The trickster is a person who is always trying to escape the “prison” that society has put him in. When the term “prison” is used, it is not referring to a physical building, but instead it is signifying how the trickster is put in isolation from the rest of society. The trickster is frequently someone in the society who is seen as an outcast.
In Tim Burton’s film, Batman, the Joker is the trickster character. He is isolated from the rest of society because of his appearance. The one scene where it seems that the Joker is starting to escape his prison is the parade scene. It is the one part in the movie where the Joker is accepted into society instead of being on the edge.In the film, the Joker infects many cosmetics, so that when people of Gotham use these products their face will start to look like his, and eventually they will die. Some may argue that by doing this, the Joker is going against the idea of a trickster, and that he is actually NOT trying to escape the prison society has put him in, and instead is simply making his prison bigger. I think that by making people like him, he IS trying to escape his prison. The “prison” is isolation put on the outcast of society, so by making everyone just like him, the Joker is no longer an outcaste, and therefore has succeeded in escaping his prison.
In this film, Burton is also questioning who the real tricksters in society are. The government of Gotham is extremely corrupt. To the public, they seem to not know what is going on, but behind the scenes, they are the cause of all the chaos in the society. When the Joker transforms into his “post-acid accident” self of Jack Napier by wearing his makeup, he represents the wealthy members of society. When he takes of his makeup, he reveals the true side of the upper class of Gotham, who are the true tricksters.
Another aspect of a trickster is that he is able to manipulate people. The Joker is very good at manipulating the general public. He uses his makeup as a mask in order to make the people of Gotham believe that he is just like them. By having the Joker wearing a mask of makeup that makes him seem to be an ordinary person, but underneath is really the uncivilized, animalistic Joker, I think that Burton is asking the question of whether or not we are truly civilized, or if it is simply a mask we wear.
Your insight on this was great. I like what you say about the Joker still escaping his prison even though he is bringing people inside the prison with him. I never thought about, he might be escaping his prison by making everyone an outcast like him. I also like you stance on who the real tricksters are. You are right. The government knows exactly what is going on but they refuse to do anything about and they are hiding he truth for the citizens of Gotham. Everyone with power is corrupt. The Joker is just an added element to the corruptness. Lastly, you last sentence is spot on. I feel like that was the main purpose of the Joker, especially with what we know of Burton’s background. It seems right that Burton wants to question who the real villains are, the ones without or with the mask.
ReplyDelete-Starlight Williams
I like your insight on the idea of the Joker attempting to drag others into his prison. Through the cosmetic products that create mutations of the face to look similar to his, he is in fact filling up the cells in his prison rather than emptying his one cell. At the parade is the one part of the movie where he does seem to be a part of society, but instead of that being a breakout from the prison, can't it be that he is dragging people inside, as well? The only way he lured people to join him was through the promise of lots and lots of cash money. As a trickster, he is the "animal" inside of people; the most primitive form of the psyche, and by bribing people and getting them to give into their animal side, isn't he dragging them into his prison as well? (:
ReplyDelete-Cristina Suarez