JHSS (Journal of Humanities and Social Studies) Volume 04, Number 01, Maret 2020, Page 36 - 40 https://journal.unpak.ac.id/index.php/jhss e-ISSN: 2598-120X; p-ISSN: 2598-117X
THE ALTRUISTIC SIDE OF ARTHUR FLECK AS THE MAIN CHARACTER IN TODD PHILLIP JOKER (2019)
Shita Dewi Ratih Permatasaria*)
a)Universitas Pakuan, Bogor, Indonesia *)Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Article history: received 28 January 2020; revised 09 February 2020; accepted 16 February 2020
Abstract. As a movie character Arthur Fleck, also known as Joker, is represented as a supervillain as well as the archenemy of Batman. He is depicted as a cruel murderer, with a clown-like appearance suffering from mental-illness, who spread the fear and terror in t G a c . U d c a a , c a ac a a d S G. P Altruism and Altruistic Love theory by focusing on Fleck as the main character in this film, this paper is trying to see how he develops his characteristics and reveals his altruistic side. Based on the analysis it is revealed that Fleck has a dynamic character. Even though he is represented as a heartless murderer, his altruistic side is specifically disclosed in some certain aspects
Keywords: Joker, characterization, altruistic love, dynamic character.
I. INTRODUCTION One of the human aspects presented in the film is the psychological aspect. Film always features the character As a product of popular culture, a film is the along with its characteristics and dynamic development in its a da a a story. The main character in the film is presented in different almost brings entire aspects of social reality and reaches into ways, one of which is presented to perform dynamic and all aspects of our individual and collective lives. Villarejo complex characteristics in other words, the main character (2007) stated that the dynamism of a film rests on its usually goes through experiences and problems in life that capacity to arrange and rearrange time and motion [1]. potentially influence his or her psychological characteristics. Therefore, it reveals its various dimensions that are deeply The film that features the development of human political, psychological, philosophical, aesthetic, personal, c a ac c T dd P Joker (2019). It tells the industrial, technological, and so forth. Film also cannot be story of the supervillain, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), separated from literature. According to Mario Klarer (1999) known as Joker. This film also serves as the biography of film is a semi-textual genre that are both influenced by and Arthur Fleck, a poor citizen with a condition living in exerting influence on literature and literary criticism. In G a a d a a a c d Ha a addition, it is also predetermined by literary techniques; agency. Arthur lives with and takes care of his delusional conversely, literary practice developed under particular mother, Penny Fleck. He often consults his mental illness to features under the impact of a film[2]. He then added that c a . H d ca a c even though film has its own specific characteristics and provided by the local government. The conflict starts when terminology, it can be analyzed by drawing on methods of his advertisement board is stolen by the street children. literary criticism as it is closely related to the traditional Afterwards, his friend, working under the same agency, approaches to textual studies. Nancy Kaplan, as quoted by lends him a gun to protect himself. He then got fired because Wahyudi (2017), stated that in the past literature was closely of illegal handgun possession when he was entertaining kids linked to printing technology, while in the modern times in the hospital. At the same time, he found out the literature is not only textual, but also visual, electronic, non- government stop giving him health service. verbal, and gestural[3]. Therefore, film can be said as an On his way back home, Arthur gets bullied by three object of literary studies. young businessmen who are teasing a woman on the train. Raymond Williams (1983) argued that as a popular Undoubtedly, he shot and killed them. The murder triggers culture, a film can simply be defined as one of those objects the mass rally to protest the social gap in the city where all or practices that are well-liked by a lot of people[4]. the protesters wear clown mask to represent the anti- Following this idea, it is assumed that the story in the film government movement. The political situation in Gotham can relate to human beings. In other words, though a film is city is getting heated as Thomas Wayne, who is a politician, just a reflection of reality, by analyzing the cinematic b a , a a ca d da , a d B c Wa a elements as well as the narrative aspects of a film, we can (also known as Batman) was killed by the protesters. Later, also analyze the human aspects presented in the film. A d c a d a a T a Wa a . H mother finally said that she used to work with Thomas
