only thing that was lighting up the room was the camera flash lights making the both of you alone

Arthur was smiling softly and looking at you as you was also smiling softly he didn't know why he was feeling more nervous now than when the audience was there

Well actually thank you for accepting being the guest of this episode I hope you enjoyed a lot and I'm sorry if my jokes getting more then limit - you explained as looking at his face fixed with the light

I don't want you to take this personally and seriously because it's all for fun I'm working as a temporary journalist for this show now, and I wish Murray a recovery, and he know that my jokes about him is a joke and not a personal criticism - you finished making the point clear

Something in your heart was telling you that joker was having sensitive heart that anyone can break it

Arthur was impressed with your intelligence, your wisdom and your knowledge as a journalist he loved the way you was describing yourself and was making him see you in a new way.

Arthur was glad that you was being kind to Murray and that he was understanding that your jokes aren't personal criticism The way you was telling him to not take your jokes personally and as jokes was also making Arthur being impressed by your honesty

"It's okay, I have really enjoyed our time together" - Arthur said softly to you

Good to hear that from you have a good night now and by the way I'm y/n - you confessed politely making him smiled

"Arthur Fleck a pleasure to know you y/n" - he replied softly as his head was tilting a little bit towards your face as you was revealing your name to him his face had a soft, gentle smile that indicated his interest and pleasure in getting to know you

He started leading towards your chair as he was getting closer to you and he didn't want to make you uncomfortable but his face becomes closer to yours

"Please have a good night" - He whispered in a very soft and friendly tone as he was looking at your shiny eyes

You keep silent as your cheeks started getting redder by his manly voice making him smirking at your reaction but he leading back and standing up

No words left your mouth because Arthur started walking away leaving you alone with his joker suit and make up in the studio with the co-workers

Arthur was thinking about you after he left He know there's something he felt in his heart about you there's one thing that made him get meet you again is to be..

Comedy For You

#celebrities #actors #arthur fleck #arthur fleck imagine #arthur fleck x reader #arthur fleck x you #joker imagine #joker 2019 #joker x reader

205 notes · View notes

ajokeformur-ray · 8 months

Text

Imagine being overwhelmed and just wanting to... hide from the world.

So when you get off work, you go to Arthur's apartment and let yourself in; he gave you a key months ago, after you told him that his home made you feel safer than your own did.

You lay on the bed. Arthur's scent surrounds you but it's not quite right; light is streaming in through the window and it's distracting you from your own thoughts. Sometimes you just have to wallow for a bit before you can pick yourself up. You lay on the sofa; same thing. Light creeps into the room through the window and that isn't what you want right now. You try sitting on the kitchen floor - same thing again.

Arthur's apartment is just flooded with light but you don't want that. You want it to be night time, so that it's dark and cosy and warm.

Like a cave. Or... the embrace of your beloved when you bury your face into his clothes.

Finally, the sofa seems good, but you don't sit on it, no. You sit behind it. And then you lay down, flush to the floor, and grab the blanket which is hanging down over the back of the sofa where Arthur had flung it haphazardly this morning, and you drape it over your face and upper body; legs kicking it down over you.

You want the floor to open up and eat you, you want to disappear for a little while. You're so tired. Slowly and then all at once, you slip into your threshold consciousness, quite forgetting about everything except the fact that, for the first time all day, you feel safe and at peace, and second, that Arthur will be home soon.

You're trying to imitiate the feeling that only Arthur can give you as best as you can, by laying up against the back of the sofa, which served him as a bed for most of his life, using a blanket which is saturated in Arthur's scent like a shield, in his home. Your thoughts of him keep you company, though it's a mere echo of the real thing.

But it'll do. For now.

You know not how much time passes but soon, there is the familiar sound of metal scraping against metal as Arthur lets himself in, the door shutting and then the drag of a chain against the deadbolt. Keys are tossed into the bowl on the sideboard, a pharmaceutical bag full of medications is thrown haphazardly ino the kitchen. You hear it hit the wall near the toaster before it settles with a loud rattle next to the microwave. You know these precise details because Arthur's home routine is almost as old as he is; for so long has he been the man of the house that it's almost as if it's all he's ever known.

Perhaps it is.

You hear Arthur pad around the apartment, but you can tell by the way he hesitates slightly before entering and leaving each room that he knows you're in here somewhere. Your work bag and shoes are on the floor. And he can feel that the air in the apartment is different to how it is when he is home alone. Arthur knows you, he knows you, and he knows you're here.

He just doesn't know you're curled up behind the sofa, wanting to disappear from the world for just a little while so you can breathe and recentre before you resume your life.

