Joker (2019) Psychology Analysis
Summary
TLDRIn this episode, 'Will Larious the Therapist' delves into the complex psychology of Arthur Fleck, the Joker, from the 2019 film. Analyzing his symptoms, the video suggests Arthur suffers from schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. It discusses the character's depressive and psychotic episodes, highlighting the film's use of lighting to signify his mental states. The video also explores how the Joker reflects societal fears and the absence of a traditional hero archetype in this narrative, offering a deep dive into the cultural significance of the character.
Takeaways
- 🃏 The character Arthur Fleck from the movie 'Joker' is portrayed with a complex mix of psychological issues, including symptoms of depression, schizophrenia, and mania.
- 🔍 The video suggests that Arthur's condition could be classified as schizoaffective disorder, which combines symptoms of schizophrenia and a mood disorder.
- 💊 The script discusses the use of Venlafaxine, an antidepressant used for treatment-resistant depression, hinting at the severity of Arthur's condition.
- 🎨 The film's lighting is used symbolically to reflect Arthur's psychological state, with blue tones indicating depression and yellow suggesting hallucinations or fantasy.
- 🗓️ Arthur's symptoms and their progression throughout the movie are analyzed to determine the timeline and nature of his mental health condition.
- 🎭 The role of the Joker is described as a 'psychological barometer' reflecting societal fears and attitudes, with the 2019 version being particularly disturbing.
- 🗝️ The character's violent actions are not symptoms of his mental health but a response to a society that is 'sick' and based on power and exploitation.
- 👥 Arthur's hallucinations and delusions are detailed, including his relationship with his neighbor and his belief in signs from the universe.
- 🔮 The video posits that the Joker embodies the 'shadow archetype,' representing societal fears and anxieties that change over time.
- 🎬 The 'Joker' film is presented as a commentary on the absence of a traditional hero archetype, suggesting a world without clear moral guidance.
- 📑 The script calls for viewers to subscribe and engage with the content, indicating the video's intent to provoke thought and discussion on the topic of mental health in pop culture.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the video script discussing Arthur Fleck's character?
-The main theme of the video script is the psychological analysis of Arthur Fleck's character from the 2019 film 'Joker', exploring his mental health issues and the societal implications of his actions.
What is the Rubik's Cube analogy referring to in the context of Arthur Fleck's life?
-The Rubik's Cube analogy refers to the complexity of Arthur Fleck's life, which is a mix of psychological problems, social problems, and bad luck, all of which need to be solved or understood.
What is the role of 'Will Larious the Therapist' in the video script?
-Will Larious the Therapist is the founder and CEO of the fictional 'Character Mental Health Co-op', which is a platform that diagnoses and treats fictional characters from various media. In this script, he is analyzing Arthur Fleck's psychological state.
What does the script suggest about Arthur Fleck's initial mental state?
-The script suggests that Arthur Fleck initially shows signs of major depressive disorder, with symptoms such as low self-esteem, lack of energy, and depressed mood.
How does the video script link Arthur Fleck's hallucinations to his mental health?
-The script links Arthur Fleck's hallucinations to his mental health by suggesting that they represent his deepest fantasies and delusions, which are indicative of a schizophrenic spectrum disorder.
What medication is hinted at in the script as part of Arthur Fleck's treatment?
-The script hints at the use of 'Vennela zine', which is suggested to be an antidepressant used for treatment-resistant depression, not a typical SSRI.
What is the significance of the lighting used in the film to represent Arthur Fleck's psychological state?
-The lighting in the film is used to symbolize Arthur's psychological state, with blue tones representing his depression, and a yellow tint indicating his hallucinations or breaks from reality.
How does the script differentiate between Arthur Fleck's periods of depression and his periods of elevated mood?
-The script differentiates between Arthur's periods of depression and elevated mood by describing his symptoms and behaviors, such as lack of motivation and self-preservation during depression, and goal-oriented and impulsive behaviors during hypomania.
What is the term used in the script to describe Arthur Fleck's mental health condition?
-The term used in the script to describe Arthur Fleck's mental health condition is 'schizoaffective disorder', which is a combination of symptoms from mood disorders and schizophrenia.
How does the video script interpret the role of the Joker character in relation to societal fears?
-The script interprets the Joker character as an embodiment of societal fears and cultural anxieties, changing with the times to reflect the prevailing concerns of the era.
What is the significance of the 'shadow archetype' mentioned in the script?
-The 'shadow archetype' mentioned in the script refers to the darker, often suppressed aspects of the human psyche that the Joker character represents, reflecting societal fears and anxieties.
How does the script suggest that Arthur Fleck's actions are a response to his environment?