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Wayne and had an affair with him. Knowing the fact that his Laurence Perrine (1988) classified character into two mother keeps the secret away from him, Fleck gets categories, flat characters and round characters[8]. While flat disappointed and starts finding the truth himself. Fleck got characters are characterized by one or two traits, the round more depressed when Thomas Wayne told him that he was characters are complex and many-sided. Furthermore, an adopted child and his mother suffered from delusion. Due Perrine argued that fictional characters might be divided into to these bad past experiences, his psychological static or developing. While the static character is the same characteristics change and he becomes a different, cruel, and sort of person from the beginning to the end of the story, the b a d developing or dynamic character undergoes a permanent like. change in some aspect of character, personality, and outlook. As a film, Joker has been the object of literary In addition, E.M Forster (1927) in Abrams (1999) introduced research. In her article called Reclamation of History: A two classical terms to distinguish flat and round characters. Tryst with Subaltern Studies, Marxist Criticism and Chaos W a a c a ac (a ca d a , Theory in the Movie Joker, Shreelakshmi compared two d a ) b a d a d a a a d films The Dark Knight and Joker. In her analysis, she presented without much individualizing detail, a round unveils the illusion and ideology propagated by the Dark character is complex in temperament and motivation and is Knight that presents Joker as a supervillain. Meanwhile, represented with subtle particularity. Therefore, such a Joker serves as an apology which highlights the background character is difficult to describe with any adequacy as a story of Arthur Fleck who gives voice to the suppressed and person in real life and is potentially capable of surprising us the oppressed that have been unfairly treated and neglected [9]. These definitions will be utilized to prove that Arthur by the local government[5]. Rahman and Nor (2019) only Fleck is a dynamic character. focuses on sadistic actions done by Joker that could Burhan Nurgiyantoro (2005) explains the differences potentially be dangerous and psychologically affect its between character and characterization. While character viewers, particularly young people. Moreover, the analysis refers to the person (protagonist or antagonist), the c J a a a a c characterization refers to how the characters in the story are that is against Islamic teachings[6]. Meanwhile, Marzuqi given certain traits and characteristics[10]. Moreover, Jones said that Joker (2019) serves as a social criticism when Joker (1968) also states that characterization is the clear depiction is represented as a symbol of resistance and class struggles of each characters presented in the story. between the oppressed and the perpetrators. As a S G. P a d c c A supervillain, Joker was born as a result of the social a d a a c a ac a c ide. In injustice[7]. general, altruism refers to the act of caring that an individual It is clear a A F c c a ac c d does to give others the needs and happiness. Basically, through the story. Therefore, this study aims to see how the altruistic side lies in every human being and is part of the characteristics of Arthur Fleck develops and how his human nature. Post (2002) argued that when a person altruistic side is expressed through several events in the film. expresses his altruistic love, it means that he cares about In addition, this study will als a A other people[11]. It is because altruistic love is linked to care, psychological characteristics develop or change. sympathy that one gives to others suffering from injustice and unfairness. Post also said that it is uniquely human meaning that it is intentionally done by a person to others. It II. RESEARCH METHODS is related to care, action, and compassion. Therefore, altruistic love is the epitome of human altruism. The method of descriptive analysis is utilized by elaborating the facts in the film that supported by analysis. This method also applies the intrinsic aspects of film III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION narrative by focusing on the main character and characterization. In this study, the life of the main character The Character Change of Arthur Fleck will be systematically written along with the conflicts and The human traits and characteristics lie on the problems he experiences to see how he develops his characters in the story. Sudjiman (1988) stated that though characters. Besides that, this study also uses the extrinsic characters are fictious, they actually have similar approach, that is Stephen G. Post concept of altruism, to characteristics as well as traits in real life[12]. Therefore, it support the analysis. This concept is used to provide the can be concluded that through the representation of reasons why the main character develops. characters in the film we can learn and understand the The analysis starts from elaborating the development complexities of human character along with its development. of the main character, Arthur Fleck along with some events Before revealing the altruistic sides of the main character, and conflicts in the film that influence how he develops as a A F c c a ac a a a c a ac c dynamic character. The snippets of related dialogues which be analyzed to see how they develop through events that he support the analysis will be theoretically analyzed to reveal experiences in the story. Afterwards, the altruist sides of the the character change. Afterwards, the altruistic sides of the main character will be presented in the analysis. main character which highlights the positive sides of Arthur
Fleck.
