This is by far one of my favorite movies. It’s not very often when there’s such an unexpected twist in the end of a story that I think “holy s**t! I have to watch it again right now!” It caught me completely off guard. And it’s one of those that you can watch multiple times and find a new hidden message or clue to Tyler’s identity every time.
In regards to Edward Norton’s (or rather his character’s) obsession with IKEA, I think it had something to do with his desire to fit into what the imagined American lifestyle is. His character represents how consumer driven America gets wrapped up in the accumulation of material possessions. It highlights the issue that consumers buy into what our society dictates people should possess to make their lives feel complete. When the character’s personality essentially splits and he begins living with Tyler, he unknowingly starts heeding to the other part of his psyche: the part that isn’t manipulated by what society and other people think or expect of him. By following a stronger person, like Tyler, he is able to accept the possibility of another way to live that he may not have been able to accept on his own. This is a reflection of the consumer’s sheep-like tendency to be easily influenced by those who appear to have more control over their lives. Without realizing it, Norton’s character was desperately searching for a different life and grasping for control, but in his current state of mind, he was too weak to change anything, and probably had no idea how. It makes me wonder how many more people find themselves slaves to their own possessions or desire for “things.” I wonder how many choose to accept themselves as consumers and how many actually do something extreme to change.
“People do it every day, they talk to themselves... they see themselves as they'd like to be, they don't have the courage you have, to just run with it.” I think that this quote (one of my all time favorites from that movie,) sums up a lot of what you said in your post. This is why this movie is so great. When Tyler says this, I guarantee that everyone watching thinks to themselves that they are guilty of talking to themselves. I think all the time that I should eat better, run faster, practice harder, but Edward Norton actually had someone in his head beating his ass into doing these things. Talk about discipline lol. I think that the vast majority of “consumers” in the world behave much like I do. I think about a lot of change, but never really follow through. Fight club demonstrates the pros and cons of follow-through haha!
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“People do it every day, they talk to themselves... they see themselves as they'd like to be, they don't have the courage you have, to just run with it.” I think that this quote (one of my all time favorites from that movie,) sums up a lot of what you said in your post. This is why this movie is so great. When Tyler says this, I guarantee that everyone watching thinks to themselves that they are guilty of talking to themselves. I think all the time that I should eat better, run faster, practice harder, but Edward Norton actually had someone in his head beating his ass into doing these things. Talk about discipline lol. I think that the vast majority of “consumers” in the world behave much like I do. I think about a lot of change, but never really follow through. Fight club demonstrates the pros and cons of follow-through haha!
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