Why So Serious?

I always thought I was Batman growing up — until I realized that society typecast me as the Joker before I was born

Photo: Getty Images

Growing up I never knew that my Korean American identity was missing from This American Life. Sure, my family didn’t always eat apple pie with vanilla ice cream or play baseball. But I was proud to be American each time I recited the pledge of allegiance with my classmates in the morning. At recess, I would always choose to play as the hero and never as the villain.

I played Superman with invincible powers and saved the world; or played Batman instead of Joker.

Now as an adult I understand and identify with Joker instead of Batman.

There is the iconic moment in The Dark Knight when the Joker asks Batman: “Why so serious?”

This is really a meta question. Because Batman was a billionaire playboy who lived a life of privilege and chose to play as a vigilante. Yes, his parents were murdered but his trauma wasn’t “special” or “unique” compared to all the other pain and suffering out in the world.

If anyone, Joker had more of a right to be serious when you consider his life of crushing poverty, constant public ridicule, and trauma as he cared for his dying mother. Batman’s trauma was one moment. Joker’s…