Heroes and Villains

The Joker was released at a great time (just before World Mental Health Day). With the Joker having mental health problems, the film highlighted the lack of support and resources for mental health services, and social exclusion towards the mentally ill through the Joker’s story. Likewise, the same was mirrored towards the working class, hence the rebellion in the movie.

I enjoyed the movie because it had me bamboozled on the mental states of both Joker and his mother, at times I couldn’t confirm what was fact and what was fantasy.

The movie also helped me to empathise with “villains” more, it led me to reflect on how we as global citizens are raised. Most stories we’ve been told, have been based upon heroes and villains. Stories in books, comics, cartoons, pantomime and film, have the “good people” and the “bad people”. I couldn’t help but notice how I’ve been benignly steered towards empathising and siding with the hero and pretty much everybody else, except the villain. In fact, I wasn’t at all curious as to why or how the person became the villain. I just couldn’t wait for the hero to be triumphant, even at the cost of villain’s life.

I held a bias, and how could I not do after all those years of conditioning? The filters I use to process information and form my conclusions, were constructed by the same narrative I have been bombarded with my whole life.  Myself and the rest of my species have absorbed the same stories, exercised them and handed them down to the next generation.

Away from fantasy, I carried out internal cheerleading and resentments in real life towards those I judged for being good (hero)  or bad (villain). My studies and my work helped me to question my judgements when they arose, and self intervene however, I didn’t realise what was happening within me when following multimedia. Unconsciously I carried out these judgements, so could I unconsciously be running the same programs at other times?

Every now and then something happens that reveals something in my blindspot, this movie definitely did that to me. The Joker led me to reflect on how I consume information and form an unconscious bias, from an area I was unaware of. I will now direct my attention to what goes on within me when observing heroes and villains, in fantasy and in real life. Now, who will I root for? Do I need to root for anyone at all? Can I just observe? Will not being emotionally involved spoil the experience? We shall see.

We have a responsibility to overstand and not bring our stuff into situations that are not ours. Self reflection is key to the process, listen to your unconscious!

This film has played a part in my continuous journey for positive change, and I think that’s better value than entertainment.

I hope you found some points in this blog that you connected with in some way.

Thank you for reading ;)

Kevin George

Human Performance Consultant

#KGEmotionalLiteracy