1
2
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
Yarka village Brotherhood High school
Submitted by :
-Samer Bebar
ID:327638581
Submitted to : Mr.Haj
Table of content
Introduction…………3
Background ………….4
Analysis………5
Characters I admire and why ………6
Conclusion ……7
The author….. 8-9
Reflection 10
Reviews and critiques and reflection 11
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
3
Introduction
Fight Club, directed by David Fincher and based
on Chuck Palahniuk's novel of the same name, is a
film that explores the minds of modern men and
the cultural pressures imposed on them. The story
follows the narrator, an unidentified guy suffering
from sleeplessness and unhappiness with his life,
as he becomes involved in an underground fight
club and, later, a terrorist group. The film conveys
a compelling message about the perils of social
expectations and the necessity for men to break
free from them through its investigation of
masculinity and consumerism.
==
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
4
Background
- Fight Club came out in 1999, just as conventional standards
of masculinity were changing. Men were expected to be
successful in their occupations and financially stable, but
they were also expected to be emotionally aware and
sensitive to the needs of others. This expectation, known as
"metrosexuality," put a lot of pressure on males to look a
specific way. This pressure, as well as the discontent and
emptiness that can arise from attempting to live up to society
standards, is addressed in Fight Club.
\
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
5
Analysis
The film's protagonist, the “narrator”, is a typical example of a man
struggling to conform to societal expectations. He is a white-collar
worker with a good job, a nice apartment, and a collection of
consumer goods, but he is unhappy and unfulfilled. Through his
involvement in the fight club and later, the terrorist organization, he is
able to break free from these expectations and find a sense of
purpose and identity. The fight club, as well as the terrorist
organization, serves as a metaphor for the need for men to break free
from societal expectations and find their own path.
The film also critiques consumerism and the way it is used to fill the
void left by a lack of purpose and identity. The narrator's apartment is
filled with consumer goods, but they do not bring him happiness. It's
only through the destruction of these material possessions that the
narrator is able to find true freedom.
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
6
A Character that I admire
Tyler Durden (played by the actor Brad Pitt), is a fictional character
and the narrator's alter ego in the novel and film Fight Club, written
by Chuck Palahniuk and directed by David Fincher, respectively. He is
portrayed by Brad Pitt in the film. Tyler is a charismatic and mysterious
figure who begins as the narrator's imaginary friend, but eventually
becomes the leader of a secret society of men who engage in bareknuckle fighting as a form of therapy. He is also the leader of a
terrorist organization, and his ultimate goal is to destroy modern
civilization and create a new one. He represents the id, the primal and
instinctual part of human nature. He is also the embodiment of the
narrator's desire for freedom, power, and rebellion against the
constraints of society.
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
7
Conclusion
Fight Club is a powerful critique of modern masculinity and societal
expectations. It illustrates the dangers of conforming to societal
expectations, the emptiness of consumerism, and the need for men to
break free from these pressures in order to find a sense of purpose
and identity. It's a film that continues to resonate with audiences
today, as the pressures on men to conform to societal expectations
remain just as strong as ever.
Note: A sum of people believe that Fight Club is controversial and
others disagree with the message it sends.
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a29463962/fight-club-bad-20thanniversary-analysis-essay/
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
8
Quotes
“The lower you fall, the higher you’ll fly”.
It is my favorite quote for one reason, nowadays, people consider
every downfall or a low point is an end also known as “facing a wall” ,
but if we glance at the positive perspective, it teaches us a
lesson about life, which every setback has a great
comeback.
“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do
anything” .
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
9
David Palahniuk
Chuck Palahniuk was born in Pasco, Washington, on February 21,
1962. He spent much of his childhood in a mobile house near
Burbank, Washington. Following their parents' divorce, Palahniuk and
his siblings were transported to live with their maternal grandparents
on a cattle ranch in Eastern Washington State, but they were not the
only ones. A separate lady, whose ex-boyfriend murdered the duo,
began a relationship with Palahniuk's father. The cancer that took
Palahniuk's mother's life.
In his twenties, Palahniuk attended the University of Oregon's School
of Journalism and graduated in 1986. During his college years,
Palahniuk volunteered at Eugene's KLCC, a member of National Public
Radio. After graduating, Palahniuk moved to Portland, Oregon, and
began working as a writer for regional newspapers. He gave up
journalism and went to work as a diesel mechanic for Freightliner,
where he stayed until his literary career took off. He didn't return to
journalism until he'd made a name for himself as a successful book.
While battling for years, Palahniuk also volunteered at a shelter and
hospice, where he formed a profound relationship with a patient who
subsequently died. which was his sick buddy.
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
10
At writer's workshops run by Tom Spanbauer, who served as
inspiration for Palahniuk's straightforward writing style, in his thirties,
Palahniuk started writing fiction. His early writings were largely
rejected for publication due to their frightening subject. But in 1995,
Palahniuk was able to publish one of his short tales in a collection. The
narrative later served as inspiration for Palahniuk's best-known book,
Fight Club. Finding a publisher for the short tale was challenging, but
it was easy to turn it into a novel. In 1996, Fight Club was accepted
and published. In 1997, Palahniuk received the Oregon Book Award
for Best Novel and the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association
Award for his outstanding writing in Fight Club.
The popularity of Fight Club caught the attention of Twentieth
Century Fox producers, who were interested in turning the book into a
movie. Palahniuk hired Edward Hibbert as a literary agent after being
approached with the offer, and Hibbert assisted Palahniuk in
negotiating a deal with Twentieth Century Fox. The motion picture
Fight Club was released in 1999. The movie gained notoriety and a
cult following despite its failure to perform well at the box office.
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
11
Reflection
After watching Fight Club again, I was impressed by the film's powerful
commentary on modern masculinity and societal expectations. The protagonist's
journey of breaking free from societal pressures and consumerism to find his
own path was well depicted. The direction, cinematography, and performances
were also noteworthy. Overall, it's a thought-provoking film that encourages
individuals to break free from societal expectations.
Also, I enjoyed creating this masterpiece of a project due to the enjoyment I
had while writing it coupled with studying this movie after 5 times of watching
for enjoyment with my buddies. Analyzing and writing about it, deciding who I
will choose as my favorite character.
Day one, I analyzed the film by watching it numerus times and tried to sum up
most of the stuff in 8-9 pages, this film has a lot of plots due to the different
point of view, which in my perspective, I see that it critiques modern masculinity
and if were there a new movie which has the same plot it would be canceled
nowadays.
Day two. I styled it (graphics and coloring) plus, added some facts about Chuck
Palahniuk, and finally reviews from rotten tomatoes
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
12
Reviews
Critiques:
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity
13
Bibliography
The film -
‫مشاهدة فيلم‬
Fight Club 1999 ‫ مترجم‬HD (egy-best.net)
About Tyler Durden- Tyler Durden Character Analysis in Fight Club | LitCharts
Chuck Palahniuk - https://www.famousauthors.org/chuck-palahniuk
Reviews - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fight_club
Fight Club: A Critique of Modern Masculinity