Fight Club: A philosophical analysis

Alter ego, consumerism, identity, anarchy, masculinity, order and chaos.

By DM

Source: blastingnews

Based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel of the same name, a film that was initially a commercial failure is now widely considered a cult classic and a philosophical marvel. Fight Club is one of the most important films of its generation and one of Fincher’s best. This thought-provoking masterpiece scratches the surface of various philosophical concepts and makes its audience think.

It is still as relevant as ever, perhaps even more so than before. Emasculation, Consumerism, beauty standards, identity, chaos vs order — these philosophical concepts are perhaps even more topical today than they’ve ever been.

Philosophically radical, this is a film that condemns the society of consumerism. As Edward Norton’s character says: “It’s just, when you buy furniture, you tell yourself, that’s it.

That’s the last sofa I’m gonna need. Whatever else happens, I’ve got that sofa problem handled.”

Fight Club also takes a critical look at beauty standards for men and women both and at advertisements that are served to us through mass media. Identity and alter-ego are philosophical concepts on which Fight Club is based on. Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt’s character) is what the narrator (Edward Norton’s character) wants to be.

The ideal alpha male. A leader of men. Tyler Durden gradually appears throughout the movie, emerging from the narrator’s subconscious and almost destroying him in the process.

Order vs chaos

Order, anarchy and chaos are perhaps the most prominent theme of Fight Club. At one point, Tyler Durden says: “It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.” Although primarily a critique of consumerism, this is a rejection of order and an acceptance of chaos.

When the underground fight club evolves into Project Mayhem and starts pouring into the outside world, members of it begin to dismantle every societal concept, causing controlled, deliberate and channeled chaos. Installing anarchy and rejecting every societal norm that had turned them into slaves. This is how they attempt to set themselves free, but the main protagonist loses himself in the chaos, initially merging with his alter-ego and then rejecting it.

In today’s America, where controlled chaos is caused by the media and fed to the panicked public, Fight Club resembles a warped house of mirrors in which the reflection of today’s America is seen.