You hear him pause by the coffee table in the living room and you can almost see him tap a long finger to his thin lips as he considers where you could go. Indeed, you hear a "hmm" and the mental image combined with the sound reminds you of how Carnival pretends to be confused by the way his wand flops around unless it's held a certain way... It makes you smile for the first time that day.

It dies as quickly as it's born when you realise it's already evening. The fact you've been feeling like this for the majority of the day just makes you even more tired, somehow.

Finally, it all becomes too much for Arthur. "Y-Y/N? Are you in here?"

Through your threshold consciousness do you find the strength to raise a hand from your makeshift cocoon. Your arm is barely visible over the back of the sofa but Arthur sees your fingers and he almost bumps into the coffee table as he rushes over; peering down at you.

He gasps quietly, and then slowly, he comes and kneels down by your head. His fingers hover in the space between you, hesitant is he to touch you. But now you're leaning forward, and he hums in weary understanding. Arthur's ability to get it, no matter what it is, is one of your favourite things about him.

"How long have you been hiding?"

You shrug. "End of shift."

Arthur glances at the clock above the television; your shift ended almost two hours ago. Minus commute time... You've been here longer than either of you would like, but Arthur doesn't tell you that. He simply shifts so that he's sitting with you, and somehow your head ends up in his lap and his fingers end up rubbing across your scalp, and something deep within you clicks back into place.

Your body brought you to Arthur's home, apartment 8J, but now in Arthur's warm embrace, are you finally home.

Tomorrow is for tomorrow. For now... Rest.

#arthur fleck #joker 2019 #joker #arthur fleck x reader #joker 2019 x reader

245 notes · View notes

ufonaut · 8 months

Text

joker (2019) props and costumes at the batman unmasked batman day event in london today (16/09/2023)

#joker #joker 2019 #arthur fleck #joaquin phoenix #batman #batman unmasked #batman day #london #dc #dc comics #u can reblog #I WISH THEY HAD MORE STUFF BUT THIS WAS SOMETHING ELSE FOR SURE

148 notes · View notes

idleraven · 13 days

Text

More Joker posting! It's old art again but I haven't had much time to draw lately cause of school. Soon though!

#joker fanart #dc joker #joaquin phoenix joker #arthur fleck #joker #joker 2019 #joker folie a deux #joker movie #joaquin phoenix fan art #dc fanart #dc movies #digital painting #portrait painting #artists on tumblr #idleraven's art

59 notes · View notes

artist-issues · 15 days

Note

My curiosity keeps knocking, so I've gotta pull the thread. Why would you erase Joker from existence if you could?

I'll break it down:

1. The Joker has no point.

There is not one consistent message in The Joker. It's not trying to "say" anything at all, because it commits to nothing. Instead, it almost says several things. It almost comments on the haves versus the have-nots. It almost comments on mental illness. It almost comments on society's treatment of those with mental illnesses. It almost comments on the government's spending. It almost comments on violence and comedy. But everything it tries to comment on feels like a sentence that gets cut off at the halfway point; after telling you the bad news and promising good news, it fails to deliver.

I'll tell you how it does this. Arthur Fleck is introduced as mentally ill. (As in, there was a developmental problem with his brain chemistry that causes him to miss social cues and laugh nervously.) This means that when he is mistreated by background characters for "being different," the audience should start to feel sorry for him and consider how a mentally ill person should be treated. But wait. He's not actually mentally ill because of a diagnosable problem with his brain chemistry—he claims he feels clearer and better when he's off his meds. Add that to the revelation that he wasn't born with a brain-chemistry issue. He was abused by his mom's ex. So, maybe he's not actually "crazy." Maybe, he's seeing the world as it really is? After all, it's been dark and terrible for him since he was a child. Or no, because what about that laughing tick, that's not normal, right? And he's hallucinating a life with a girl he's attracted to, and believes it enough to walk into her apartment like that's normal. So is he crazy, or just the only one responding correctly to a world as dark as he is?

The movie won't tell you. It starts a sentence, then cuts off before any thought or truth statement can be completed.

The movie also sets itself up as if those who have should be taking responsibility for society's "have-nots." Or it starts to. Mr. Wayne is introduced as directly responsible for the hardship Mrs. Fleck has fallen into. He is Arthur's father, and should be caring for him. But instead, he beats up and ignores the guy most entitled to, and in need of, his help. Just like the way he ignores the poor people in his city, right? But wait. No. Maybe none of that is true. Maybe Mr. Wayne is entirely innocent of abandoning Arthur and his mother—this was all the delusion of a selfish drug-addicted woman, and the rumors she's spreading ultimately lead to the assassination, not only of Mr. Wayne's good character, but of his actual life. And his wife's. So is the character who has power and influence and badmouths the poor a portrayed in a negative light, or a positive light? Is this character a selfish rich person who cares nothing for those less fortunate than himself, or is he just one more guy who could've been good if others' cruelty (Mrs. Fleck's lies) hadn't pushed him "past the breaking point?" Does that justify his cruelty, if it's true?