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Arthur Fleck is a dynamic character as his his condition he unintentionally laughed at them. characteristics are very complex and develop through the Consequently, they mocked and beat him up. With no story. It can be proven from the changes he performs in the hesitation he brutally shot and killed them and then ran away. story. As a poor citizen having a certain health condition and T da a a A b ca a d . living with his delusional mother, Arthur is actually a kind He was so confident of expressing his thoughts. It can be and patient person. It is proven when in the beginning of the seen when Arthur went to his office after getting fired due to story the street children stole his board sign, hardly hit his handgun possession. Arthur knew that he was slandered by face with the board and beat him up until he became Randall so that he confidently and sarcastically accused him physically weak. Though he was brutally beaten, Arthur of making his boss get him fired. As seen in the following d d a . A d a dialogue: between he and his colleague, Randall. Ga : H A . I a d a a d. S a Ra da : Y O a ? I a d b a d . Ra da : Y a . I d a , d F c a a . that. F c : I a a b c ds. I should have left it Ma 1: D d a b a c d a hospital, Artie? What the fuck would you do that for? Ra da : N . T a Ma 2: I a a ac , A ? I d a . A c a . T a a . da c d d c , a . That he likes kids can also be identified when he met A : W d a Ra da ab ? I a a boy in the bus on his way back home. The boy sitting right . in front of him looked at him and tried to play with him. Ra da : W a ? Knowing that he was interested in playing with him, Arthur A : I a , d I made jokes and played peekaboo until the mother got angry Randall: W a c a a ab ? S a d a d b , b a a a , A angry and gave her a card telling her that he had a condition. A : O . I c Besides that, Arthur is also a kind-hearted person and it can be seen when Randall offered him a handgun to protect him From the above dialogue, it can be inferred that bad . H d a d Arthur was so confident of suspecting him for why he got have gun as he knew that gun possession can potentially put fired. Knowing that he was betrayed, Arthur sarcastically him in big troubles. expressed his dislikes towards him. The kind-hearted Arthur can also be seen in his A c a ac c a ca a b d d relationship with his mother. He really loves his mother, he figured out that his mother, Penny Fleck, was caught Penny Fleck and is really responsible for taking care of her . H acc d d c even though he himself has a condition. After coming back and found out that Thomas Wayne, the billionaire as well as from work, he always spends his time talking to his mother, the Mayoral Candidate of Gotham City had an affair with watching tv together, preparing her meal, and bathing her. Penny. Penny said that she used to work with Thomas When his mother is worried about their poor living condition, Wayne as a secretary, but their relationship ended up Arthur tells her not to worry about money as he is sure that unhappily. Due to societal expectations and the social gap he can make a good comedian to collect money and between them Thomas Wayne was forced to abandon her. financially support their life. Knowing the truth, Arthur was either shocked and As the story goes on, Arthur characteristics develops. disappointed with his mother. as seen in the following Continuously his character changes through the story. He dialogue: begins to become a different person when he gets fired from Ha a a c a a a c . H a P : Y a . Y a a caught for having handgun when he was doing a clown show a a ac . d a . T a d, A : D . Randall, fell onto the floor and the kids saw it. Though he pounding on door denied and said to his boss that it was part of his clown act, P : N .N . I a he was reported for the gun possession and ended up getting b a ! fired. Later he also figured out that Randall intentionally A : O a . I a . gave him the gun in order to put him in troubles. Randall also slandered him by telling his boss that Arthur bought the This made Arthur confront Thomas Wayne directly in gun from him intentionally. person. Surprisingly, Thomas denied what Penny said in her Another scene which shows how his characteristics letter. He violently asserted that he was his biological father change is when Arthur was on his way back home after he and told him that Arthur was adopted by Penny and that she got fired. When he was on the train, he saw three also suffered from being delusional. Being disappointed with businessmen were trying to seduce the lone woman. Due to T a a , A a H a
