Critical TheoriesSchuchardt & McCullough

McCullough outline

•Crisis riddled capitalism dehumanizes the narrator/Jack•The Narrator’s Imagination

McCullough – The significance of characters.

•McCullough suggests that all of the main characters in the film are

parts of the Narrator’s imagination.

•He creates them because he can not find satisfaction or

happiness in his life, so has to create different personalities to

try and fulfill him. •McCullough suggests that Marla is the narrator’s feminine

side. •He also suggests that she is a fragment of his imagination,

like the other characters in the film.

•This can be seen in one scene where Marla walks out into the

Traffic, but is unharmed. Another reference is the bus that Marla

boards, called ‘Direct Bus’. This generic bus is in contrast to the

other brand placements in the film, and has a reference to the

direct Bus in a computer. This links to the idea that Marla is part of

the Narrator memory /imagination.

• The scenes with Marla are his escapism to his ‘feminine’

side.•Tyler represents the masculine side of the Narrator. In

Tyler’s scenes, Tyler dominates over him.

Break down in society•Power of authority – bosses in the film lack this•Consumerism – Obsession with brands and products, i.e. IKEA, Starbucks•Violence becoming the resort to the failed American Dream.

Schuchardt - Outline

•Bob is a maternal figure,

•Tyler is everything that the narrator isn’t

•Taking film at face value about violence is wrong,

•Narrator rejects Love

•Tyler Durden’s character is Ironic

Schuchardt•Bob is a maternal figure for the narrator. After being with Bob, he can sleep like a baby. This is until Tyler comes along •Tyler is everything that the narrator isn’t, but what he wants to be , he iodizes him•Taking film at face value about violence is wrong, Schuchardt argues the themes are of Love care and nurture (see Bob)•Narrator rejects Love, creating Tyler•Tyler Durdne’s character is Ironic as it is being played by Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt being a Hollywood icon; and thus creating the irony of his appearance and the character’s working class register.

Love is the answer

•Schuchardt argues that the narrator feels mothered from Big Bob’s ‘huge breasts’ which is supported by the voiceover “Not even Babies sleep this well”.•He further discusses the neglect of the character ‘Marla’ who he believes is the narrator’s chance of finding happiness.•Schuchardt finally argues that Henry Giroux’s interpretation of the film being morally bankrupt and conveying violence as a representation of masculinity and gender is taking the film at ‘face value’ whereas his interpretation is based on the theory of the narrator being safe with Marla’s presence.

Revision is fun!..kind of

What does McCullough say about Fight Club’s

context? It’s based on “the modern day lifestyle

of the working class society”. It explores “themes of crisis within

America through the failed American Dream”

It conveys “professionals in a crisis-riddled capitalism”

A

B

C

Revision is fun!..kind of

What do both McCullough and Schuchardt both

agree on ? “Fight Club ‘s intentions are overlooked

by the visual violence”. “Marla is a key character who is the

answer to the narrator’s feminine side”. “Tyler represents the masculine side of

the narrator’s personality”

C

B

A

Revision is fun!..kind of

What is Henry Giroux’s argument about Tyler?

“His character implied a ‘false’ indication of the male stereotype”.

“His character was part of the ‘negative’ aspects of the film due to performance”.

“His character was conveyed in a ‘ludicrous’ way”

A

B

C

CORRECT!

INCORRECT!