-The script suggests that Arthur Fleck's actions are a response to the power structures and exploitation he experiences in Gotham, leading him to adopt the brutal rule of force that dominates the city.
What is the contrast between the Joker character in this film and previous versions?
-The contrast lies in the fact that in this film, the Joker is not a threat from somewhere else but is one of us, embodying the societal fears and anxieties that we are afraid of, unlike previous versions where he was more of an external threat.
What message does the script convey about the absence of a hero archetype in the film?
-The script conveys that in this film, there is no hero archetype to counterbalance the Joker's shadow archetype, suggesting a world where traditional notions of good and evil are subverted.
Outlines
😈 Psychological Portrait of the Joker
This paragraph delves into the complex psychological profile of Arthur Fleck, who is portrayed as the Joker. The character's life is depicted as a series of challenges, including psychological, social, and financial issues. Arthur's lack of a reliable mentor and his struggle with mental health are highlighted. The founder of the 'Fictional Character Mental Health Co-op', Will Larious, introduces the concept of 'schism affective disorder', a condition combining mood and schizophrenic symptoms, to diagnose Arthur's mental state. The paragraph outlines Arthur's clinical symptoms, suggesting major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and mania. The use of lighting in the film to reflect Arthur's psychological state is also discussed, with blue tones indicating depression and yellow suggesting a break from reality or a fantasy state.
🌀 The Evolution of Arthur's Mental State
The second paragraph continues the analysis of Arthur's mental health, focusing on the timeline of his symptoms and their evolution. It discusses the onset of hallucinations and delusions, which are key indicators of schizophrenia, and how these manifest in Arthur's interactions with his neighbor and his perception of events. The paragraph also explores the concept of 'ideas of reference', where Arthur believes random occurrences are personally significant. The discussion then shifts to Arthur's brief period of apparent improvement, signified by a change in lighting to a surreal yellow, which is later revealed to be another hallucination. The paragraph concludes with the return of Arthur's mood disorder and the emergence of hypomania, suggesting a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type.
🎭 The Cultural Significance of the Joker
The final paragraph shifts the focus from Arthur's personal struggles to the broader cultural significance of the Joker character. It discusses how the Joker has evolved to reflect societal fears and the changing archetypes over time. The paragraph argues that the Joker's actions in the film are not symptoms of his mental health but are instead a response to a sick society. The character is portrayed as a product of a system based on power and exploitation, embodying the 'shadow archetype' of chaos and destruction. The paragraph concludes by contrasting the traditional hero-villain dynamic with the reality of the film, where there is no clear hero, and the Joker becomes a symbol of societal fears and the absence of a savior in a world that is metaphorically burning.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Rubik's Cube
💡Mental Health
💡Schism Affective Disorder
💡Depression
💡Psychosis
💡Hypomania
💡Shadow Archetype
💡Suicidal Ideation
💡Therapeutic Relationship
💡Cultural Fears
💡Mania
Highlights
Arthur Fleck's life is described as a complex mix of psychological, social problems, and bad luck.
Arthur lacks a reliable mentor and struggles with fundraising and therapy.
The episode aims to diagnose the psychological aspects of the Joker's character.
The Joker serves as a reflection of American psychology through different portrayals.
The 2019 version of the Joker is considered the most interesting and disturbing.
Arthur Fleck exhibits a range of clinical symptoms suggesting major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and mania.
Schism affective disorder is proposed as Arthur's condition, combining mood and schizophrenic symptoms.
The film uses lighting to symbolize Arthur's psychological state, with blue tones indicating depression.
Arthur's stopped medication suggests treatment-resistant depression.
Arthur's interactions with his neighbor are revealed to be hallucinations, indicative of psychosis.
Arthur's delusions and ideas of reference are key symptoms of his schizophrenic spectrum.
Arthur's improved demeanor is contrasted with the yellow lighting, hinting at a break from reality.
The timeline of Arthur's symptoms is crucial for distinguishing schizoaffective disorder from other conditions.
Arthur's mood disorder and impulsivity suggest hypomania, part of bipolar disorder.
The Joker's crimes are not symptoms of his mental health but a reflection of a sick society.
The Joker character has evolved to embody different cultural fears throughout comic history.
This version of the Joker represents a societal shift, embodying the fears and uncertainties of the people.
The film lacks a traditional hero archetype, highlighting the absence of a moral counterbalance.
The use of lighting and setting in the theater scene underscores the disconnect between the elite and the suffering masses.
