Joker Movie Review and Carl Jung Psychology: What is the Collective Shadow?

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." – Jesus Christ

Announced as an "original origin story" by its distributor Warner Bros. and causing a massive sensation worldwide the moment it was released, the movie Joker divided film critics. While The Guardian described the film as "gloriously daring" and Total Film as "challenging and subversive"; Stephanie Zacharek from Time magazine argued that director Todd Phillips presented a very primal example of our cultural emptiness.

Regardless of the direction of the criticism, Joker, which broke box office records during its theatrical run, is not just a comic book adaptation but also a deep analysis of social psychology. So, what does this story, shaped in the dark world of Gotham city, bring to light about humanity's subconscious?

Who is Arthur Fleck? The Collapsing Face of Gotham

The Joker movie tells the tragic story of Arthur Fleck, an unsuccessful comedian living with his mother in Gotham city. Arthur's character analysis is based on the following fundamental dynamics:

• He takes multiple medications due to psychological issues.

• He works as a clown on the streets to make a living.

• He is constantly marginalized by society, subjected to bullying and violence.

• His mother ironically calls him "Happy"; whereas Arthur constantly confesses to his psychologist that he is plagued by negative thoughts.

The violence he is exposed to over time and his unresolved psychological crises tear Arthur away from his own identity. His repressed emotions surface, and he transforms into the Joker, the most notorious villain of the Batman universe. The emergence of the Joker is no coincidence; Gotham city, where moral values have collapsed and income inequality has peaked, has found the leader who will embody its collective shadow.

What is the 'Collective Shadow' in Psychology?

To understand the rise of the Joker, one must first understand the concept of the shadow self. A person's shadow self consists of the following emotions that are suppressed for social, cultural, or religious reasons:

• Anger and the tendency toward violence

• Greed and selfishness

• The lust for power and ambition

• Jealousy and primal urges

According to Freudian psychology, people generally deny these shadows and avoid facing them, choosing instead to "project" their own darkness onto others.

However, the famous psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung argues that this projection is not only individual but also has a social dimension. According to Jung, nations have a psychology and psychopathology just like individuals. When a society cooperatively projects its own dark shadow onto a common "enemy", this collective shadow cast outside itself manifests in the real world.

Leaders of the Collective Shadow: The Joker and Historical Figures

According to Jungian analysis, fictional or historical figures like the Joker, Adolf Hitler, or Darth Vader appear as the most negative archetypal leaders of society's collective shadow.

Carl Jung made the following observation regarding the situation of Germany before World War II:

"The avalanche produced its leader, who was chosen as a tool to complete the destruction of the nation, gathering in Germany. He influenced the unconscious of normal people who always imagined themselves to be pure, completely innocent, and right."

These so-called leaders spread the collective psychic virus to the whole society and turn into an icon that fascinates everyone who believes in the deception of projecting the shadow onto others.

The Solution: Individual Enlightenment and Confrontation

The psychology of nations is a mirror of the psychology of the individuals who comprise it. As long as we run away from our own shadows and constantly look for the culprit outside, we feed political and social crises and trigger collective illnesses on the world stage. The rising extremist movements and global crises today are a bitter consequence of this collective shadow.

The only way to stop this is through individual confrontation. When enough people face the "shadow" within themselves and accept it, societies will also stop projecting their own darkness onto other nations. Peace is only possible through this inner enlightenment.

When we fall into the illusion of projecting our own shadow onto others, it is useful to remember the ancient wisdom mentioned at the beginning of the article and the following words of Jesus Christ:

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

What is the main theme of the Joker movie?

The Joker movie depicts Arthur Fleck, who suffers from severe psychological problems and is marginalized by society, gradually transforming into an anarchic figure named "Joker" as a result of society's apathy and violence. The film centers on income inequality, mental health issues, and social decay.

What is the Shadow Self according to Carl Jung?

In Carl Jung's analytical psychology, the shadow self refers to the primitive, selfish, and dark aspects of an individual's personality that they do not want to accept, push into their subconscious, and which are generally disapproved of by society.

How does the Collective Shadow become dangerous?

A collective shadow forms when individuals in a society project their dark sides onto an external enemy instead of facing them. In times of social crisis, this collective anger can create destructive leaders (historical dictators or fictional figures like the Joker), leading to mass catastrophes.

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