Fight Club (1999)

This is another film I analyze in Film Studies...

Starred by the charming, young (at that time la!!!) Brad Pitt the movie is called FIGHT CLUB!

I want to personally thank Alvin, and Chris who gave me resources that allow me to complete this analysis. Personally I think I wouldnt had completely finished this analysis without their assistant. Thanks guys!

.....Well.. this time I try to link this film to the concept of Film and Ideology which elements like ethnicity, politic, social class and gender are discussed. So feel free to read and give comment on this film. I also suggest that u guys watch this great~ movie... Enjoy..~!

Fight Club DVD version 1999

In the past century, many has witness the world of tragic wars and mega-deaths either from documented film, books or other relevant sources. The further we understand the fundamentals of these events we will come across with the reason of this wars occurring. The different ideology between a society and another society was identified as one of the factors. Every society perceives a different ideas and perspective on a given subject. For instance, American view democracy as a system of freedom and rights where else the Cuban’s will see democracy as a system that leads to corruption and poverty. Ideologies can be spread in various methods and one of the ways is in film. Ideologies can be defined as a “system of social or political beliefs characteristic of a society or social community; ideological film theory examines the ways in which films represent and express various ideologies"(Prince S. 2006). It’s an idea of one’s idea seeing things according to one person definition. Ideologies in film are usually used as a tool of propaganda or to brainwash people into believing and thinking from the perspective of an ideologist. For example, Director Leni Riefenstahl, was requested to produce a Nazi propaganda film, Olympia and Triumph of Will” (Yahya H., 2003 pp74). Thus people who are influenced by films without thinking truly will be influence by the ideology. In analyzing the film Fight Club (1999), directed by David Fincher, issues that are commonly addressed are politics, class, gender and ethnicity.

Male Masculinity. . . muscle's and blood combined!

One of the obvious ideological in Fight Club (1999) issues of gender in particularly, male masculinity. The main cast, Brad Pitt who acted as Tyler Durden was the symbol of masculinity. The way that Brad Pitt portrayed his masculinity by his attractive physical anatomy plus a looks that is an ideal, perfect male that is wanted by most females. As we observed in the film, the extreme fight scenes and the constant use of the black leather jacket added his masculinity. The personality of a person also appeals their masculinity not just the physical body. “Men are expected to be strong, aggressive, tall, handsome, bold, courageous, rough, tough, emotionless, insensitive, fearless and practical”(Unesco, 2006). Bob which in the beginning of the movie shows his lack of masculinity where he always cries in the group meetings. He found his true masculinity by the numerous fighting in fight club however he’s died later in the story. Edward Norton the other lead actor who had brilliantly acted, so called the narrator, was also in the beginning of the film shows his lack of masculinity. He was the working executive who lives in the modern civilization which his life is all about work have made him fear of many aspects of life. He soon later found his true masculinity when he started fight club. One of the scenes was while he was driving hands free in the car with 3 other character. In another scene, the narrator pulled the trigger of the gun in his mouth instantly injuring him. These scenes had portrayed how high his braveness level. Narrator and Bob would eventually “discover a more "natural" path of self-discovery by venturing into something hidden beneath civilization: the savagistic and natural simplicity of poverty and primal-fighting-warrior men”( Halnon K. 2002). In a further analyzing of this film, the ideology of feminism is also included but its limited. Marla Singer was the female character in the film where she portrayed by having sexual relationship with Tyler and the narrator shows that both male accept the female by portraying love and affection. However, she was later being ignored because of her potential threat to the organization. Thus we can see how the ideology of gender in the film is portrayed which is mainly dominated by the male masculinity.

Marla Singer- Gender,Feminism and Sexual Discrimination..

The ideological issue of ethnicity was portrayed in a few scenes of this movie didn’t resembles equality. The use of the term ethnicity and not race here is because of the abuse that the word had brought to our world. Racism is defined as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial difference produce an inherent superiority of a particular race” (Merriam Webster Online, 2008). In this world there is only one race that is the human race but we are separated by ethnic. In Fight Club (1999), the scene which Tyler was attempting to shoot the Asian shopkeeper named Raymond shows ethnicity issue. It is not about Tyler attempt to kill Raymond because he was an Asian but he is demonstrating to the narrator of what level is the Asian people in the society. The failure of Raymond to become a veterinarian had made him a shopkeeper illustrates Asian people as unsuccessful. Often in other films we will see that the Asians will be class as a shopkeeper of a sundry store or the laundry. In analyzing Fight Club (1999), the issue of ethnicity not clearly portrayed because in fight club the theme was “equality”. The only African American character in the movie which is not sufficient to say fight club is equal. “Blaxploitation films like Shaft or Superfly can be read as signs of resistance to black subservience to whites and as a reaction against black stereotypes in Hollywood films”(Kellner 1987 pp.8). In another film, 25th hour, a movie of ethnicity, acted by Edward Norton, portrays more ethnicity issue when he was saying evil things to the New Yorkers consist of the Italians, Asians, African-American etc. Films like 16 Blocks, acted by Bruce Willis displays a ethnicity issues of the American demonize African-American. Hence, the equality that is portrayed in Fight Club (1999) is doubt compared to the other movie. Additional characters from different ethnic should be placed in this film.

