New/updated Essay Plan

Essay Plan Updated

Introduction:

• Despite the world's fandom for the critically acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy, there is a mega shift in the tone and feel of Hollywood characters especially those in the superhero genre. This is particularly apparent in Christopher Nolan's highly commended Dark Knight Trilogy where the character of the Joker does just that. In Nolan's film, the Joker has seemed to be one of the best performances ever made by Heath Leger. It has been praised as one of the best acting portrayals in cinema history, and this is very much influenced by the fans reaction. Heath Ledger's Joker has seen to set a bar in acting, as one of the best portrayals on screen ever, and his Joker has gained much love from fans and audience members across the world who are in delved in to the character of the Joker. After the final instalment of The Dark Knight franchise (The Dark Knight Rises), fans were eager to see what was next for the Batman, as he has just defeated his most iconic enemy of all time; The Joker. However, a shooting had taken place in Aurora where the accused had stated in the court room that he was 'the Joker' and had re-enacted traits that the on-screen character would do, things such as bombs in his room as a booby trap. This had raised awareness by not only the media, but also audience members whether or not such characters should be viewed by the audience as it has seen to of had an impact on a fellow audience member. The character has been argued to have kept in place to interact with the modern audience, and that they relate more too serious characters. However, this can be seen in the 1960's adaption of the Batman characters which took an alternative approach to the same characters including the portrayal of the Joker. This essay will be exploring to what extent are on screen character such as the Joker having an impact on audience members.

Institutions (Censorship, Box office record)-

• Box office success with each film (in the trilogy)
• draw links between the films (which was the most successful? why?)
• off screen violence

Section 1 (P1): Back story of the actor and his encounters with psychopathic behaviour. Introduces the other actors who have played the same role and their effects

The Joker is the arch enemy of the Batman, who holds psychopathic traits in the comic book universe. He is famously known for the way he looks as well as acts, in and off comic book material. The character has been largely influenced by "The Man Who Laughs" (1928), which acted as the base point of what the character would look like and be perceived like. It wasn't until The Dark Knight movie had finally had its own adaption on the character, and it was fantastic. However, after the death of the actor who played the Joker; Heath Ledger, there had grown conspiracies over his death. Many artefacts were discovered such as his journal and behind the scenes information. Furthermore, a gun shooting had taken place in which a young man had claimed that he 'was the joker'. This had become one of cinema's iconic moments, where an audience member had mimicked the crimes and violence he had seen on screen and did them in real life.

Key points:

• DC's influence to create the Joker (the man who laughed)
• the rise of the controversy (mainly about Heath Ledger)
• police evidence (notebook, hotel locking)
• other actors who played the role and their effects of playing the character (Jared Leto)

Quotes:

• William H. Macy- Quote~ “My heart goes out to his family and his kid. I don’t know, you know, people have demons. Sometimes it’s hard to see them”
• Thalia R. Goldstein-  Do fictional characters on screen have an impact on audience members?
• News link (Gun sales going up after theatre shootings): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18981769

Section 2 (P2):

The film had a positive reaction and had gained so much recognition for one of the best performances ever made of screen, and that was the performance made the Ledger. It has been critically acclaimed as one of the best trilogies of all time, and has even won an oscar for the Joker's portrayal. The shootings at the Aurora had sparked so much news coverage over the influence that on screen characters such as the Joker. Another infamous case that is also very much linked to this topic is the incident on James Bulger, and how the young teenagers mimicked the violence on screen by the film 'Child's Play'. Since people were familiar with the case, it has been a while since such events have happened, however this incident had brought about moral panics which (largely) the media created.

• The impact that the film had on audience members/critics.
• appraisal as one of the best performances ever
• Give an example of the 'James Bulger' case and the media reaction to it
• IT incident (the poster) created the killer clown craze
• The sense of moral panics towards such content and films

Genre (Argue the representation of the superhero genre, moral panics for the future of child films)-

• Parents misinterpretation of the genre to be 'kidy' and associated with children
• the dark theme makes the mainstream think otherwise
• people re-think the future of superhero movies (dark, gritty?)
• moral panics due to the rise of dark themed superhero movies (children influence)

Audiences (Audience theories)-

• Audience impact when watching the film
• critic reviews
• the James Bulger case
• hypodermic needle model theory and the media's negative portrayal of cinema
• creation of moral panics

Media Theories:

* Hypodermic Needle Model reference

Quotes:

• "The Dark Knight became the fourth highest grossing film of all time. Clearly something about the film appeals to viewers, despite its subversive narrative structure".
• "...Nolan's nightmarish version of the Joker persistently suggests his capacity as an agent of chaos".
• "images of the 2001 attracts and their capacity to elicit emotional effect and incite trauma in viewers, and second, The Dark Knight's potential to revoke such effects through flashbulb memory, the arresting image, or a simulation of traumatic memory".
• "What the Joker makes clear in The Dark Knight is the success evil can enjoy when we naively ignore the presence of evil".
• “Genres may be defined as patterns/forms/styles/structures which transcend individual films, and which supervise both their construction by the film maker, and their reading by an audience”.

