Gender & Film Analysis - Movie Review Example

Gender Film Analysis Introduction: Masculinity and femininity are the two popular words, frequently seen in newspapers, magazines and other popular media. The individual identity cannot be completed without referring the gender of the person. In film, video games especially the gender based traits are quite common. In movies, literature, video games, cartoon or animated serials also we encounters the specific gender based traits. The women are generally shown as weak, meek, kind and sometimes ‘damsels in distress’. There are certain labels of characteristics for both man and woman. A man is stereotypically a strong person and he is not allowed to exhibit his emotions. In fact showing emotions is very necessary for coming out of any mental trauma. Paul and Freshman argue that the idea of allowing masculinity to include being emotional is important from a health perspective as well. They further put the fact that men die younger and suffer many more debilitating chronic illnesses than women has been linked to stuffing their feelings. (Paul & Freshman p.43)Crying is associated with woman. In case of women, they cannot be brave, confident and fearless; but she has to be shy, meek, and dependent. The society is getting modern, ultra modern, but the stereotypical attitude towards looking at gender has not yet been changed. What outcomes are there if the person stays in this social constraint all the time is shown in many gender based films. Loads of literature has been devoted to feminism in post modern age. The concept of feminism has become so prominent that the men have to suffer a lot to preserve their identity of masculinity and they are bound to follow any path to exhibit the masculinity. It is because they are constantly being threatened by the female dominated culture. Being a paper of gender study, the major issue of gender is critically discussed with the reference of the film noir Fight club. Directed by David Fincher, Fight Club can be defined as a social commentary about consumerist culture and especially the feminization of American Culture. The purpose of this paper is to study gender issues. I had seen this movie before, but at that time my approach was just to watch it as an audience. I chose this film because when the topic gender study was assigned, this film suddenly clicked my mind and I started thinking it from gender perspectives. I strongly felt that this is the perfect film for complete gender studies. Directly and indirectly, from action, behaviour, attitude and symbolism, gender issue is reflected in this film and further it has been portrayed with different shades. As a study, when I watched the movie second time, I was aware about different angles and retrospection of this film. The film is a perfect choice for an analytical study of gender identity. I was attracted towards this film because the topic gender is handled comprehensively, including different aspects of the topic such as sexuality violence, absurdity, and psychological issue. Further the film has many controversial aspects which can be analyzed with all its strengths and drawbacks. Key words: masculinity, femininity, gender identity. When I watched the movie second time, a new aspect came before me and that is masculinity and violence. After watching third time, I caught my attention on sexual perspective of the film. During my research about the film I had many questions in my mind about the film and I carried on my research by finding answers to these questions. Does the film want to glorify violence? Does the film want to convey the message that accepting the existing gender attribute can be the only solution to the mental piece and escape from mental trauma? Does the film connote bisexuality or homosexuality? Based on these questions, I designed my theoretical framework. I found sources and support from previous scholarly literature. When I started finding literature related to this movie, I found that much research has been conducted on the topic by the researchers. Before the actual analysis of the film, I would like to put the storyline of the film in brief. The movie Fight Club is originally based on the book of the same name authored by Chuck Palahniux, directed by David Fincher. It is one of the popular films of 1990s. Violence had much been discussed in American community, during the release of the film. In my analysis the influential character here is Tyler. Though he has no real existence and plays a role of a guy in the imagination of the protagonist, he is responsible for giving solace to the protagonist at the end. He has complete control on the end of the story. He cannot be called the hero of the film but he is a strong supportive character. The story is a first person narrative and the narrator of the film is a man whose name is not mentioned but he has a nickname; Jack. The story contains various themes such as masculinity, gender identity through violence, and sexuality. All these themes are directly associated with the central idea and that is gender. These themes are shown through the story, scenes, actions, behaviour, dialogues and images. It is a typical film noir in its genre as it reflects many characteristics of this genre. The film received both appreciation and criticism. The subject is bold and somewhat weird or absurd on surface level. If one tries to analyse it on surface level, it will receive lot of blame and criticism. This was one of the most controversial films of the 1990s. In the beginning the audience are introduced with the protagonist of the story, a white – collar male worker. Life is a dull and tiresome for him and he is shown as suffering from insomnia. When he visits his doctor for treatment, his doctor advised him to join a support group for men suffering from testicular cancer. When he goes