“That the body affects the mind is, it’s fair to say, incontestable.”
— Amy Cuddy

Why is Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker so unnerving?

To answer that, we need to talk about superhero movies, which I love. Yes, even now — after two decades of having them crammed down our throats. For me, watching a character launch into the sky or shoot lasers out of their eyes will never get old.

What makes this genre so likable for many (and dislikable for others) is the tropes they follow.

A hero always has heroic traits....