The film I have decided to analyse in this essay is Fight Club (1999) directed by David Fincher (Se7en) and based on the novel by Chuck Palahunk. The film points fingers at numerous issues in society, namely the effect of consumerism on people's lives, and how it is gradually taking over those lives.

The story is told trough the eyes of a narcoleptic named Jack, played by Edward Norton (American History X,). Jack's only joys in life are the possessions he owns, until he meets Tyler Durden played Brad Pitt ( Se7en). Tyler believes that it is self-destruction that makes life worth living, not self-improvement. The very same night they meet, an explosion blows up Jack's apartment and possessions. Tyler offers Jack a place to stay but on one condition - Tyler "I want you to hit me as hard as you can". Despite Jack's doubts about hitting Tyler he does and discovers that fighting for recreation can give the ultimate high. This leads to them setting up Fight club which gradually sweeps across America taking with it Tyler's influence and philosophy.

The big shock of the story comes when Jack realises he is Tyler, a

The most notable features of this scene is the way the characters are framed in the doorway of the bar, right in the centre of the screen creating a symmetrical looking shot. Either side of them rubbish is wrapped in black bags. However the bags are un-even as on Jack's side the bags are in a large bin, yet on Tyler's side the bags are strewn on the ground. I feel this demonstrates Roland Barthe's semic code. In this case rubbish represents the characters or their philosophy - Jack finds pleasure from possessions he doesn't need, therefore the possessions have control over him - the bin is his possessions and he is the rubbish confined to the bin. Where as Tyler only takes what is essential for his existence, he doesn't need such useless possessions therefore is free of the bin. This theory is further supported by something Tyler says later in the film " We are the same decaying organic matter as everything else". I believe that this is meant literally.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1791
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)