Brad Pitt- American-Hollywood Super Star

The third ideological issue is the political class aspect of the movie Fight Club (1999) portrays. The political ideologies portrayed are the communism and the “evil” capitalism. Communism is defines as a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production” (Merriam Webster, 2008). The ideology of Communism promotes equality among all citizens as this film portrayed. Each character in this film was treated equal where they were amounted to the same amount of jobs in running the organization. The film showed equality at an extreme point in the scenes of ‘Project Mayhem’. One of the scenes, when Tyler was speaking thru the megaphone quoted; “Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake; you're the same decaying organic matter as everything else” (IMDB, 2008). The narrator was an example of what capitalism has made him, a man who greed’s for a fancy lifestyle however he was described as” an exhausted and numb narcoleptic/insomniac suffering from the failed promise of self-fulfillment in a brand name, corporate-driven consumer society” (Halnon K. 2002). Tyler was an example of communism that believes the corruption of the system and the inequality in society. Tyler’s plan in project Mayhem was to pull down all the credit companies who are oppressing the society with high interest. The Starbucks was associated to capitalism, due to their company exploiting consumer thru caffeine addiction. Films such as “There Will Be Blood, the latest from director Paul Thomas Anderson and adapted from Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel, Oil, concerns the rise and descent of ruthless oil baron, Daniel Plainview”(Ray E. 2008). This films show similar form of political ideology of machinations of American capitalism based on the rise and descent of ruthless oil baron. In relation to Fight Club (1999) in a scene where the narrator had shoot himself showing that he killed Tyler that was in him. The significance of this scene sends a message to us that Capitalism has overruled Communism. Films that are tailored associates with political ideology especially Hollywood films, illustrate the idea of other ideology as ruthless, pointless, violent compared to the democracy. This is absolutely a true fact that democracy works better in our society thus such reminders are important to the audience not to be influence by individuals political agenda.

The issue of sexuality is an ideology is used for many films. The sexuality presented in the twentieth century by mainstreams Hollywood is concerned with heterosexuality and homosexuality. Heterosexuality is defined as “of, relating to or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward the opposite sex” (Merriam Webster Onlinem, 2008). In Fight Club (1999), Tyler Dunden sexual appeals are focused on his sexual drives. In the scenes of Tyler and Marla Singer having sexual intercourse, the loud moaning sounds from Marla plus the extreme shake of the walls portrays heterosexuality. The element of homosexuality in Fight Club 1999 is portrayed by the character Bob in the early scenes due to appearance of having female breast and the tears. In the American society for a long time heterosexuality was normal compared to homosexuality that was viewed of weak male in the society. Queer Theory in 1970 then change this perception, by the development on Gay & lesbian studies and feminist theory. After these years then only queer appearance in films are accepted. Sexuality aspects in Hollywood film are made due to several reasons. The absence of sexual elements will make a film unrealistic and boring thus results in poor ticket sales. However, in other society which try to prevent sexual scenes being projected to the audience due to religious or cultural reasons. In Malaysia for instance, films that have a sexual scene are deleted by the Malaysian National Film Development Association (FINAS). Other countries such as South Korea apply film censorship from 1987 to 1992. This according to Park S. (2002) research, it’s to be said that films in Korea must be made or viewed with the absence element of sexual contents which will benefit the morale of the society. Many Hollywood films portray sexual ideology, for instance films like Body Shots, Miami Vice and American Pie.

Finally, the ideology of national identity also a common element in films. The use of explicit language and violence are always portray in American films. In Fight Club (1999), scenes of brutal fights and conversation use explicit language and violence. Films is also associate to a society’s culture thus this elements of violence and explicit language is associated to the American National Identity. If we observe Indian Bollywood films, often related to the love and affection in many of their scenes thus these element reflects to their culture.

In conclusion, the ideologies of gender, sexuality, politics, class, and ethnicity are exist in films. The film Fight Club (1999) has succesfully illustrate the elements of all these ideology. Ideology is a principles or a movement of society and as individuals who wants to follow certain ideologies must be aware of the positive and negative aspects. Ideology can be a good as ideology can be evil depending on the implementations taken. Film that potray ideologies suggest a message maybe exploit because message that are received varies from an individual to the other.




Hope U guys enjoy this film and happy watching.. As clearly explained above we can see that films are more than just a running pictures on the silver screen but the message and hidden ideologies that are potrayed.

Peace~!

Azu™