Random Acts of Classism and Heavy Doses of Homoeroticism in Fight Club

Brad Pitt. UNF. Moving on.

So, Tyler Durden’s political message is edgy and masculine and fun and all that, but it isn’t exactly consistent. One moment in particular stood out to me and it’s when Tyler Durden threatens to kill the gas station attendant to liberate him from his “pathetic” life and encourage him to pursue the job he’s always wanted. And sure enough, it turns out that the man wants to be a veterinarian. But the initial assumption of an underlying aspiration betrays Tyler’s classist prejudice.

I don’t know about Tyler, but I’ve actually known gas station attendants that love their job and don’t feel like they’re stuck in a crap job. And I think it says something that Tyler assumed that couldn’t possibly be the case. I mean, it’s not like he walked into Merrill Lynch and pulled that shit. I suppose you could make the case that Tyler is a cynic, but I still think that moment betrays the way in which Tyler himself has fed into the messages put out by the system he seeks to destroy.

Moving back. UNF. Brad Pitt.

Seriously, though, 50% of the fun of watching that movie comes from the fact that Tyler Durden and the narrator basically function as an asexual gay couple. Which, let’s be real, isn’t that far from how gay couples are in the movies and on TV nowadays (*cough* Modern Family *cough*). Anyway, the two of them live together, get sweaty and shirtless together, almost have a threesome, and then there’s that morning tie-tying scene. The narrator even vehemently denies being attracted to Marla and expresses disgust when asked by Tyler. And then there’s Tyler’s ultra-flamboyant outfits that make him look like a gay-man’s version of Macklemore.

The movie is practically begging to have a gay porn parody be made. Actually, scratch that, I just checked and there’s mostly just a “lesbian” porn parody series. Ugh. Straight male gaze. Gross.

I don’t really have much more to say about the movie. Do I think it’s gay friendly? No. Do I think it’s a hypocritical version of anti-classism that comes from a wealthy, white straight male perspective dressed up in Hollywood glamour-grime? Yeah, basically. Do I think it condones violence? Nah. Is it a movie I enjoy in the end? If only for Brad Pitt’s itty-bitty tank tops, yes.