they: well I’m just concerned what the Joker movie will mean

me: wat

they: I mean it’s going to be the defining movie of the era

me: it’s a Bat-man spinoff

they: and it just recapitulates these 70s-80s narratives

me: but not even in a “let’s put this in a meta- framework” like the 90s, it’s just monkey see monkey do

they: but no, the actual Bernhard Goetz shooting, it’s like someone’s trying to force an 80s mentality

me: …huh

they: where the burden of imperfect life builds up unrelieved and gets transposed to the social order

me: well that’s the narrative form, man vs. society…

they: and explodes in a dirty violent catharsis of a third act

me: that’s what third acts are for!

they: themed around “clown world”

me: …

they: …

me: okay continue