Critical Approach: Mulvey & Bly

Question 1

Mulvey: why won’t female viewers understand the film?

Answer 1

Because they are not male.

• the film is for men and therefore only men can understand it

Question 2

Mulvey: what is the film about (from jack’s perspective)

Answer 2

The film is about looking at the ideal man from Jack’s perspective

Question 3

Mulvey: Mulvey’s gaze theory can be adapted to f.c in order to…

Answer 3

…to fully appreciate Jack’s personal crisis which involves his masculinity

Question 4

Mulvey: What is feminine about fight club as a support group?

Answer 4

Support groups are normally considered to be feminine because it involves talking about and expressing your feelings which is seen to be a female trait

Question 5

What is fighting scene as in fight club?

Answer 5

Fighting is seen as salvation for the men

Question 6

Bly: name the 4 topics that Bly’s theory is about

Answer 6

1. Rejection of consumerist pleasures
2. Separation from the ‘tender’ feminine world
3. Initiation through pain
4. Primitive self-flagellation to prove manhood to enemy

Question 7

Bly: Fight Club is a men’s only club addressing what?

Answer 7

Primal needs!

These primal needs are sex and violence

Question 8

Bly: what is a quote from the film regarding Bly’s theory that relates to the “rejection of consumerist pleasures”?

Answer 8

“The things you own, end up owning you.” - Tyler

Question 9

Bly: what does Tyler go against regarding the theory of “rejection of consumerist pleasures”?

Answer 9

The idea of a perfect life for a man being: get a job, get married, settle down, etc.

Tyler goes against this and lives a “free” life

Question 10

Bly: “rejection of consumerist pleasures” regarding the look of men:

Answer 10

The ideal look for a man:

- not wanting to look like a Calvin Klein model

Question 11

Bly: “rejection of consumerist pleasures” regarding Tyler’s living conditions:

Answer 11

Where Tyler lives isn’t a status symbol.

Question 12

Bly: “Separation from “tender” feminine world” what does Tyler do in regard to this theory?

Answer 12

he rejects women and the idea that men were brought up by them

Question 13

Bly: “The rejection of the “tender” feminine world” what don’t these men have? (regarding females)

Answer 13

These men have no wives, girlfriends, etc meaning they have no connection with the feminine world
- no femininity in their lives

Question 14

Bly: what scene is good in talking about the theory of “initiation through pain”?

Answer 14

The acid kiss scene

- this is the initiation to manhood and acceptance through pain

Question 15

Bly: “Initiation through pain” - how do you prove your masculinity?

Answer 15

You prove you masculinity not by how much pain you can inflict but how much pain you can endure

Question 16

Bly: “primitive self-flagellation to prove manhood to enemy” - what is a quote by Tyler that supports this theory?

Answer 16

“How do you know if you’re a man if you’ve never been in a fight before?” - Tyler

Question 17

Mulvey: what is mulvey’s main theory?

Answer 17

That the camera is male and the spectator is male