Fight Club, a psychoanalysis. (Movie, not the book... spoilers of course) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Halx · 11-17-2003, 10:40 PM

Ok, so like.. it was 4:30pm today and I had a 2-page paper due at 7:00pm. Allow 30 minutes for driving time and that means I had 2 hours to get this paper done. I didn't even know what to write about. It was for psych class... so it had to outline some aspect of psychology. So I got the idea of psychoanalyzing the Narrator/Tyler Durden from Fight Club.

Here is my attempt, with obvious procrastination written all over it.

Quote:

In Tyler We Trust
By Andrew Gonsalves

Fight Club was the movie of the century for my friends and I. Conservative anti-hollywood hipsters stayed well away from it while we gritty teenagers with our minds open for anything jumped at our chance to see this feature whose premise, which nobody without any prior knowledge of the novel it was based on could wholly interpret from the previews alone, was wide open with possibilities. That night in October of 1999, we were treated to one of the most awesome displays of psychological unrest and complexity that our generation has ever seen. Sure, it was all fictitious, but to this day, we still ask, “Who is Tyler Durden?”

When analyzing the main character of Fight Club, the narrator, there are so many conditions to throw into the mix. He suffers from insomnia. He leads a very boring, generic, materialistic, drone-like life. He finds relief in the arms of strangers who suffer from more serious health conditions than his, and that is how he eases his stress. Through further complications of his unstable psyche, the narrator begins to lash out at the society that lied to him about everything. He dives into a pre-realized midlife crisis, acted out through his split personality. Over time, his personalities bleed into each other, one influencing the other to change, until they become the same person. I suspect that a normal psychologist would have a field day with this guy. I’ll take a crack at it.

Dissociative Identity Disorder is the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states (each with its own relatively enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self). Though Dissociative Identity Disorder normally develops as a result of a traumatic event in childhood, the tension built by the temporary relief of the narrator’s insomnia (the nightly support groups for terminal diseases) and its subsequent destruction (the introduction of Marla Singer) could stand for a fairly competent argument in works of fiction such as this.

The theme in the beginning of the movie accents the severe displeasure the narrator has with his current lifestyle. The complete dependence he has on trendy living appliances and the 9-5 rat race is taking its toll. The stress slowly mounts to the point where he cannot sleep and he is reduced to playing little games with himself to keep interested in the mere act of living. Inevitably, the stress probably triggered the dissociation of his sense of identity, leading to the creation of his wild, interesting and motivated counterpart, Tyler Durden.

Though the narrator appears to be in his early/mid 30’s in the movie, his sharp analysis and disdain for his life’s path outlines what many would consider to be a midlife crisis. In studies by Cornell University, it was found that people in their 30’s tend to externalize their problems; leading up to their 40’s and 50’s where they start to take more responsibility for the issues in their lives, thus the need for dramatic change in one’s own self. It’s easy enough to transplant this disorder into the main character, though. A simple example for this age discrepancy, keeping in mind that this is a work of fiction, is the fact that the author, Chuck Palahniuk, was in his late 30’s while writing Fight Club, and his premise for the story was based off of stories from his friends (likely of similar age).

The resolution of the narrator’s mental issues comes as only a work of fiction can bring it. The narrator first realizes that he has a mental issue, and then works at curing himself. As with most cheap therapy sessions, this does little to help the issue at hand. The final solution for the anomaly that is Tyler Durden is for the narrator to convince himself of his enemy’s demise… by shooting himself, thus shooting Tyler. As author Robert Todd Carroll puts it, “Self-deception is the process or fact of misleading ourselves to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. Self-deception, in short, is a way we justify false beliefs to ourselves.” When you think about it, the narrator’s solution is a bit like putting potpourri in a high-traffic restroom: it doesn’t clean the smell, it just covers it up. Maybe that means we get a sequel.

ARTelevision · 11-17-2003, 10:58 PM

Good stuff.
IMO there should be more psychological analysis in life!

(can't really see the procrastination though. It must be writ in invisible ink).

j03th3j3w · 11-18-2003, 02:49 AM

that is too correct... i love that movie... never gets old... everyone should own that movie...

flamingdog · 11-18-2003, 04:00 AM

that's a paper? it seems awfully short. nice work otherwise though, I love fight club.

tommyboy · 11-18-2003, 08:01 AM

Definatly one of my favorite movies. When I first rented it I had to watch it two nights in a row. It kinda just blew me away. Liked the movie much more than the book which surprised me.

