EXPRESSIONISM PRESENT IN TODD PHILLIPS’ JOKER (2019)

Abstract

This article's main objective is to analyze the characteristics of the expressionist movement in the film Joker (2019), directed by Todd Phillips, highlighting how visual and aesthetic elements contribute to the construction of the narrative and the character of Arthur Fleck, the protagonist. Specifically, it aims to explore Fleck's psychological representation as a recurring element in expressionist aesthetics, as well as comparing the film with classic works of German expressionist cinema and identifying elements in the film that corroborate its connection with the Germanic artistic movement. The methodology includes film analysis of key scenes, considering scene composition, lighting and mise-en-scène, as well as a comparative approach to identify stylistic and thematic similarities with expressionist aesthetics. The theoretical support is based on studies on expressionist cinema by Giulio Carlo Argan (1992), and concepts of film analysis by David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson (2013), as well as contributions by Denise Azevedo Duarte Guimarães (2012) and Pedro Maciel Guimarães (2016). The results obtained confirm the success of the work by showing how Joker effectively incorporates expressionist elements, demonstrating the relevance of expressionist aesthetics in the construction of the cinematic experience and the depth of the main character.