Freebasing on fight club Essay -- Film Review, Fincher

According to psychotherapist Isaac Marks, behavioral addictions involve, â€Å"routines of dysfunctional and purposeful behavior,† (10.4: 28). All humans engage in some form of addictive activities whether it gambling, eating disorders, hyper-sexuality, or even nervous tics. The severity of such addictions is founded in Freudian ideals of parenting and early childhood development. Addictions, whether chemical or behavioral, can consume one’s life when left unchecked. The cycle of addiction begins at first exposure and continues through until the addict dies or is rehabilitated. The film Fight Club, directed by David Fincher, is a representation of the cycle of addiction. Jack begins his cycle of addiction by trying to fill a void in his life. The world Jack lives in as well as the life he has created has no value or purpose. Jack works as a recall coordinator and his life is reduced to trips across the country to evaluate the cost benefit ratio of recalling malfunctioning cars while living out of suitcases. When at home Jack fills his prefabricated apartment with worthless mass produced IKEA furniture. Additionally, Jack suffers from insomnia and states that his lack of sleep makes him feel like â€Å"a copy of a copy of a copy,† (Fincher 1999). The sum of these emotions culminates in Jack feeling that his life is missing something. Psychotherapist Jason Ward writes in the Healthcare Counseling & Psychotherapy Journal that â€Å"the main features of addiction are obsession and compulsion, focused around an object or behaviour which, it is believed, will somehow bring transformation of the person's inner world,† (10.4: 25). Addict s are looking for something to make them feel whole, secure, or safe and Jack is no exception (10.4: 26).... ...hands is metaphoric of Jack tearing down the impediments of his addiction and thus the destruction of his self-hate and loneliness. While it was written more than six years before the release of Fight Club, the song A Drug Against War by the industrial band KMFDM relates the idea of behavioral addiction by stating, â€Å"No need for needles, no injection, this substance substitutes, love and affection,† (Konietzko et al). While this song pertains to war, its’ statements echo the cause behind Jack’s addiction. Indubitably this film is a portrayal of the character Jack’s descent into addiction. Behavioral addiction afflicts everyone but the depth is dependent on a lack of affection in the formative years of one’s life. Behavioral addictions occur when one uses a dysfunctional behavior to mask the pain in their lives and this is precisely what Jack does in this film. Freebasing on fight club Essay -- Film Review, Fincher According to psychotherapist Isaac Marks, behavioral addictions involve, â€Å"routines of dysfunctional and purposeful behavior,† (10.4: 28). All humans engage in some form of addictive activities whether it gambling, eating disorders, hyper-sexuality, or even nervous tics. The severity of such addictions is founded in Freudian ideals of parenting and early childhood development. Addictions, whether chemical or behavioral, can consume one’s life when left unchecked. The cycle of addiction begins at first exposure and continues through until the addict dies or is rehabilitated. The film Fight Club, directed by David Fincher, is a representation of the cycle of addiction. Jack begins his cycle of addiction by trying to fill a void in his life. The world Jack lives in as well as the life he has created has no value or purpose. Jack works as a recall coordinator and his life is reduced to trips across the country to evaluate the cost benefit ratio of recalling malfunctioning cars while living out of suitcases. When at home Jack fills his prefabricated apartment with worthless mass produced IKEA furniture. Additionally, Jack suffers from insomnia and states that his lack of sleep makes him feel like â€Å"a copy of a copy of a copy,† (Fincher 1999). The sum of these emotions culminates in Jack feeling that his life is missing something. Psychotherapist Jason Ward writes in the Healthcare Counseling & Psychotherapy Journal that â€Å"the main features of addiction are obsession and compulsion, focused around an object or behaviour which, it is believed, will somehow bring transformation of the person's inner world,† (10.4: 25). Addict s are looking for something to make them feel whole, secure, or safe and Jack is no exception (10.4: 26).... ...hands is metaphoric of Jack tearing down the impediments of his addiction and thus the destruction of his self-hate and loneliness. While it was written more than six years before the release of Fight Club, the song A Drug Against War by the industrial band KMFDM relates the idea of behavioral addiction by stating, â€Å"No need for needles, no injection, this substance substitutes, love and affection,† (Konietzko et al). While this song pertains to war, its’ statements echo the cause behind Jack’s addiction. Indubitably this film is a portrayal of the character Jack’s descent into addiction. Behavioral addiction afflicts everyone but the depth is dependent on a lack of affection in the formative years of one’s life. Behavioral addictions occur when one uses a dysfunctional behavior to mask the pain in their lives and this is precisely what Jack does in this film.