How useful has a particular critical approach been in giving a deeper understanding and appreciation of your chosen film?
When analysing Fight Club, I like to use the Freudian's idea of the id, ego and superego to increase my understanding of the narrative. I prefer this approach as I can relate it to specific scenes in the film to give me a deeper knowing and appreciation. Fight Club was directed by David Fincher in 1999 and stars Edward Norton and Brad Pitt. It is a visual representation of the attack on society and consumerism by men in America who suffer a conformist, mundane lifestyle.
I can apply the freudian approach to the sit-ups scene. Jack is shown doing sit-ups on the floor by a long shot, cutting to a close up of him and then tilting up to the ceiling, showing it crumbling above him. Tyler is upstairs having sex with Marla causing the ceiling to crumble. This scene demonstrates freudians approach through the position of each character. Jack, the ego, is shown beneath Tyler, the id. The id is metaphorically in the front of Jack's mind, fulfilling his desires to be with Marla however the id is repressing the ego by keeping him down below. The ego knows the id is in control, as shown by the noise and bits of ceiling falling onto Jack.
During this scene I felt sorry for Jack, as his desire is to be upstairs, shown clearly by Tyler. At first I did not notice that this scene was a big part of the freudian approach, but with a second viewing I find understand it more.
The kitchen scene is another that I can apply the freudian approach to. This time the id and ego are positioned contrastingly from the previous scene. A long shot tilted down shows Jack looking at Tyler at the bottom of the stairs in the basement of the house, hiding him from Marla. Another long shot, tilted up shows Tyler looking up at Jack, the ego. I find this to be a good use of shot-reverse-shot by Fincher as it displays the close, yet distant relationship the two characters share. The fact he seems to be hiding Tyler shows me that he is also trying to hide his primordial desires from Marla. The idea of the freudian approach is apparent when Jack says 'I'm sorry. Do you hear this?' in reaction to Tyler's constant banging in the basement - a question to which Marla replies 'Hear what?'. This gives me an idea that Jack may be the only one able to perceive Tyler, and Tyler is only a primal, powerful and sometimes annoying fragment in his mind. During this scene I developed a small idea that Tyler was not real, but I knew that I would have to watch until the end of the film to find out. However watching it a second time I understand how
The realisation scene near the end of the film, where Tyler tells Jack that they are the same person is ideal for me to apply the freudian approach to. Tyler and Jack are shown sitting opposite each other by a two shot, cutting to mid shots of each character as they talk. Tyler says 'All the ways you wish you could be - that's me.' This single line demonstrates the full idea of the id and the ego. Tyler is a visual representation of how Jack wants to be.
During this scene I felt sorry for Jack, as his desire is to be upstairs, shown clearly by Tyler. At first I did not notice that this scene was a big part of the freudian approach, but with a second viewing I find understand it more.
The kitchen scene is another that I can apply the freudian approach to. This time the id and ego are positioned contrastingly from the previous scene. A long shot tilted down shows Jack looking at Tyler at the bottom of the stairs in the basement of the house, hiding him from Marla. Another long shot, tilted up shows Tyler looking up at Jack, the ego. I find this to be a good use of shot-reverse-shot by Fincher as it displays the close, yet distant relationship the two characters share. The fact he seems to be hiding Tyler shows me that he is also trying to hide his primordial desires from Marla. The idea of the freudian approach is apparent when Jack says 'I'm sorry. Do you hear this?' in reaction to Tyler's constant banging in the basement - a question to which Marla replies 'Hear what?'. This gives me an idea that Jack may be the only one able to perceive Tyler, and Tyler is only a primal, powerful and sometimes annoying fragment in his mind. During this scene I developed a small idea that Tyler was not real, but I knew that I would have to watch until the end of the film to find out. However watching it a second time I understand how
The realisation scene near the end of the film, where Tyler tells Jack that they are the same person is ideal for me to apply the freudian approach to. Tyler and Jack are shown sitting opposite each other by a two shot, cutting to mid shots of each character as they talk. Tyler says 'All the ways you wish you could be - that's me.' This single line demonstrates the full idea of the id and the ego. Tyler is a visual representation of how Jack wants to be.
Freudian approach:
- sit-ups scene, Jack is beneath the id, his desire is with Marla in bed. He is repressed by the id.
- kitchen scene - the id is beneath Jack, constantly in the back of his mind knocking and interrupting.
- realisation scene - 'I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck'