Destrox · 11-18-2003, 12:46 PM

I'm just glad you didnt say MPD and called it the correct name.

For a quick 2 pages, you've completed it nicely.

mb99usa · 11-18-2003, 12:56 PM

Now I need to go watch the movie again. Thanks Hal that was really good.

wilbjammin · 11-18-2003, 01:25 PM

You did a good job with the psychoanalysis... I never thought of it as a psychological movie as much as a philosophical movie before.

As per post-modernist philosophers (Jean Baudrillard and Umberto Eco), this movie addresses symbolic exchange, consumerism, our obsession with the spectacular, fragmented individuality and loss of individualism.

One thing you missed is the connection between Tyler (a la Brad Pitt) and his references to his father. Tyler is a manifestation of Jack's father... who left his mother and went around the country "starting franchises":

Quote:

JACK
Oh, yeah.
(nodding)
I didn't know my dad. Well, I knew
him, till I was six. He went and
married another woman, had more kids.
Every six years or so he'd do it
again -- new city, new family.

TYLER
He was setting up franchises. My
father never went to college, so it
was really important that I go.

JACK
I know that.

I thought that the insight into the pattern established there gave more insight into the movie than every other scene.

Halx · 11-18-2003, 01:32 PM

nice find, jammin, but the paper is all ready turned in

jhericurl21 · 11-18-2003, 02:27 PM

Did anyone expect Tyler and WhatsHisFace to be the same guy? I didnt even give it a thought till end. My English teacher says it was predictable but i still dont believe her

Spartak · 11-18-2003, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jhericurl21
I didnt even give it a thought till end. My English teacher says it was predictable but i still dont believe her

Oh yeah, she is definately lying. I mean you are only given any sort of hints that the Narrator might be Tyler when he checks out all the other "franchises", and two seconds later the broken-necked bartender blows the cover anyway.

Snoogans · 11-18-2003, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spartak
you are only given any sort of hints that the Narrator might be Tyler when he checks out all the other "franchises"

I was actually on to it when Tyler picks up the phone as Marla is trying to commit suicide. If I remember this correctly, the narrator leaves the phone as she says "Have you ever heard a death-rattle before?". Later when we see Tyler pick up the phone noone is there when she says it.

Conclamo Ludus · 11-19-2003, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoogans
I was actually on to it when Tyler picks up the phone as Marla is trying to commit suicide. If I remember this correctly, the narrator leaves the phone as she says "Have you ever heard a death-rattle before?". Later when we see Tyler pick up the phone noone is there when she says it.

For me the idea got planted around the time when Tyler is at the bottom of the stairs, and The Narrator is arguing with Marla. When they both finish each other's sentence "This Conversation Is Over", I started to pick up on the hints, of course I wasn't sure about it and I was still totally blown away later on. Great movie. For those with a home theater, this is one of the greatest DVD's our there. I am still amazed this movie ever got made, and with the production values that it has. For those who love the movie, I highly recommend reading the book and checking out Chuck Pahlanuik's other books as well. If there was one movie that should've won Best Screenplay Adaption that year, this was it as far as I'm concerned. The book reads exactly like the movie. I've never seen such a direct book to film adaptation. The book does have its differences with the film, but Fincher captured the identity of the book perfectly.

"His name is Robert Paulson."

BuddyHawks · 11-19-2003, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Conclamo Ludus
For me the idea got planted around the time when Tyler is at the bottom of the stairs, and The Narrator is arguing with Marla. When they both finish each other's sentence "This Conversation Is Over", I started to pick up on the hints, of course I wasn't sure about it and I was still totally blown away later on. Great movie.

This is the scene that got me thinking, but I still didn't get the whole picture untill they spelled it out for me.
This is a movie you HAVE to watch twice. My second timing seeing it was last week at a midnight showing at a local theater. I noticed much more this time, thus enjoying it more.

Halx, good paper for a last minute whatever ya call it.

"Flash-back humor"

"- My wardrobe was almost complete.
- AH shit, now It's all gone!"
(Thought it was funny how Tyler didn't give a damn

)

Redjake · 11-19-2003, 06:29 PM

Fight Club is one of the best movies ever made, barnone

yellowgowild · 11-19-2003, 07:02 PM

I would love it if someone would tell me the narrators real name. Edward Norton said he knew what it was but wasn't telling anyone. It's not Jack.

