Joker

Representation / casting choices

Naturalistic urban diversity fitting 1980s Gotham setting; no race/gender swaps, no audience-visible identity signaling, quotas, or story emphasis on representation.

Political / ideological dialogue

Occasional lines referencing class divide and elite neglect, but sparse and not framed as modern activist ideology or lectures.

Identity-driven story themes

Core focus remains individual trauma, mental illness, and personal descent; no plotlines, arcs, or messaging tied to race, gender, or queer identity.

Institutional / cultural critique

Visible examination of mental health system failures, social service cuts, and wealthy indifference as factors in despair; presented as contributing to one man's story rather than contemporary activist critiques of patriarchy, systemic racism, or similar frameworks.