Fight Club is a 1999 film directed by David Fincher that explores themes of isolation, masculinity in crisis, consumerism, and identity. The film had a budget in the range of a blockbuster and received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its themes and style while others criticized its extreme violence and ideology. Key elements include Edward Norton as the unnamed narrator, the film's genre-bending style, and its commentary on social and cultural issues of the late 20th century.

1. Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999)
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=J8FRBYOFu2w
Target audience ?
Genre?
Budget? (Blockbuster or
Independent?
Opening weekend? Did it do
well? Why? Why not?

2. 1. star/performer
2. Genre
3. auteur (in its broadest sense)
4. social, political and cultural
studies
5. gender issues
6. ethnicity
7. institution
8. technology
The critical frameworks

3. Key themes
• Isolation
• Gender/ masculinity in crisis/ emasculation/
homo- eroticism
• Consumerism/ consumerist culture
• Identity- projected, idealised self.
• Cult (gets too big)
• Absent fathers
• Violence

4. Opening sequence
Watch the opening sequence of Fight Club. How
many examples can find of some of the key
themes?

5. Critical study: Fight Club
“…Is a virus. It’s not a film you can just watch,
it’s a contagious set of ideas sheathed in blacker
than black comedy, a set of extremes that you
will love or you will hate. And, either way it will
make you feel something.” (p144, Swallow)

6. The critical community were for and
against.
http://www.film4.com/special-
features/interviews/fight-club-interviews
Research and print off both positive and
negative reviews of Fight Club.
On a piece of paper note down a few quotes/
phrases made about the film.

7. Homework- David Fincher: auteur
Who is David Fincher? Research other films
Fincher has directed.
Does he have common themes within his films?