Great paper Halx, very impressive for just "an attempt".

wilbjammin · 11-19-2003, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellowgowild
I would love it if someone would tell me the narrators real name. Edward Norton said he knew what it was but wasn't telling anyone. It's not Jack.

I think the choice to not give him a name was very deliberate. It shows his struggle in asserting himself and finding individuation. "Jack" is a general name, an everyman's name, and I think that is the point.

That's my simple non-jargon answer.

Xiangsu · 11-19-2003, 11:30 PM

His name is Tyler Durden, duh. Seriously though, he became Tyler Durden and for all we know he has always been Tyler Durden and just seperated the name from himself. Everyone he knew knew him by Tyler Durden so it would make sense. It was on the plane stubs too and that would require I.D. to purchase right? Sure he could have manipulated it at that point, but its very likely that he was Tyler Durden.

spads · 11-20-2003, 11:24 AM

I saw the movie when it came out, and I liked it, but it didn't talk to me then. I think perhaps I was still too young to appreciate it fully. The book moved me in a way the movie didn't, and couldn't. It spoke to me, it reflected my disdain with hollow consumerist culture and the pointless chase of money for money's sake.

Fight Club really was the first book I ever related to on an intensely personal level, and that even changed my whole outlook on life.

11-17-2003, 10:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Good stuff. IMO there should be more psychological analysis in life! (can't really see the procrastination though. It must be writ in invisible ink). __________________ create evolution

11-18-2003, 12:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Destrox Metal and Rock 4 Life Location: Phoenix	I'm just glad you didnt say MPD and called it the correct name. For a quick 2 pages, you've completed it nicely. __________________ You bore me.... next.

11-18-2003, 12:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
mb99usa Keep on rolling. It only hurts for a little while. Location: wherever I am	Now I need to go watch the movie again. Thanks Hal that was really good. __________________ So, what's your point? It's not an attitude, it's a way of life.

11-18-2003, 01:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Halx Please touch this. Owner/Admin Location: Manhattan	nice find, jammin, but the paper is all ready turned in __________________ You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals]

11-19-2003, 06:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	Fight Club is one of the best movies ever made, barnone __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

11-18-2003, 02:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
j03th3j3w Tilted Location: crazy... would you like to join?	that is too correct... i love that movie... never gets old... everyone should own that movie...

11-18-2003, 04:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
flamingdog Still fighting it.	that's a paper? it seems awfully short. nice work otherwise though, I love fight club.

11-18-2003, 08:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
tommyboy Psycho Location: NH	Definatly one of my favorite movies. When I first rented it I had to watch it two nights in a row. It kinda just blew me away. Liked the movie much more than the book which surprised me.

11-18-2003, 02:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
jhericurl21 Banned	Did anyone expect Tyler and WhatsHisFace to be the same guy? I didnt even give it a thought till end. My English teacher says it was predictable but i still dont believe her

11-19-2003, 07:02 PM	#16 (permalink)
yellowgowild Psycho Location: Tampa	I would love it if someone would tell me the narrators real name. Edward Norton said he knew what it was but wasn't telling anyone. It's not Jack. Great paper Halx, very impressive for just "an attempt".

11-19-2003, 11:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
Xiangsu Addict Location: Illinois	His name is Tyler Durden, duh. Seriously though, he became Tyler Durden and for all we know he has always been Tyler Durden and just seperated the name from himself. Everyone he knew knew him by Tyler Durden so it would make sense. It was on the plane stubs too and that would require I.D. to purchase right? Sure he could have manipulated it at that point, but its very likely that he was Tyler Durden.

11-20-2003, 11:24 AM	#19 (permalink)
spads Insane Location: right here, watching my cock grow smaller	I saw the movie when it came out, and I liked it, but it didn't talk to me then. I think perhaps I was still too young to appreciate it fully. The book moved me in a way the movie didn't, and couldn't. It spoke to me, it reflected my disdain with hollow consumerist culture and the pointless chase of money for money's sake. Fight Club really was the first book I ever related to on an intensely personal level, and that even changed my whole outlook on life. __________________ The intelligent man wins his battles with pointed words. I'm sorry—I meant sticks. Pointed sticks.