#48: Fight Club: Terrorism, Nihilism, and Masculinity

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“People ask me if I know about Tyler Durden.” So begins the film Fight Club, a movie that is about fighting and a few other things. Those other things include masculinity, corporations, and Meat Loaf. And of course Leto. Jared Leto, that is. If you haven’t seen Fight Club, then you haven’t seen Jared Leto get his face pummeled by the fists of Ed Norton. If you really hated him as the Joker in Suicide Squad, then you might enjoy that scene. But that would also probably make you a psychopath. But as long as it does not make you a “bro”, then you’re fine in our book. Just don’t blow up any buildings. 

Fight Club came out in the year 1999, the same year at The Matrix, American Beauty, and Office Space, all of which investigate the emptiness of the consumer lifestyle perpetuated by the American Dream. The Mummy also came out in 1999, which is of course referring to the B. Fraser (clap) version, and not the 2017 mistake starring Tom “Chilly T” Cruise. (#NotMyMummy). The Mummy did not investigate these themes. But it’s still great. 

Anywho, Fight Club has been quite the cultural milestone, a film that ranks #10 on the great IMDb.com’s top rated movies. Wow! That’s higher than Forrest Gump, and that movie has Hanx! This is a movie about a psycho. His name is Tyler Durden. His name is not Robert Paulson. Meat Loaf’s name is Robert Paulson. Tyler Durden is a guy who thinks that society needs to be obliterated so that humanity can revert to its primal state and start anew. The problem is, lots of bros think this is a great idea, because it means they get to blow shit up and punch people in the face. These bros are called “Space Monkeys” in the film. Leto is one of them. 

So this Snob travels many directions through this labyrinthine, incredible film that will be analyzed for centuries. Analyze away, fellow filmgoers, as long as you don’t think this guy is awesome and a savior of the world. Even Marla didn’t think that, and she actually cared for him. But do see this movie, and think about it. You can even talk about it. We think. 

Finally, we offer thanks to our three listeners, Dave, Angela, and Josh, for offering up such great questions whose consideration started this episode with such a righteous bang. We cherish all of you! And we cherish you too, good listener, as we move into the second year of this Snobbing Journey.