FILM
How Identity is Constructed In
47
Emily takes a look at the two identities that define the 1999 cult-classic.
Despite premiering in 1999, David Fincher’s Fight Club is arguably more relevant today than it has ever been.
“Durden evokes the early Starring Brad Pitt and Edward Nor“hunterton, the film tells the story of the unnamed Narrator (Norton) who is gatherer” dissatisfied with his white-collar job figure which is and monotonous lifestyle. As a result, still an he resorts to using support groups in a bid to find some emotional release. archetype some After a year, however, it is still not deem to be the enough. This leads to the formation ultimate image of an underground fight club with Tyler Durden (Pitt), a charming soap of masculinity” salesman the Narrator first encounters on a plane.
Stop reading now if you do not want the film’s ending to be spoilt.
This love of commodities is a big part of modern identity construction whether we intend it to be or not. Following the latest fashion in clothes, home décor and food is so effortless that we can pick up and lose trends more easily than ever before. It becomes easy to lose yourself in it, meaning it becomes easier for it to define who you are. This leaves the questions: do you truly like something or are you going with it for the sake of looking good to others? Does owning the latest clothes or furniture actually make you happy? Fincher and Palahniuk (authors of the source novel) seemingly give us the answer as the Narrator’s attempt to fill his emotional void with such is unsuccessful. Consumerist culture, at least as it’s presented in the film, is empty.
Narrator and Durden are the same Durden’s identity, on the other hand, is person. Two personalities. One the opposite. He only needs the bare body. In the film’s first chapter, minimum to be happy, as demonstrated the Narrator’s half of this split by his preference to live in a rundown persona reflects on how deeply house rather than the nice, IKEAentrenched he has become in furnished condo. Durden evokes the mainstream society’s early “hunter-gatherer” figure which materialistic lifestyle. He is still an archetype some deem to continuously flicks through be the ultimate image of catalogue after masculinity. An archetype that catalogue going so far Norton’s character evidently as to contemplate yearns to be, as demonstrated the kind of dining “This love of commodities is a by Durden’s creation. set that defines him as a person. big part of modern identity Here, Fight Club comments In other words: construction whether we intend it on the struggle of forming what “should” to be or not” a strong identity in a world complete him. where humanity fauns over commodities but loses themselves in the process.
Emily Wong Graphic & Page Design by Chiara Crompton