there, he hugged a man and starts crying. He cries a lot and that day he could sleep at night. He becomes much obsessed with the groups until he meets Marla, a bold, fearless and always smoking lady. Her interruption is stressful for Jack and he finds another stress reliever in forms of Tyler. He meets him on his business trip. When he comes back from his business trip, he found that his house apartment is destroyed in an explosion. Tyler invited Jack to stay in his decrepit apartment. He then request Jack to hit him. Thus their first fight starts that further attracts many men and thus all the men around come together and form Fight Club. Marla calls narrator and tells him that she has overdosed the pills and asks for his help but the narrator neglects her and her call is attended by Tyler who helps her, brings her home. Both of them become sexually involved. Under the leadership of Tyler many other fight clubs form in the city. The objectives of these clubs are anti-materialism and anti-corporate movement. The organization for this objective is formed which is called “Project Mayhem”. The narrator tries to shut down the organization. Many incidents take place meanwhile and the shocking thing the audience face is that the narrator and Tyler were the disconnected personalities of the same bodies. From the storyline some I came across some questions. Firstly Jack was shown as a psychological patients and he has lost his sleep. It indicates the abnormality of his character. He lost his sleep because he was undergoing through a strong feelings of insecurity and unknown fear. The causes of his fear and insecurity are revealed step by step in the film. Secondly, why does his doctor not treated him? Instead why did he give him advice to go to see the more pains. It is probably because the solution for his psychological unrest lies in the outside world. He could calm down his inner storm with the support of outside world. Thirdly Why does Marla appear in the support club suddenly? This was the club for the patients with testicle cancer and she is not at all concerned with that disease. It has been kept secret in the film. Fourth question is, why Marla’s arrival made him unrest and insecure? The fifth question is why is he attracted towards Tyler? The answers of all these questions will be the theoretical analysis of our research. Based on these questions the theoretical framework of the paper is carried forward. Theoretical Framework: The fight shown in this film is the fight for identity; an identity for masculinity, which is threatened by the consumerism and femininity in American culture. It is movie that ‘attempts to satirically critic personal dissatisfaction that links to the problem of emasculative capitalism with violent solution.(Lynn M Ta. 2006) While appreciating the portrayal of violence in Fight Club Charles Guignon says that the film’s portrayal of violence, sadism and masochism is attractive, especially to the young male viewers who are film’s primary audience.(Warternberg, 2013) But at the same time it had had a strong impact on the audience that a wrong message was spread in the society. After this film, the idea of forming fight clubs was followed in American society, especially among the youngsters who would fight and post the photos of the fight on internet. In 2006, an unwilling participant from a local high school was injured at a fight club in Arlington, Texas, and the DVD sales of the fight led to the arrest of six teenagers. (Rosenstein, Bruce 2006) Even the dreadful consequences of violence, it is taken very casually. It is an instrument of relieving stress from the mind. Somewhere it has been glorified. Violence according to Giroux is treated as a sport, a crucial component that lets men connect with each other through the overcoming of fear, pain and fatigue (Giroux Henry 2006) Theoretical Framework: Theoretical framework is a general and basic approach for understanding something. There are different interrelated concepts involved. The objective of the paper is to understand different concepts which are associated with the main concept gender. The major concepts of Fight clubs are consumerism, violence, masculinity, existence, identity and sexuality. 1. The theory of violence for regeneration: The impact of powerful feminist movements was great on American culture. The feminism became so powerful and influential that the men want to follow feminist traits. The feminist movements have resulted into improving the status of women in the society. The film intents to throw light on the shifting of gender roles in modern American Society. In such feminist influenced society, men are trying to search for their identity. The consumerism is another factor responsible for the decay of masculinity from the society. This is what the film wants to highlight. They follow the path of violence to prove the lost masculinity. ‘Project Mayhem members blame much of the loss of their masculinity in American consumerism.’ (Kimmel & Aronson p.301) Project Mayhem is an organization founded by Tyler to fight against American consumerism. The film project a weird and uncommon way of representing masculinity. They have fixed in their minds that self improvement is not the answer for ensuring identity but the real answer is self – destruction. The protagonist and the other members of the fight clubs are literally addicted of masculinity and to prove their masculinity they follow the path of violence. They have a strong feeling that they will overcome their feelings of insecure and lost. ‘For protagonist and other men in the exclusively male group, fight club provides temporary relief from lives in which they feel they are powerless. The participants feel that their frustration will vanish if they can revive a primal masculinity that has been lost.” (Kimmel & Arons) I think this is the factor to be argued in the film. Restructuring or regeneration of the society is an unavoidable phenomenon. Hence it is also important to consider which path is followed for regeneration. Self-inflicted violence is the answer for overcoming the identity problem that is fit in the mind of the protagonist.  "Regeneration ultimately became the means of violence, and the myth of regeneration through violence became the structuring metaphor of the American experience" (Slotkin, Richard 1973) Psychological Thriller and masculinity: The film can best be called as a psychological thriller. The narrator at first is shown in consulting to his doctor for his inability to sleep. (insomnia) “I am in pain” he says. The pain actually comes from the constant insecurity about his existence as a man. Instead of giving him any medicine, the doctor suggested him to see more painful people. "If you want to see pain, go to the testicular cancer support group…thats pain." The doctor may be symbolic in his advice that he will find his identity outside the world and when he enlightens with his own gender identity, he will be cured. Jack desperately wants relief from his pain. He wants outlet for his inner and suppressed feelings. Initially he gets the support and mental healing from the support group, but the arrival of masculine figure lady Marla, he again loses his mental balance. It is because before her arrival he can cry and thus gives outlet to his emotions. But her arrival makes him feel that he should not cry in front of a woman. His manhood or masculinity does not allow him to do so and then he tries to find out another solution. The solution appears on the screen in the form of Tyler. Deep in his mind, he wants to be powerful, and charismatic like Tyler. He has as strong urge to live a life with the original trait of masculinity. Tyler is the man who is his direct antithesis. The violence starts with the appearance of Tyler. In the first fighting scene, Tyler says, “ I want you to hit me as hard as you can...How much can you know yourself if you’ve never been in a fight. I don’t want to die without any scar.” Thus the narrator “begins to turn against himself and to prove his mettle by gritting his teeth and taking his punishment like a man.” (Sarvan 1998) The most appealing scene from this perspective is the scene when Tyler burns his kiss into the back of the narrator’s hand with lye. The audience slowly realize that Tyler has no physical existence but he is just a figment of the protagonist’s mind. When the narrator comes to know that it is the problem of split personality or multiple disorder, he tries for the self-revelation and comes to know that he must kill his double to reclaim and cherish his identity. Thus to defend masculinity or self existence the narrator has shown to follow a very unusual path of Multiple Personality disorder “The form of defence against narcissism finds expression principally in two ways: in fear and revulsion before one’s own image.. or in the loss of the shadow-image or mirror – image.” (Rank 1971) While describing the changing definition of masculinity with the context of this film, Watson and Shaw tells the change of the narrator and the exchange of his nebbishy, workday masculinity for a militant, rebellious masculinity, and ends up a witness to mass destruction of which he suddenly finds himself in charge. While commenting on the ending scene, they point out that when the narrator shoots himself in the face, the man he once was irrevocably altered, and he was converted into a new man of mangled and uncontrollable replica of his former self. (Watson Elwood & Shaw Mark 2011) 1. Consumerism and Sexuality: In the film the character of Bob is very significant from sexuality point of view. He is the person who has no testicles and large female breast. Thus he is the symbol of emasculation of middle class men in capitalist consumerist society. The one and only female character in this film is Marla Singer. She is the object of sexual gratification for the second rebel personality of the narrator; i.e. Tyler. One of the main theories of Fight Club is the fight of men to uncover their own sexuality. It has been confusion in the minds of the audience about the sexuality of the narrator. Even he is still trying to find out his sexual orientation; whether he is homosexual or heterosexual. There are many reasons behind this debate. First of all Jack is shown crying in the arms of Bob. He takes lot of solace in his arms. Jack is searching for heterosexual pleasure by involving in homosexuality. It is because Bob and the other men from the group have no testicles, the organ that differentiate men from women) The appearance of Marla in the scene is his journey from homosexuality to heterosexuality which in that moment he rejects and finds the option of homosexuality in the form of Tyler. Tyler was the guy from his imagination. The homosexuality of the narrator is reflected in the bathroom scene where Tyler says Jack, ‘I don’t know if another woman is the solution for us.’ Shifting of Gender: In this paper, the important question has been discussed thoroughly. The question is Does feminism mean shifting of gender and reflection of masculinity in behaviour and approach? Marla is appearing with a typical male approach; independent careless, and a strong person. Irrespective of her gender she has possessed the attributes of a man. On the contrary the narrator is always shown emotional, meek, fearful and with lack of confidence; the qualities that are opposite to his gender. This is the initial stage of both of these characters. The movie follows the theory that the stereotypical restoration of the male and female protagonist is very essential. At the beginning when the camera is revolved around the house of the narrator, we can see the things which are stereotypically associated with the woman. They are kitchen, assorted furniture, cooking range, dish items. They pop up with their prices. Through his dialogues, the audience can know his feminine urge and likings. ‘If I saw something clever , like little coffee table in the shape of a yin-yang, I had to have it.... I ‘d flip through catalogues and wonder, ‘what kind of dining set defines me as a person?’ I had it all. Even the glass dishes with tiny bubbles and imperfections...” Traditionally dining set, glass, dishes and other kitchen material is considered to be within the women’s scope. In the next scene when Jack meets his doctor for prescribing him sleeping pills, the doctor refuses. In his narration he says, “Red and blue tuinals, lipstick – red Seconals.” The lipstick is associated with feminism. In support group Jack cries and thus he sleeps well at night. Thus he indulges in the activity of crying which is stereotypically female activity. He meets Tyler, a person with stereotypical masculine attitude; careless, destructive, cocky, grimy-looking violent man. When Marla calls Jack to help her, he carelessly put the phone off the hook and goes away. This attitude reflects his complete transformation from feminine approach to masculinity. In another scene when Jack jumps in front of the bus to stop it and assists Marla to board safely, this act reflects another huge transformation in Jack who in the beginning of the film used to look both ways before crossing the road when he chases Marla. Previously he is shown as a non-violent person but later on he becomes so violent and it culminates into the foundation of fight club and later on the organization “Project Mayhem.” The female protagonist also undergoes with a drastic change. Her entry in the film itself is very bold. She is seen as a wild, Medusa-like hair, eye sunglasses. She has boldness in her behaviour. She walks fearlessly into the room, with cigarette in her hand and asks in a deep voice. When Jack pursues her to a Laundromat, attempts to negotiate with her, she leaves the place and cross the street without looking either way. She brings the traffic to a halt. This approach of Marla is similar to the approach of Tyler. After few scenes, she calls Jack to tell him that she has a lump in her breast. Jack goes to her apartment. She offers him stolen lunch and shows concern on the burn on his hand. She seems like a mother, which is a feminine action. She transforms her gender attribute when she gets suspicious about cancer. She gets so upset when Jack shoots himself and plays the role of a nurse and tries to help him. The male and female protagonists undergo through tremendous change in their character throughout the movie; Jack becomes self-aware, and assertive, while Marla The transformation is mainly the culmination of the violence they are constantly experiencing in their life. This transformation further led them to live a better life Conclusion: The audience after watching the movie are left with many impressions. On surface level it seems to be a superfluous theme of fighting and violence. But when studied, deeply, one can find lot of facets hidden under the casual actions. It is a reflection of American society that is travelling towards dystopian age. My first impression about the film was not much positive. But when I started studying the film, it gave me different insights. Many hidden concepts have been incorporated in the movies. The film handles the gender issue in a unique manner. It is not just the representation of masculinity but it is a very fine representation of feminism also; rather of the gender stereotype. According to some critics, the film glorifies violence. The deadly fight is taken very casually according to them. But this is not true. Violence has not been glorified but it has been treated in an ironical manner. It can be said as an irony on the misconception of the young generation and their thoughtless and hasty conclusions about social phenomena. It has been used as a tool to overcome the mental calamities of the protagonist. This violence taught him lot of things and it further helps him to come out of his psychological illness of multiple personality disorder. The main message the film wants to convey according to me; and that is the assigned gender role should be maintained for the healthy individualism and for the healthy society. If the gender role is changed, the society becomes a mess. a confusion and chaos. The film conveys a deep message to the audience and the message is certainly positive. But one has to have depth to the thoughts, a analytical capability and a good temperament for research. Sources: Giroux Henry (2006) ‘America on the Edge: Henry Giroux on Politics, Culture, and Education, Palgrave Macmillan. P. 214 Kimmel Michael and Aronson Amy ‘Men & Masculinity’, ABC – CLIO publishing p.301 Lynn M. Ta, (September 2006)‘Hurt So Good: Fight Club, Masculine Violence, and the Crisis of Capitalism’ The Journal of American Culture, volume 29, number 3. Paul Jordan and Freshman Brenda “Oral Sex: Talking and Listening your Way to Passionate Intimacy” Paul & Freshman Partnership Publications, p.43 Rank, Otto. (1971.) The Double. Trans. Harry Tucker, Jr. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, P.74 – 75 Rosenstein, Bruce (August 1, 2006) ‘Illegal, Violent Teen Fight Clubs Face Police Crackdown’ USA Today. Retrieved April 28, 2007 Savran, David. Taking it Like a Man: White Masculinity, Masochism, and Contemporary American Culture. New Jersey: Princeton UP, 1998. P.169 Slotkin, Richard. (1973) Regeneration Through Violence. New York: Harper Collins, p.5 Warternberg Thomas (2013)“Fight Club”, Routledge Publications, p.4 Watson Elwood & Shaw Mark (2011) ‘Performing American Masculinities: The 21st Century Man in Popular Culture’, Indiana University Press, p. 91 Read More