The Joker and all its Controversy
Often times when a big movie releases or is set to release there are a lot of press and articles surrounding the movie whether it be anticipated box office numbers or reviews from movie critics, we see a lot of media attention around them. One very anticipated movie from 2019 was Todd Philip’s, The Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, set to release October 4th. With the Oscars coming up this Sunday, Joaquin has landed an Oscar nomination for his role and this movie, and its controversial plot line, is back in the media’s attention. As the movie depicts a large amount of violence, and gore it is very appropriately R rated. I think this movie could be considered both a thriller and a horror movie, having some elements from both genres. After being shown at the Venice Film Festival in late August of 2019, and winning The Golden Lion for best film, the Jokers grotesque and twisted backstory got a lot of backlash. Published on February 7th we see yet another article from Cosmopolitan trudging up the controversy of this film.
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Taking a look at this article we see four outer sources referenced. These sources coming from the Times, the Associated Press, a well-known press junket and also other well-known movie critics. We also see two quotes from Warner Brothers and the letter sent to them regarding their use of the platform and what it could represent. There also was included two sponsored posts from Instagram that promoted the film. Adding the quote from Time’s movie critic really gave this article some credible, thus furthering the controversy this movie has brought. Then also including the quote from the actor himself, provided by the Associated Press, Phoenix states “If you don’t know the difference between right and wrong, then there are all sorts of things that you are going to interpret in the way that you want. I just hope people see it and take it as a movie.”, which in a way flips the script and gives the article depth and dimension as to making the reader look at all sides and gain a bit of perspective.
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The way that the sources are integrated into the article I think really helps the readers eye flow through the article effectively. Two of the sources from other websites are hyperlinked into the article, verifying both sources and also giving the reader an easier way to reference back if they choose to. All quotes are cohesively mixed into the article, not chopping up the paragraphs, ergo adding more effectiveness to the flow. The way in which the author did separate the article into five different sections being, “first the plot”, “the potential issue”, “how the controversy spiraled”, “what the filmmakers have to say about it”, and “so…what happened with all that”. was a very adequate technique in splitting the article up in chewable pieces for the reader to digest better.
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I believe one lacking element in the article was the last section where the author follows up on what happened after the film released, and if there was any basis in the controversy. In two little sentences if kind of throws out there that nothing came about from the movie, and a few precautionary measures were taken but nothing of the sorts of what some movie critics expected to happen. In a way it kind of just dismisses the seriousness in ways the author presented the whole issue.
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I believe the article as a whole is very credible and transparent. This really isn’t much of an opinion piece, as most of the sources are just reported like news. With Cosmopolitan being a very well-known media outlet, and magazine, this article and the author gain a lot more credible than if it were written under a lesser known company. If this article were to have a letter grade, I believe that I would give it an A-. It has all the elements for an effective flowing article, including all the outside sources, making the article easier to read with different sections, adding in some pictures from the film and hyperlinking all other links. The only lacking part of this would be the follow up. The conclusion really isn’t there and it leaves the reader high and dry, and wanting more.
