Research Article

A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker

Volume: 31 Number: 1 June 23, 2021
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A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker

Abstract

Todd Phillips’ Joker (2019) is an origin story which not only portrays a psychological drama but also forms a good example of a detailed character study case. The film embodies two main layers which are psychological and social. Within the context of the psychological layer, the viewers witness the gradual metamorphosis of a mentally-ill person into an evil villain. This article aims to analyse Todd Phillips’ Joker from a Jungian and Nietzschean perspective. By interpreting Arthur Fleck’s mental condition through the window of Jungian archetypes, the article reveals that Arthur experiences an intense inner struggle against his shadow, which he ultimately loses. His efforts to resist these attacks using his persona, ego, and self are in vain. To that end, Jung’s views are interconnected with Friedrich Nietzsche’s notion of nihilistic delusions which are referred to with an overview of Nietzsche’s nihilism. In addition, the nihilistic delusions are associated with the cotard syndrome and the notion of depersonalization within the field of psychiatry. The study also exposes the common ground between Nietzsche and Jung by exploring the interactions in specific periods of their lives. Thus, it has been concluded that Arthur’s nihilistic delusions are the ultimate cause of the events leading to the supremacy of the shadow in Joker.

Keywords

References

  1. Ansell-Pearson, K. (1994). An Introduction to Nietzsche as Political Thinker: The Perfect Nihilist. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  2. Baker, G. (2018). Nihilism and Philosophy: Nothingness, Truth and World. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
  3. Bishop, P. (1995). The Dionysian Self: C.G. Jung’s Reception of Friedrich Nietzsche. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
  4. Casement, A. (2001). Carl Gustav Jung. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
  5. Domenici, G. (2019). Jung’s Nietzsche: Zarathustra, The Red Book, and “Visionary” Works. Basingstoke: Springer.
  6. Huskinson, L. (2004). Nietzsche and Jung: The Whole Self in the Union of Opposites. New York: Psychology Press.
  7. Jung, C. G. (1965). Memories, Dreams, Reflections. New York: Random House.
  8. Jung, C. G. (1968). Analytical Psychology: Its Theory and Practice. New York: Vintage Books/Random House.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Creative Arts and Writing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 23, 2021

Submission Date

September 30, 2020

Acceptance Date

February 22, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 31 Number: 1

APA
Tan, C. (2021). A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker. Litera: Journal of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, 31(1), 423-444. https://izlik.org/JA67DD69DG
AMA
1.Tan C. A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker. Litera. 2021;31(1):423-444. https://izlik.org/JA67DD69DG
Chicago
Tan, Cenk. 2021. “A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker”. Litera: Journal of Language, Literature and Culture Studies 31 (1): 423-44. https://izlik.org/JA67DD69DG.
EndNote
Tan C (June 1, 2021) A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker. Litera: Journal of Language, Literature and Culture Studies 31 1 423–444.
IEEE
[1]C. Tan, “A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker”, Litera, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 423–444, June 2021, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA67DD69DG
ISNAD
Tan, Cenk. “A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker”. Litera: Journal of Language, Literature and Culture Studies 31/1 (June 1, 2021): 423-444. https://izlik.org/JA67DD69DG.
JAMA
1.Tan C. A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker. Litera. 2021;31:423–444.
MLA
Tan, Cenk. “A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker”. Litera: Journal of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, vol. 31, no. 1, June 2021, pp. 423-44, https://izlik.org/JA67DD69DG.
Vancouver
1.Cenk Tan. A Jungian & Nietzschean Approach to Todd Phillips’ Joker. Litera [Internet]. 2021 Jun. 1;31(1):423-44. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA67DD69DG