Episode 5
Sympathy for the Devil? The Gospel and the Modern Joker
Published on:
25th September, 2023
Modern narratives have shifted (at least since we started watching cartoons). Rather than defined by evil and chaos ("some people just want to watch the world burn"), the Joker, most recently played by Joaquin Phoenix, is depicted as a victim of mental illness discarded by society. So who can blame him for his uncontrollable laughter and murderous outbursts? In this episode we dive into the shift toward what Michael as called "the sympathy for the devil" narrative and what it means for the gospel.