Let's dip back down into the depraved, shall we?

[4ofspades]

daylight_broke  posed an excellent question in rancid_rainbow 's journal, and I would love to know everyone's opinions:

If the Joker is looking to "relax with his thoughts"... erm... in the manner that usually only requires one hand (ahem), what thoughts do you think would go through his mind?  No holds barred, get as descriptive as you want.

There's the perverted musing for

Comments

[lauralot]

I need to get some sort of pensive icon.

I agree with darker_she_said, that Batman's got to figure into the mix somewhere, even if he isn't the sole focus of the Joker's one-handed thoughts. I also imagine that he has been the main focus on more than occasion.

However, I believe that the Joker's thoughts tend to hop around like a rabbit on a pogo stick during moments when he isn't manipulating his joystick, and I can only imagine that said racing, skittering thoughts become even more jumbled when he's losing himself to involuntary muscle spasms and intense pleasure, and so on. So anything could be going through his head at any time, and his mood swings/what was going on before he decided to rub one out would influence the type of thoughts kicking around in his head at the time.

I'm reminded of that bit in one of George Carlin's books when he wonders what sort of masturbation fantasties Stephen King has, or if anyone's ever masturbated while thinking about sex with a live chicken. He then adds that these kinds of questions usually come to mind when he's masturbating.

Anyway. I can almost see the Joker's mind blasting from one topic to the next in a matter of miliseconds, akin to the Stargate sequence of 2001 or that "sublymonal" ad campaign Sprite did. Again, I agree with darker_she_said in that while violence isn't the only thing in his mind, it probably does show up at the climax, and I can see him just going over things that had happened earlier that day.

Whatever he's thinking about, I do think that at some point, he needs to be fantasizing/remembering a point in time when he was in a position of power (so probably hurting someone), particularly toward the start and the end of his special alone time. The Joker's garish makeup, flamboyant costume, attention-seeking behavior, and anger when someone calls him crazy or freakish all indicate major self-esteem issues, and along with his emotional disturbances, I'm sure that could impede his ability to achieve arousal. Hence, at some point, he needs to envision himself exerting authority over another person.

First I write an entire one shot about how Jonathan Crane masturbates, and now this. I don't know why I have so many ideas kicking around my head about the sexual habits of Bat-villains.

[darker_she_said]

Joker's mind blasting from one topic to the next in a matter of miliseconds
YES. That's why I believe his thoughts would weigh very heavily on events that took place that day, in addition to deep-seeded desires and issues he has.
I also agree with you about his need to be in control and remember points in time where he has power over people. I think it's very possible that he might watch videos of himself while he masturbates, also - or maybe media footage simply talking about him - just to have that background noise filling the mental empowerment gap while he fantasizes.

[4ofspades]

"I think it's very possible that he might watch videos of himself while he masturbates, also - or maybe media footage simply talking about him - just to have that background noise filling the mental empowerment gap while he fantasizes."

TOTALLY agree here. Coincidentally, there's a work-in-progress fan fiction I'm writing about the Joker, entitled "Not Playing with a Full Deck", in which I actually wrote this into the story. The the Joker is tearing Gotham apart, but the damage is being carried out by his henchmen. He's tucked away safely back at his base of operation, and he's got two televisions on, so he can treat himself (and his hostage) to incessant footage of evidence of his power. He channel-surfs whenever the media goes off-topic, so he can watch footage that relates directly to him. The televisions are left on, as something louder than just white noise, to serve as a constant reminder of his hold on the city.

[4ofspades]

Your metaphors cracked me up, and were right on the mark in describing his mercurial attention span. The comparison to the Stargate sequence in 2001 was a fantastic analogy, like watching a rotoscope shooting images of unrelated and/or nonsequential events onto a screen. (And for the record, those "sublymonal" ads by Sprite made me want to avoid that product like the plague.) Too weird.

It's as though the Joker lives his life in a stream-of-consciousness way, which would extend to his sexuality. I don't necessarily see him engaged in marathon-length sexual acts (either alone or with a partner... or partners), but I'm certain that when his focus is honed, the experience exponentially ratchets up the pleasure factor. The bolstering of self-esteem likely does play a central role in his fantasies, and what better way to feel empowered than to envision the fear you inspire on the faces of others, or the anguish and frustration of a masked man who hunts you down for the purpose of saving an entire city? People respect what they fear.

I'm reminded of this fact, by something once said to me: I'm arachnophobic. A few years ago I had the misfortune of wandering around a small, privately-owned pet store in a small town. In the back of the store, they had a Giant Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula. I can't even begin to tell you how big this fucker was. It was from Venezuela, and the body was the size of a God-damned baseball. Not the whole body, just the lower half!

I ran out terrified, but came back later, because I'm a masochist, and I had to see the spider again, to make sure it was actually in its aquarium, and hadn't escaped to track me down like the Terminator. THIS time, the thing was trying to scale the side of the aquarium, so I was treated to a horrific view of its underside, and saw the full reach of its legs. We're talking almost TWO FEET WIDE!!!!!!!!!! With legs spread out, it was the size of a large serving platter. I swear, it knew I was coming back. It was like Hannibal Lecter: "Helloooooo, Clarice."

