By Francis Munoz, Staff Reporter
Protestors have been donning the Joker masks and face paint around the world to enhance their protests. Some of the most widespread uses of the infamous face have been reported in Lebanon and Hong Kong.
The protestors pull their inspiration from the film “Joker,” directed by Todd Phillips starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Clown Prince of Crime. The film follows Arthur Fleck as he struggles with both mental illness and the destruction of a corrupted society. This film has been followed by a backlash from the public, with theaters including Century Theaters in Huntington Beach closing their doors to the film.
“I think it's really good when movies make us uncomfortable or challenge us or make us think differently,” Phoenix said.
The Joker’s face has been associated with protests in Chile, Lebanon, Hong Kong, and many other countries around the world. Protestors in Chile express discontent with their government and blame them for their high cost of living. Protestors in Hong Kong are using the Joker’s face and infamous internet icon “Pepe the Frog” as symbols to show that they fear losing autonomy with the Chinese government slowly taking over. The Lebanese are striking against the WhatsApp tax. The app is commonly used throughout the country, and many believe it is unfair that the government is using the app’s popularity to gain money.
The image has appeared in these protests through many mediums. Some of the most common methods consist of wearing masks, painting faces, and vandalizing the streets with the face of the Joker. Protestors in Lebanon have even gone as far as setting up stations where people can get their faces painted for the protests.
“The reason we painted our faces is because we related to the character in the movie,” one protestor interviewed by Wired said. “He’s upset, he’s angry, and it just drove him to madness and that’s what’s happening [in Lebanon].”
The mask, although believed to unify the people, is also believed to be used as an outlet to artistically express their emotions and beliefs towards their oppressing system.
“The important idea is to hide the face when swearing against some important politicians” American University of Beirut Department of Sociology Chair Sari Hanafi said. ̈ ̈Now, why Joker? This is simply the artistic way of doing a demonstration in Lebanon.”
The Joker has inspired many to face their government and to stand up for what they believe. The use of the Joker image has also proven how influential and powerful films can be, and perhaps frightening.
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