This paper will approach the film, Fight Club through a feminists approach in order to uncover the film’s assessment of contemporary masculinity. In addition, this paper will identify how capitalism and the rise of consumerism has challenged the notion of traditional manhood and propelled the ‘contemporary man’ to either become effeminized or challenge these oppressive values in an attempt to re-conquer a space and activity that is purely masculine. Thus, the exclusion of women and the development of a fight culture, known as Fight Club. Fight Club explores the complication of gender roles and expectations as a result of the rise of capitalism propelling all citizens to consume. The juxtaposition between traditional men and the ‘modern’ or
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Prior to WW11, men were considered and expected to be the breadwinner. Fight Club illustrates a modern society with the restoration of the ‘primitive man’, and suggest that consumer based societies oppress men’s nature. Tyler Durden embodies the concept of the ‘primitive man’ he lives within society and sustains him with the most basic of human essentials, including, water, shelter, sex and fighting. For example, when Tyler calls Jack the “IKEA man” he is suggesting that Jack has lost himself in the overwhelming and self-defining nature of consumerism. In the beginning of the film, Jack refers to how he had it all, he identified that each item he personally choose from the IKEA catalogue represented himself, his individuality, which in effect becomes his social identity. Ironically, Jack, like many others has allowed consumerism to define him. Traditionally, shopping has been perceived as a woman domain, decorating the house now consumes both men and women, and is a social expectation of the ‘contemporary man’. Furthermore, Tyler’s reference to the “IKEA man” argues that men are now isolated in modern society. Men no longer have access to socially acceptable outlets, like Fight Club that sanction men the freedom to tap into their primitive …show more content…
to define men, and this notion can be applied to both genders. For instance, when Tyler asks what is a duvet and Jack responds, it’s a comforter and Tyler’s says, “no it’s not it’s a fucking blanket”. This scene suggests that humans, but specifically the ‘contemporary man’ has allowed these unnecessary distinctions between a duvet, comforter, etc. to consume too much of our lives, Tyler suggests these differentiations to be nonsensical and socio-economically motivated. The paradox between the social, political and economic expectations of the society we live in (that being the 21st century) and our innate desires, Fight Club proposes that capitalism has suppressed masculinity and mens primitive impulses are threatened by this society as men fad into the consumerist culture. For example, we often do not build our own houses; we have been removed from the processes of manufacturing and most specific the craft of a product. Rather, we buy houses, we buy cars, we buy our food at the grocery store, we even pay people to shovel our driveways or mow our lawns, etc. Tyler’s references to “the squandering of potential”, insinuates that the men that join Fight Club are the “strongest and smartest men” that have ever lived because they challenge the oppressive social and economic processes in society. These assertions about modern society are highly provocative because the members of Fight Club
Prior to WW11, men were considered and expected to be the breadwinner. Fight Club illustrates a modern society with the restoration of the ‘primitive man’, and suggest that consumer based societies oppress men’s nature. Tyler Durden embodies the concept of the ‘primitive man’ he lives within society and sustains him with the most basic of human essentials, including, water, shelter, sex and fighting. For example, when Tyler calls Jack the “IKEA man” he is suggesting that Jack has lost himself in the overwhelming and self-defining nature of consumerism. In the beginning of the film, Jack refers to how he had it all, he identified that each item he personally choose from the IKEA catalogue represented himself, his individuality, which in effect becomes his social identity. Ironically, Jack, like many others has allowed consumerism to define him. Traditionally, shopping has been perceived as a woman domain, decorating the house now consumes both men and women, and is a social expectation of the ‘contemporary man’. Furthermore, Tyler’s reference to the “IKEA man” argues that men are now isolated in modern society. Men no longer have access to socially acceptable outlets, like Fight Club that sanction men the freedom to tap into their primitive …show more content…
to define men, and this notion can be applied to both genders. For instance, when Tyler asks what is a duvet and Jack responds, it’s a comforter and Tyler’s says, “no it’s not it’s a fucking blanket”. This scene suggests that humans, but specifically the ‘contemporary man’ has allowed these unnecessary distinctions between a duvet, comforter, etc. to consume too much of our lives, Tyler suggests these differentiations to be nonsensical and socio-economically motivated. The paradox between the social, political and economic expectations of the society we live in (that being the 21st century) and our innate desires, Fight Club proposes that capitalism has suppressed masculinity and mens primitive impulses are threatened by this society as men fad into the consumerist culture. For example, we often do not build our own houses; we have been removed from the processes of manufacturing and most specific the craft of a product. Rather, we buy houses, we buy cars, we buy our food at the grocery store, we even pay people to shovel our driveways or mow our lawns, etc. Tyler’s references to “the squandering of potential”, insinuates that the men that join Fight Club are the “strongest and smartest men” that have ever lived because they challenge the oppressive social and economic processes in society. These assertions about modern society are highly provocative because the members of Fight Club