Fuck. Ing. A.

So I back out of that room, and ask the owner of the store if she's afraid of any of the animals (and there was a bizarre assortment, I can tell you). Here was her reply: "I'm not afraid of any of the animals..." (pregnant pause) "... but I treat the Bird Eater with a lot of respect."

As with the Joker. I hate to compare him to something that terrifies me so, but he is like that spider. Fear translates into respect, and to some degree, vice versa. It's power, and he's turned on by power. Violence is a means to that end, so to concur with you and darker_she_said, images that result in his establishment as the authority figure would turn him on.

And I *so* have to read your one-shot about Jonny. I may even have to break from "Shadow Selves", to satisfy my perverted curiosity.

[lauralot]

By all means, take a break to sate your curiosity. I should let you know, though: somehow, in a fic entirely about masturbation, I never managed to include a masturbation scene.

Glad to know I'm not the only one turned off by that Sprite ad campaign. It's like the Burger King; who on Earth does that endear toward the product?

You're a braver woman than I could ever be. If I'd seen such a spider, I'd have either run for my life and not stopped until I'd worn the soles out of my shoes, or gone and cowered in a fetal position behind the snake cages. (I love snakes.) I understand the sentiment, though; the more frightening something is, the more awe it inspires. I'd make some sort of clever analogy or reference here, but all I can think of is Oz the Great and Terrible.

[4ofspades]

Grrrrrrrrrrr... I had actually *planned* to spend all weekend reading and writing. I had scheduled this weekend to put up the next chapter in NPwaFD, and to read more in "Shadow Selves" and this awesome-sounding slash fic.

Not so fast, Charlie Brown.

My presence is requested (unofficially required) out of state tomorrow and Sunday, which throws my entire schedule off. Since i have no laptop, I can't even log in on the road. Crap. I want to read your story!

[lauralot]

You know, the thing I worry most about when I graduate college isn't whether I'll find a job, or if I'll enjoy my job. It's how much whatever job I take will cut into my writing/fic reading time. I think my priorities may be disturbed.

Anyway, that sucks. There's little I hate more than having a schedule interrupted (even if my "schedule" was doing nothing at all; I'm weird in that I'll be annoyed somewhat even if someone suggests we do something I'd like to do, just because I didn't plan on it). I'm sending you an internet hug, because I'm too poor to send a laptop.

[4ofspades]

You and I are two peas in a pod on the issue of scheduling. My private time is like gold to me, and I like to have it to do exactly what I please... even if it's 8 hours straight of internet time.

I plan to have this time to myself, and it drives me up the wall when it's interrupted. When people ask me to justify why I'm "busy", as I tell them, they roll their eyes if I don't give them actual "appointments", like having dinner with someone or going out. I don't like having that time taken away from me.

Like tonight... I got home at 10:00pm, because I went out with a friend who's also a colleague. She's a rare exception, because I genuinely like hanging out with her, but even if it's a work-related dinner for vendors in an expensive, swanky restaurant that I don't even have to pay for, I still pine for my "me" time at home, when I could be writing.

I appreciate the internet hug. :) Here's one right back atcha. And now I have to go to bed, because I get to do this all over again tomorrow. Stay out of the rat race, at all costs. It's like trying to extract yourself form the Mafia, once you're in.

[lauralot]

I wonder if that "I could be at home not doing anything in particular" feeling is a trait that creative people share. It's just a theory, but it seems that the more time a person spends writing/drawing/other artistic expression, the more time they'd probably want alone with their own thoughts to generate ideas.

[4ofspades]

I think you're on to something there. Heck, that sounds like a good theory, so I'll buy it. Now you have to register this theory and give it an official name.

And now I really *am* going to bed. But before I do, check out this link. After I can reply to more great replies on my last LJ journal entry (Jeez, this site is turning into crack for me), I have to post this picture on my journal.

Maybe you've already seen it. Talk about a testament to a fantastic actor's dedication to a role. Behold, the adorable baby-face of the man behind the scars... The Joker (as in Blogs):

The Man Behind The Blogs

I want to pinch his cheeks, give him a cookie and big hug.

[lauralot]

I spent about five full minutes of that episode squealing when I realized the Joker actor was also playing Thomas Elliot.

I had no idea his hair was a wig. It was a really nice one.

[4ofspades]

Dumb question, here... who's Thomas Elliot? Excuse my idiocy.

[lauralot]

A character from the comics. Don't feel bad for not knowing who he is; I know people who read the Batman comics and haven't heard of him either. He's rich, and was Bruce Wayne's best friend when they were kids. And then he grew up to be a supervillain, because it's Gotham City and everyone's crazy there.

[4ofspades]

Oh, okay! The cute doctor talking to Dr. Strange in the video. Now I'm going to have to watch it again. Thank you for the elucidation.

Off to work I go. There's a chance that I find out today whether I need to start looking for another job, thanks to a major company shake up. Joy.

[lauralot]

Oh God, that's awful. I hope everything works out for you.