Fight Club is a movie that has become somewhat of a classic. I never knew that it was actually a book before this class, and it was interesting to learn more about the author behind the book. Fight Club is not one of my favorite movies, but I do like and appreciate it. I enjoy the mix of humor, irony, and violence within the movie, especially its focus on consumerism and the growing feminist movement. For instance, the narrator is obsessed with IKEA, making sure that his apartment looks great because he has been told through different types of advertising that he needs it. His job represents the greed of America, as his job is basically to determine whether a defect is worth recalling or letting people die, depending on the cost. The movie highlights the increases in consuming of Americans, who are never satisfied, no matter how much they spend. Then along comes Tyler Durden, who defies society and helps the narrator delve into his "manly side." He tells the narrator, "It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything," meaning that our obsession with useless objects is a continuous circle that restrains our freedom. Their obsession with fighting demonstrates man's attempt to rediscover what it means to be masculine. Tyler says we are "generation of men raised my women." Fight club is about regaining that primal manlihood that has been lost because men have been oppressed by the feminist movement.
Fight Club also has many Gothic elements, such as the use of setting and doppleganger. Tyler's house can be seen as an old, rundown plantation. His house is trashed, the water doesn't work, and is in a forgotten place where Tyler and the narrator can hit golf balls at houses and no one even knows. The overall movie has a dark mood and the characters are only really alive at night. The use of the doppleganger is Fight Club's largest Gothic element. The narrator's doppleganger is Tyler, who is basically the man the narrator wishes to be and eventually becomes. Tyler is free from consumerism and lives life on the edge, where the narrator is drained from Western society and its consumption obsession. His loss of purpose and manlihood forces him to make drastic changes to be like Tyler and rediscover what being a man is about. Overall, I enjoyed watching Fight Club, as it is a modern representation of Gothic right before the 21st century.
I had never seen fight club before this class, and I found it very interesting. I had always heard that it was very gory, but I didn't realize how complex the plot and the characters were, and how much symbolism was packed into the story. The way the men used the fight club to conquer masculinity issues was very creative. I also thought it was interesting that when the men had a leader to follow they had a dog like obedience and did whatever Tyler wanted, even if it meant compromising their moral structure.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that Fight Club has become a classic amongst movie lovers. I too did not know there was a novel out before this class. After hearing about this I am very tempted to pick up a copy next time I have some free time. In all the great symbolism and gothic elements packed into the story made for an overall great movie.
ReplyDeleteI love this movie, and thought I knew a lot about it, but I too didnt know it was a novel first. I also had never really noticed the different Gothic elements in this movie before taking this class.
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