The second and final trailer for Joker released on Aug. 28. While many have praised the footage so far, including actor Joaquin Phoenix's transformation into Arthur Fleck/Joker, there have also been criticisms.

There is a group that feels the film is in poor taste and unnecessary in 2019. The belief is that a film explaining a white male's descent into madness and violence is insensitive, considering the wave of white terrorist crimes in recent years. Additionally, they feel that it justifies and gives credence to the supervillain's actions while giving rise to those who'll see the Joker as a martyr.

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It's a point that raises a thought-provoking debate: Considering the violent and turbulent nature of the real world, should art and entertainment be the opposite; an escape from it?

There are many people who believe a traditional good-versus-bad narrative, where the hero comes out triumphant at the end of the day, is the type of inspirational storytelling that should be solely pursued nowadays. Unfortunately, that's a myopic point of view.

Art was never intended to make you feel comfortable or safe. It's meant to move and evoke emotions. Sometimes, these emotions are anger or disgust. The point is, it's supposed to mean something and elicit a response from the audience.

If you're talking about disposable entertainment, that's a different story altogether. There are thousands of films and television shows that say absolutely nothing and serve as mind-numbing time-passers. It isn't much different from that scene in WALL-E where humans become slaves to the machines, feeding off whatever is given to them without a single thought.

Joaquin Phoenix in Joker

The best kind of art speaks the truth and pulls from what's happening in the world. To quote Harry Styles: "It's a sign of the times." Yes, the world is ugly. It's a mess, in fact, with many injustices and inequalities that require attention and fixing. The thing is, it's reality.

On a metaphorical level, Joker examines how a broken society can lead to broken people who do terrible and horrendous things. Does this automatically justify and make the broken people the heroes of this story? No. It serves as a warning of what can happen if we don't address our issues and get our act together.

From a psychological standpoint, Joker will undoubtedly turn into a crucial debate about the effects of nature versus nurture. It's a topic of hot debate in which the two sides argue one is more crucial to human development than the other. Still, it's a way that we try to figure out what impacts humans and causes them to behave in the way they do.

Even in its press releases, Warner Bros. affirmed the film is "a cautionary tale" and "a gritty character study." This doesn't mean it's a defense of the Joker's actions but rather an example of what happens when the system fails and herd mentality takes over. It's a look at where the root of most of our problems stem from and why we need to start treating the cause and not the symptom.

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Joker

Of course, there is a danger that some people might sympathize with the devil and draw inspiration from the villain's actions, as unfortunately seen in the devastating 2012 Colorado shooting where the murderer was inspired by The Dark Knight's Joker. So, is the removal of all violent media, from video games to movies, the appropriate solution?

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It's a controversial subject that'll never find a consensus, as it raises another question about what causes people to do what they do, though the answer probably lies somewhere in the nature versus nurture debate. All that can be said here is that there are ratings for a reason and people have the option to skip the film if they choose. No one is forcing anyone to watch Joker and it's understandable if its subject matter triggers individuals.

Ultimately, Joker is showing us a reflection of society. We might look away because it's too upsetting to come to terms with, but it's still there. The truth hurts, and it's necessary to accept that art might do the same too. An origin story about a homicidal maniac was never going to have a happy ending.

Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais and Shea Whigham. The film arrives in theaters Oct. 4.