Transcripts
Arthur flex life is a Rubik's Cube of
psychological problems social problems
and bad luck he needs guidance but
doesn't have a reliable mentor he needs
money but isn't very good at fundraising
he needs counseling but has the worst
therapist money won't pay for that's
where I come in on this episode we will
figure out the psychological part of the
supervillains problems but even more
than that we will see that while we were
busy trying to diagnose the Joker the
Joker was actually diagnosing us hello
I'm will larious the therapist founder
and CEO of the fictional character
mental health co-op we diagnose and
treat all of your favorite characters
from TV shows movies and video games hit
the subscribe button to join our
treatment team so here's a joke for you
what do you get when you cross a gifted
performer with gripping character
writing that straddles the line between
sympathetic and terrifying with a dance
that's so awkward it's hypnotic what you
deserve the role the Joker brings out
the best of the actors who've played him
most of the time and that is because
this character is something of a
psychological barometer every time you
see this clown it's like a window into
American psychology and the 2019 version
of this Dark Mirror is probably the most
interesting and disturbing yet but first
let's break down his clinical portrait
when we meet Arthur Fleck he has a
laundry list of clinical symptoms he has
low self-esteem lack of energy lack of
eye contact socially atypical thoughts
and behaviors suicidal ideation with a
plan and means depressed moods feelings
of paranoia errata manic delusions and a
hallucination with benefits so that's a
lot of things so let's organize them
these symptoms suggest something in the
major depressive spectrum these symptoms
suggest something in the schizophrenic
spectrum and these things suggest mania
schizophrenia depression and mania oh my
there are a good number of conditions
and disorders that can produce these
symptoms but in my opinion what we see
from Arthur Fleck is something called
schism disorder schism which have sup
made from a mood disorder in criteria a
of schizophrenia the waist gives of
affective disorders distinguished from
depression or bipolar depression is when
the symptoms occur so let's look at
Arthur Flex symptom timeline at the
beginning of the movie Arthur shows many
signs of major depressive disorder we
see the low self-esteem a low slow
speaking voice self-report of
consistently depressed mood lack of
motivation and lack of self preservation
efforts and according to Arthur this was
something that he had been experiencing
for some time all I have I think that
have thoughts Arthur has the Blues
literally one of the many triumphs of
this film is the use of lighting to add
another dimension of the psychological
storytelling in the beginning of the
movie where Arthur's depression is most
active the lighting scheme is dominated
with blue tones however early in the
movie we see subtle clues that he's not
experiencing your run-of-the-mill
depression you seen the pill bottles
that he stopped taking one compound
where part of the name is actually
visible you only see alzene but
considering context there's a strong
possibility that this is the drug
Vennela zine Fenella Xena is an
antidepressant but it is not a selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI
SSRIs are the typical go-to for
psychiatrists to treat major depressive
disorder
Vennela zine is used among other things
to treat treatment-resistant depression
this is significant because if the
depression Arthur is experiencing is
being caused by schizophrenic spectrum
disorder SSRIs would not be effective in
treating it so that's the mood disorder
let's get to the meat of this sukh
sandwich psychosis now the most obvious
schizophrenic thing that happens to
Arthur is his interaction with his
neighbor which we know in hindsight to
be a hallucination but there are at
least two other examples of criteria a
of schizophrenia clinically speaking
delusions are false beliefs that are
held in isolation of social
reinforcement that a person holds
despite evidence to the contrary they
are the sauce of the sock sandwich and
they come in five delicious flavors
jealousy type persecutory type grandiose
type somatic type and the extra spicy
erotomanic type or automatic delusions
are the persistent false belief that
someone is so totally into you when they
are in fact so totally not and when you
listen to the dialogue from the
hallucination you see that she
represents Arthur's fondest fantasies
someone who affirms his belief and
laughs at his jokes additionally we see
one other major symptom of psychosis
ideas of reference that means the
persistent false belief that random
events and coincidences are signs from
the universe meant specifically for the
person listen to what he says about
hearing my name is carnival on the radio
after getting fired from his job the guy
was singing
that his name was chlorophyll because
that's my clown name work for my whole
life I didn't know if I even really
existed but I do
this is psychosis Arthur is still very
sick right now but according to his
words and body language he looks like
he's feeling a lot better compared to
when we first saw him with his therapist
he's making direct eye contact it has
the courage to challenge her lack of
engagement with his life story he stands
up to the office bully and is able to be
creative on his feet and legitimately
funny at times from his perspective
Arthur's life has never been better he
has a supportive partner is starting a
career that has promise for success and
finally has a chance to meet his
long-lost father but this brief vacation
from his crushing depression is just
another symptom of his underlying
condition and once again there's a clue
in the lighting that Arthur is
