Gotham’s Mirror: Althusserian Reflections in Tod Phillips’ Joker and Contemporary America

This study critically examines Todd Phillips’ Joker (2019) through the theoretical framework of Louis Althusser, identifying a lacuna in Iranian academic discourse—the exploration of political narratives in Hollywood’s comic book adaptations. While Joker achieved commercial success akin to its super...

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Main Author: Azra Ghandeharion
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: University of Birjand 2024-10-01
Series:مطالعات بین‌رشته‌ای ادبیات، هنر و علوم انسانی
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Online Access:https://islah.birjand.ac.ir/article_2923_61c7575b3772b6e1aaa166c657873419.pdf
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author Azra Ghandeharion
author_facet Azra Ghandeharion
author_sort Azra Ghandeharion
collection DOAJ
description This study critically examines Todd Phillips’ Joker (2019) through the theoretical framework of Louis Althusser, identifying a lacuna in Iranian academic discourse—the exploration of political narratives in Hollywood’s comic book adaptations. While Joker achieved commercial success akin to its superhero film counterparts, its nuanced political commentary sets it apart. This paper interrogates the film’s depiction of Althusser’s ideological and repressive state apparatuses within the capitalist milieu of the fictional Gotham City. Through a meticulous analysis of pivotal scenes, the paper elucidates the strategies employed by Gotham’s ruling entities to perpetuate hegemony, drawing parallels with the political landscape of contemporary America. The research employs a qualitative content analysis methodology, enabling a nuanced interpretation of the film’s subtextual elements that resonate with the socio-political climate of the United States, particularly during the Trump era. Conclusively, Joker emerges not merely as a cinematic experience but as a reflective social commentary, mirroring the class struggle and the political machinations prevalent in American society.
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publishDate 2024-10-01
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series مطالعات بین‌رشته‌ای ادبیات، هنر و علوم انسانی
spelling doaj-art-9cd9bad9c9044bd2b0d1d713eda9e2982025-08-20T03:07:41ZfasUniversity of Birjandمطالعات بین‌رشته‌ای ادبیات، هنر و علوم انسانی2783-27592024-10-01427310210.22077/islah.2024.7278.14092923Gotham’s Mirror: Althusserian Reflections in Tod Phillips’ Joker and Contemporary AmericaAzra Ghandeharion0Associate Professor of English Literature and Cultural Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.This study critically examines Todd Phillips’ Joker (2019) through the theoretical framework of Louis Althusser, identifying a lacuna in Iranian academic discourse—the exploration of political narratives in Hollywood’s comic book adaptations. While Joker achieved commercial success akin to its superhero film counterparts, its nuanced political commentary sets it apart. This paper interrogates the film’s depiction of Althusser’s ideological and repressive state apparatuses within the capitalist milieu of the fictional Gotham City. Through a meticulous analysis of pivotal scenes, the paper elucidates the strategies employed by Gotham’s ruling entities to perpetuate hegemony, drawing parallels with the political landscape of contemporary America. The research employs a qualitative content analysis methodology, enabling a nuanced interpretation of the film’s subtextual elements that resonate with the socio-political climate of the United States, particularly during the Trump era. Conclusively, Joker emerges not merely as a cinematic experience but as a reflective social commentary, mirroring the class struggle and the political machinations prevalent in American society.https://islah.birjand.ac.ir/article_2923_61c7575b3772b6e1aaa166c657873419.pdfhollywood cinemarepressive state apparatus (rsa)ideological state apparatus (isa)social classphilips’ joker (2019)
spellingShingle Azra Ghandeharion
Gotham’s Mirror: Althusserian Reflections in Tod Phillips’ Joker and Contemporary America
مطالعات بین‌رشته‌ای ادبیات، هنر و علوم انسانی
hollywood cinema
repressive state apparatus (rsa)
ideological state apparatus (isa)
social class
philips’ joker (2019)
title Gotham’s Mirror: Althusserian Reflections in Tod Phillips’ Joker and Contemporary America
title_full Gotham’s Mirror: Althusserian Reflections in Tod Phillips’ Joker and Contemporary America
title_fullStr Gotham’s Mirror: Althusserian Reflections in Tod Phillips’ Joker and Contemporary America
title_full_unstemmed Gotham’s Mirror: Althusserian Reflections in Tod Phillips’ Joker and Contemporary America
title_short Gotham’s Mirror: Althusserian Reflections in Tod Phillips’ Joker and Contemporary America
title_sort gotham s mirror althusserian reflections in tod phillips joker and contemporary america
topic hollywood cinema
repressive state apparatus (rsa)
ideological state apparatus (isa)
social class
philips’ joker (2019)
url https://islah.birjand.ac.ir/article_2923_61c7575b3772b6e1aaa166c657873419.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT azraghandeharion gothamsmirroralthusserianreflectionsintodphillipsjokerandcontemporaryamerica