Section 3 (P3): The Joker and his connection to the audience (justification of why he can influence the audience)

The Joker has had many different portrayals over the years, but one doesn't come close to the way Heath Ledger portrayed his incarnation of the Clown Prince of Crime. This villainous character was more than just a straight-up superhero villain, he had a role that completely subverted audience expectations of what a villain should be like. One of the major things that had an impact on the influence the character had on the audience, was the mise-en-scene and camera presentation. Furthermore, ever since the passing of Ledger, audiences have been clamouring that the character should be returned to the silver screen, and it came in the form of Jared Leto. Although, in the new Suicide Squad (2016) for less than 10 minutes, he had a major role off set. Cast members being frightened of the insanity that the actor was going through, showing traits of what Ledger was facing. It was allowing the media to reinforce the moral panics that the Aurora shootings may not be the last.

• Evidence and information regarding the accused
• the past Joker influences (by actors)
• events and crimes that have been influenced by the Joker
• this aftermath of the shooting (gun sales)

Media Language (Posters, clothing, props, make-up)-

The above image was the first teaser at the Joker's visual side of the new Dark Knight movie. As you can see from first glance, it doesn't look like it is anywhere in relation to a Batman movie, rather a new horror movie. This poster gives off the impression of a horror film, everything from the anonymous blurry effect to the make-up of a clown gives off the impression of all things horror. If this poster didn't come with a Dark Knight title, audience members (such as myself) would have led to believe that this was a teaser for an upcoming horror movie just strictly based off of its visual style and effects. 

Narrative (How has the selected scene tried to convey and narrative and what form of narrative it trying to be shown)

• narrative through the characters voice (Jokers scar stories)
• linear narrative
• chaos

Quotes: 

• "Objectively, one can label the Joker as evil, but his make-up, his purple suit, and his absurdity can still seduce the objectivity-minded guardians of good".
• "The Dark Knight's cinematography and mise-en-scene continually operate to slightly aspects of 9/11".

• "The twist, of course, is that this is a new breed of criminal (and not just because he shoots his fellow thieves), one who dislocates himself from the narratives sterilised notion evil that characterises the mobsters".
• "the Joker's behaviour with chaos theory in that his actions provoke scenes of spectacular destruction".
• Article about Jared Leto sending gifts to fellow cast members of Suicide Squad:
  http://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-Jared-Leto-Dead-Pig-Stunt-Affected-Viola-Davis-Suicide-Squad-Performance-113127.html
• Joker influences in real life-

  whatculture.com/comics/9-horrifying-real-crimes-inspired-joker#

Section 4 (P4): Introduce the historical text (1960's Batman). Show the change in the time periods (Zeitgist) etc as well as the differences in the texts overall. Form a focus on the Joker and how he is portrayed. Reference other texts (small section), preferably Black Mass (2015).

The Joker has been played by various different actors over the years, and have had their own interpretations of the character. One of the most iconic was the 1960's batman TV show, which intern brought the character of the Batman and Robin duo (as well as Joker) to an on screen performance. However, this portrayal was more in fit with the time period it was created in. It followed various similarities in the sense that ideologies, values and expectations of the audience was reflected through this TV show, creating a more 'camp' and 'comedic' tone to the character simply for audience pleasures.

• how the historical text version of batman has changed over the years
• fit for the current audience and pleasures at the time (camp, comedic, slap-stick)
• the different portrayal of the Joker and the differences between the 1960's and the current version
• Other films such as Black Mass, and how they convey a similar dark/psychopathic portrayal to the audience

Quotes:

• “there were two main reasons for the appearance of genre and genre’s on the agenda of theorists…. One was the desire to engage in a serious and positive way with popular cinema in general and with Hollywood in particular”.
• 
  

   “Hollywood and its films- on the grounds that they were commercially produced, that they were aimed at a mass market, that they were ideologically or aesthetically 

  conservative…”.

Section 5 (P5): Overall conclusion whether or not, is there a form of link towards content viewed on screen and to the consumers who take in this information. *Can be for or against the question.

Although it may not prove 100% that audience members are effected by what they see, there is an extent to where they feel influenced, or even emotionally connected to what they have viewed and is something they will not forget. The fact that the director can try and aim for a specific take on a character can really create something innovative and iconic, similar to the way that Joker was presented. There have been past encounters with on screen violence being re-enacted off screen including other media outlets such as video games, and therefore show that there is some degree of influence upon audience members.