experiencing a break from reality when
he first speaks directly to the
hallucination of his neighbor you notice
the lighting has this eerie yellow tint
a lighter and happier color but also a
little surreal almost as if cluing the
viewer into the fact that what he's
seeing is too good to be true
remember this it'll be important later
so like I said before distinguishing
Schism affective disorder from other
conditions requires a consistent time
line we first see the hallucination the
night before Arthur has this fateful
encounter with the Wayne foundation
Burroughs we see the psychosis and lack
of depression symptoms lasts all the way
up to this moment when he sees that his
time at the comedy club was not as
successful as he remembers later we find
out that it has been at least two weeks
since the subway murders
this is the beginning of his mood
disorder creeping back into his life
with a vengeance the psychiatric bubble
burst Farrar threw out the worst
possible time when he finds out that not
only he does not know his biological
father but he doesn't know his
biological mother either
his mentor turns on him his
hallucination turns on him and he
descends back to his mood disorder to
find it even worse than how he left it
his suicidal ideation is back he does
not appear to be sleeping but also
doesn't seem tired he's energetic he's
goal-oriented and more impulsive and
hedonistic than he was at the beginning
of the movie
these suggest that the bread on the sock
sandwich is hypomania hypomania refers
to a pathological state of elevated mood
that when coupled with clinical
depression results in bipolar disorder
bipolar disorder is a condition that
should and will have an episode all on
its own but in summary in his periods of
pathologically elevated mood coupled
with periods of pathologically depressed
mood the risk of suicide and people with
bipolar disorder is significantly higher
than for people with only depression due
to higher levels of energy and
behavioral impulsivity and so but the
evidence from our through self-report
symptoms and timeline of his disorder we
can know the specific type of sucks and
which he has been dealt we have asked
Izzo affective disorder bipolar type
first episode with a romantic sauce
current episode hypomanic so in all the
analysis of Arthur's behavior and
symptoms you may have noticed that I
haven't mentioned the notable amount of
killing he's done in the film and that
is because and I cannot stress this
enough the murders are not a symptom of
Arthur's mental health diagnosis even if
he believes they are according to
studies people on the schizophrenic
spectrum are more likely to have been
the victim of violence than the
perpetrator of violence the crimes that
the Joker commits are not evidence of
his mental health condition but evidence
that he's become well adjusted to a
world that is sick in our analysis of
the dark nights version of this
character we described how that version
of the Joker dissociated from military
trauma by embodying the shadow archetype
young symbol of chaos and destruction
The Joker character has embodied the
shadow archetype since his inception in
the Golden Age of comics when he was
juxtaposed with Batman's hero archetype
but what the hero and the shadow embody
change relative to their day and age in
the golden age defined by a confidence
and justified use of force and a fear of
outsiders
the Joker was a law breaking murderer
set up against the dedicated vigilante
determined to fight for truth and
justice in the Silver Age a period
defined by lawmakers fear that comics
caused violence in homosexual and
homosexuality the Joker was an unserious
jolly prankster who deviated from the
button-down stoicism of masculinity of
the time in the modern age of comments
and in the film Dark Knight The Joker
tended to embody the American fears of
terrorism the shadow was that danger
from somewhere else that could sneak in
among us and strike at any moment unless
we were saved by the hero the Joker has
always been a window into American
cultural fears and this version of the
character is no different like a literal
shadow it changes as we change in this
movie the Joker is just another person
two massive people's scared and
uncertain this Joker isn't a threat from
somewhere else he's one of us because we
are what we're afraid of
Arthur is locked in a system that is
based off of power and exploitation and
after years of being abused ignored and
taken advantage of he finally gives in
to the brutal rule of force that
dominates Gotham and becomes this new
shadow archetype but unlike other
versions of this character
there is no hero archetype there is no
right side up in this story the hero
that usually battles this archetype is
just a naive little boy locked away in a
lavish estate and completely ignorant of
the world that people like Arthur live
in which finally brings us back to
Chekhov's gun remember when we were
talking about the lighting in the mental
states and that this eerie too good to
be true yellow lighting as a clue that
Arthur's in a fantasy world well we see
that lighting one other place we see it
in the theater as protestors and angry
masses crowd outside there's Thomas
Wayne with Gotham elite laughing away at
a movie from the 20s they are watching a
relic from the same era that produced
the Golden Age of comics this movie is a
refutation of the very idea of a hero
archetype the world is burning and not
only are they not saving it they can't
even be bothered to watch it burn
they're too absorbed in the glow of
their own delusion of virtue and
relevance the dark night was about chaos
cough and the epic battle between good
and evil this dark masterpiece looks at
the idea of a battle between good and
evil and laughs it back into the history
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