Both. Neither. Nothing at all. The movie won't tell you.

So you can pick whatever ending you want. But. No you can't. You can't even do that. Because guess what? It's all in Arthur Fleck, inmate of Arkham Asylum's, crazy head. Maybe none of it was real.

2. The Joker is therefore only successful as a piece of entertainment.

Everyone could've guessed that as soon as they saw it was a movie about the Joker. Nobody needed this movie in any sense. We already know more than one origin story for the Joker, as a character. We've already done-to-death every interpretation of his craziness. Everybody knows who he is and what he's like. So obviously, this was just going to be entertaining.

That's bad enough. Stories are supposed to remind you of goodness, beauty, and truth. Why? I'm not going to dissect it because everyone can read the pinned post on my blog. But because: the world's dark enough already, and it's easy to lose your sense of goodness, beauty, and truth. A story, even if it's a tragedy, even if it has no "happy ending," can still take you out of your present state of mind, sit you down in a fresh state of mind, and remind you of truth. Being "entertaining" is just one of the tools that the story uses to take you there. Or it's supposed to be.

When you take the point, the truth, the message, the "theme," out of a story, then it's just the Romans distracting the populace with coliseum spectacle so they forget that they're losing money and wasting their lives. Woohoo. "Fun. Entertainment."

You can disagree with me about that if you want. You can believe, like many I know, "it's fine to just turn off your brain and be entertained! Not everything has to mean something! I bet you're fun at parties!" Okay, cool, so you like being entertained, and The Joker entertained you.

The problem is, what were you being entertained by?

Because:

3. The Joker increases an appetite for evil in the audience.

I don't care. I said it. It's painfully obvious.

First of all, you came here to what? Watch the bad guy lose and the good guy win? No. This movie's got no Batman. You came to glut yourself on two hours of the bad guy with no pesky good guy to share his spotlight.

Is that too harsh? Maybe you just came in expecting the Joker to be about how a good man goes bad. Okay. Uplifting. But sure, maybe a cautionary tale could be useful.

But that's not what you get with the Joker. We already established: there's no lesson, no point, to this movie besides entertainment.

And I don't just mean "aw booo, there was way too much icky blood and scary suspenseful music. Oh no, a movie about a villain had villainy in it!!"

Nope.

I mean, tell me why Arthur Fleck only has moments of peace and transcendence after he murders someone? Why's the sunlight warming him up, like a benevolent gift from the heavens, in the shot after he smothers his mother with a pillow? Why are those somber strings playing out a ditty he can "be himself" and dance to after he shoots three young men? Why is he only experiencing clarity after he kills?

Why are the most "interesting" parts of Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal the parts where the character is killing, stealing, or thinking about killing?

Why is so much effort put into telling the story as if Arthur Fleck is sympathetic, no matter which way you look at it? He only kills mean people. Except his mother. Oh but she was kind of mean, too. Never mind that whatever caused her to ignore, lie, and abuse her son was also played off, in the movie, like a mental illness. The very thing we're meant to feel sorry for Arthur about.

The movie won't tell you who's right or wrong. But it makes you see everything through Arthur's eyes, with nobody to stop him or correct him or offer a differing point of view—and that alone is dangerous. Your mirror neurons are going to make you sympathize with that main character, regardless of how heinous his actions are, when the storytellers are so careful to offer you all these reasons why his actions were "justified."

The Joker was invented to have a Batman. Introduce a villain—even a sympathetic villain—but you have to also introduce the opposite of that villain. It can be one line of dialogue; it doesn't have to be a hero. But you have to say something about the evil when it is represented. Instead of inviting everyone to feel for the villain...then leaving them feeling vaguely satisfied when he commits atrocities. They can't help it. It's the first time he's looked at peace, or in control of anything. That's how the movie is made.

So you're entertained by looking for a statement that isn't there—or by watching one man brutally slay five people, one of whom is his mother, because you were just so excited to see some blood, to see a man snap. Panem et circuses. At its finest. And you paid for it. Smart. Cultured, of you.

I'd wipe that movie out of existence and force the writers and directors to stare at a wall while sad violin music plays in the background for exactly how many days it took them to make that movie, if I could.

#Asked #answered #the joker #Joaquin phoenix #joaquin pheonix joker #arthur fleck #joker 2019 #discourse #Movie #movies #storytelling #The joker fans #joker love #dc joker #not you avoicefromthecorner #Just anyone who thinks this was a good movie in any sense at all.

52 notes · View notes