Monday, 23 April 2012

Case Studies: Fight Club

Fight Club (1999)


DIRECTOR: David Finch

CAST: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter

GENRE: Drama

RELEASE DATES: 
USA - 15th October 1999
UK - 12th November 1999

BUDGET: (est) $63,000,000

OPENING WEEKEND TAKINGS:
USA - $11,000,000
UK - £1,100,000

GROSS PEOFIT:
(ww) $71,000,000

PRODUCTION COMPANIES:
Fox 2000 Pictures,
Regency Enterprises,
Linson Films

-Tyler Durden- hegemonic masc, obsessed with power, dominating, fighting, macho values.

-Narrator- marginalised masc, disconnected from his life.

-Bob- shows elements of subordinate masc & therefore is killed off.

Fight Club portrays an idea of the ideal masculinity being hegemonic. Males who are traditional, value strength, are dominant, powerful & have the ability to fight and protect themselves are seen as accepted in society. Bob is unacceptable and represents a lack of masculine features. Arguably he also carries some feminine characteristics which are feared by the other male characteristics and therefore he is killed off. 'Angelface' also must be punished as he is 'too pretty', angelic looking and almost feminine.

  • The Narrator - arguably has no identity, blends in
  • insomniac, yellow filter on beginning scenes lends a sickly tone, an illness; he is numb and doesn't feel/let go until he goes to the support groups and later starts the Fight Club - he fights to feel, to escape the monotony (he is a male in crisis). 
  • he consumes to build an identity, or to feel/create something (IKEA catalogue scene). 




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