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The Transformation of Anti-Messianic Discourse in Todd Phillips's film ‘‘Joker: Folie à Deux’’

https://doi.org/10.69975/2074-0832-2025-64-3-87-107

Abstract

The article addresses Todd Phillips' film Joker: Folie à Deux (which is, according to popular opinion, one of the main failures of 2024) in terms of the symbolic-sacred paradigm. Appealing to the archetypes of the Trickster and the Shadow, as well as to the demonic, doppelgänger and Doomsday motives, the author comes to the conclusion that the director not just deconstructs the supervillain narrative, but also consistently unfolds on the screen the story of the overthrow of the anti-messiah who rose in rebellion in the forepart of the dilogy.

About the Author

M. A. Palshkova
Analytical Department, Research Institute of Cinematography and Film Education (NIIKK), Russian State University of Cinematography n. a. S.A. Gerasimov (VGIK)
Russian Federation

Maria A. Palshkova Senior Researcher; Associate Professor

AuthorID: 940502

3 Wilhelm Pieck Str., Moscow, 129226



References

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Review

For citations:


Palshkova M.A. The Transformation of Anti-Messianic Discourse in Todd Phillips's film ‘‘Joker: Folie à Deux’’. Vestnik VGIK. 2025;17(3(65)):87-107. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.69975/2074-0832-2025-64-3-87-107

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ISSN 2074-0832 (Print)
ISSN 2713-2471 (Online)