Batman, the Riddler, and Borderline Personality Disorder
Movies have often been used to explore psychological themes and psychological disorders. For myself, I think there is something innately compelling about the marriage of fictional characters to real-life situations. Batman, in particular, as a fictional character has always been interesting to me in this regard. This is because I find Batman’s origins (being steeped in trauma) incredibly compelling and applicable towards the human condition. Both for himself as well as his rogues gallery of villains.
Most recently, the movie “The Batman” did a great job of exploring the villain known as the Riddler and the psychological condition known as borderline personality disorder (BPD) - an unstable, incomplete identity characterized by chaos in one's thoughts, moods, actions, and self-concept.
This dichotomy with the Riddler shows up in the character showing symptoms that include splitting, categorizing people in positive and negative extremes, switching abruptly between idealizing and demonizing the same individual as indicated by his vacillating views toward Bruce Wayne. Furthermore, the character of the Riddler idolizes Batman and feels that his connection to him must be reciprocal in nature. He fantasizes that they will hit it off well, bond, and become friends when they finally meet, only to find that his idol rejects both him and his grand plan. Crestfallen, upset that the meeting does not live up to expectations, Edward rages. If they cannot be buddies, they will be foes. This falls in-line with the symptom of splitting in BPD.
At any rate, I feel that movies such as this can be entertaining, while at the same time, they can shine a (admittedly exaggerated for the silver screen) light on real-life psychological concepts.
Read the full article here.
And, as a question for you all:
Whether it’s Batman or some other character, what movies/shows/media have you all seen that have illustrated real-life psychological concepts?
#Batman #BPD #Riddler
@sereneSunset26 The one character that comes to mind is Eeyore and I believe he would depict depression. I saw one theory that each of the characters from Winnie the Pooh is a different mental disorder. https://pooh.fandom.com/wiki/The_Disorders_of_Characters_in_Winnie_the_Pooh I'm not really sure how I feel about depicting mental illnesses in children's cartoons, but the theory is there regardless. It says the theory was depicted by The Canadian Medical Association. I'm not sure how true that is either lol.
@fruityPond7887
I checked that link out; it makes for an interesting read for sure. Whether intentional or not by the authors, I have found a lot of archetypes in a lot of the literature and media that I used to consume as a kid. Part of me is glad for this growth and knowledge as an adult, but I feel like part of me also misses the childhood naivete of taking things in at face value.
@sereneSunset26 Oh definitely. Nothing had a meaning behind it when we were kids and everything was just innocent and happy.
Split
Identity
The Fisher King
@mytwistedsoul
I haven't seen any of these three movies, but is it true that Split was/is a sequel to Unbreakable? Because, in Unbreakable, I remember Samuel L. Jackson playing a character who was pretty much psychotic. Especially given his character's attempts to create a villain persona.
@sereneSunset26
I have seen a very popular movie called A Beautiful Mind, which tells the autobiographical story of John Nash, who developed paranoid schizophrenia.
@globalBraid3744
That movie really made an impression on me, as I had a friend (at the time) with the same condition. And, given my burgeoning interest into psychology at the same, it also let me know just how important our brains are to our existence.
@sereneSunset26
Going along the batman theme, I think the movie Joker played by Joaquin Phoenix was perhaps one of the best depictions of mental health disorder and issue that I've seen. Often movies have a glorifying aspect of mental health issues that portray them as somewhat advantageous or even charming to the audience. But Joker was characterized by its distinct uncomfortableness and the entire movie there was several scenes that was just either hard to watch or felt very raw and confusing. I think this sheds a light on what mental disorder truly is, it's not something of a daydream but a very real and difficult experience to go through.
@sunnyWriting4806
Going along the batman theme, I think the movie Joker played by Joaquin Phoenix was perhaps one of the best depictions of mental health disorder and issue that I've seen. Often movies have a glorifying aspect of mental health issues that portray them as somewhat advantageous or even charming to the audience. But Joker was characterized by its distinct uncomfortableness and the entire movie there was several scenes that was just either hard to watch or felt very raw and confusing. I think this sheds a light on what mental disorder truly is, it's not something of a daydream but a very real and difficult experience to go through.
I would have to agree with you - from everyone I heard and read. In my case, I didn't see it for not wanting to potentially be trauma triggered, but I think that caution on my part goes to show just how effective Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal was--both in tone and depicting mental illness.
@sereneSunset26 I think The joker also highlighted the way society treats the mentally ill.
@comfortableNight4463
Like I said to Sunny, I would have to agree. I think the degree of malaise that people felt to and with the movie has a lot to do with the subject matter purposefully hitting close to home.