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Penny was taken care. After stealing her medical records, he Gary: whimpering Y a I a b . I found out that Thomas was telling the truth. The medical c c a , ? M . records showed that his mother had been committed to the Ga : W a c , A ? insane asylum. The files stated that she often had a delusion A : W a ? I a , Ga . Y ca . I a T a c . I , A a d a a . there was an adoption records for an unnamed baby. After Ga : O ! successfully finding out what happened to his past life, A : D . J . Arthur yells Arthur was so depressed and disappointed. He then killed his Gary: crying c sighs tearfully . H , A mother who had been unconscious and hospitalized. He A : Y a assumed that everybody, including his mother, never made Gary: stammering A , ca c ? him happy so that he became cruel and evil and also began A : S . S , Ga . Ga . Y to hate his mother. As seen in the following dialogue before a a c he killed Penny in the hospital room: F ab ca b d a A A : H P . P F c . I a a a d a altruistic side can be seen in a c c . H d d name. You know how you used to tell me that my laugh kill Gary since he was always nice to him unconditionally. was a condition? That there was something wrong with His altruistic side is also revealed in terms of solidarity ? T . T a a . aspect. In the last scene of the film story, Arthur was P : Ha . idolized by the protesters who resist the existing political A : Ha . H . I a b a . O system in Gotham City. Arthur gave his life to represent the c . Y a ? majority of people who have been repressed and treated You know what really makes me laugh? I used to think unfairly by the local government. In terms of establishing a a a a d . B I a . I a solidarity which represents the repressed group, he allows fucking comedy. himself to be the state enemy and supervillain for the sake of majority. As suggested by Post, it can be inferred as either Arthur had been through a lot of unpleasant care or sympathy that he gives to others suffering from experiences that made him disappointed. This made him a injustice and unfairness. c a d . H d d d understand his condition. It can also be seen when he shot Murray Franklin in a live show as he blamed him to have IV. CONCLUSION killed the men on the train without understanding how he felt Film can be inferred as a literature genre as it is inside as a man who got bullied by them. Therefore, it can be predetermined by literary techniques and literary study inferred that Arthur is a dynamic character who develops his develops particular features under the impact of film. In c a ac c d a a c d b addition, film can be analyzed using literary criticism through. methods because the film criticism is closely linked to the approaches of textual approaches. One of human aspects that The Altruistic Side of the Main Character can be analyzed in film study is the human characteristics as Besides analyzing the character change, this study c a c a ac c a . will also reveal the altruistic side of Arthur Fleck using F a a T dd P Joker (2019), it can be Stephen G. Post concept of altruism which refers to the act concluded that Arthur Fleck as the main character develops of caring and giving sympathy that an individual does to his characteristics. His characteristics have dramatically give others the needs and happiness. As a dynamic character, changed through tragically unpleasant experiences he passed Arthur changed from being good and nice to evil and on. From a kind-hearted person, Arthur became a cruel and impulsive. He began to become cruel due to unpleasant impulsive man as he has been disappointed by his mother c d b . W a , who lied to him, backstabbed by his own friend, and got a d c . bullied for his mental condition. Arth a c d a d d a c As a human whose nature is complex and develops, it sincerity as well as solidarity. When Randall and Gary came a a a A c a ac c b gh to his house, Arthur shot and killed Randall for slandering multiple and diverse experiences. Even though he is depicted , b d d Ga . A a Ga as a cruel and impulsive person, Arthur still has altruistic hurt him and was always nice to him, as seen in the sides. His altruistic side appears in terms of sincerity and following dialogue: da a c . H d d d, Ga , a d free as he thought that Gary never treated him bad, betrayed Gary screaming : W a . N . A . N ! W a . N . , a d a a a c . A a c d a why would you do that, Arthur? seen when he represented the majority of Gotham citizens Arthur: breathing rapidly who were severely affected by the poor political system. Gary continues sobbing Arthur stood with people who were excluded and considered A : D a c T M a F a S ? a c a b d . I , ca b d a
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characteristics are established through events as well as experiences in the past and they were either explicitly or implicitly presented though characters in the film.
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