FIGHT CLUB David Fincher 1999

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FIGHT CLUBDavid Fincher1999
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Fight Club

• Section C Single Film - Critical Study
• The ability of candidates to engage in critical
  study of a single film is examined in this
  section. The synoptic dimension is clear as
  there is the expectation that the candidate's
  cumulative learning will be brought to bear in
  this study. Critical approaches that may be
  applied include those arising from the frameworks
  for the FM3 research project while contextual
  study will consolidate work completed for FM2 and
  FM4 Sections A and B. The role of macro and micro
  elements of film in the construction of meaning
  and the creation of emotion informs the
  specification as a whole. Each of the films
  available for study has given rise to much debate
  in its critical reception and each lends itself
  to study within one or more of the critical
  frameworks listed for FM3. A consideration of
  some of these debates and the application of
  critical frameworks will provide the basis for
  the candidate's own engagement with the film.

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Assessment

• Section C Single Film Critical Study (A01 and
  A02, 30 marks)
• One question to be answered from a choice of two
  questions general to all films and a specific
  question set for each film prescribed.

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Example questions

• Section C Single Film Close Critical Study
• Choose one question from this section.
• Your answer should make detailed reference to
  your chosen film.
• General Questions
• 17. What does your chosen film reveal about the
  usefulness of one or more critical approaches you
  have applied? 30
• 18. Consider debates that have arisen in the
  critical reception of your chosen film, either at
  the time of its initial release or now or
  both.30
• Questions on single films
• 26. 'Despite the gesture of destroying symbols of
  corporate power at the end, Fight Club is a film
  about power and control, not liberation.' How far
  do you agree? 30

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Research tasks (due Friday13th January)

• Task 1
• Put together a presentation on Fight Club that
  includes the following information. You each need
  to do this as you need it for your notes.
• Film Worldwide Gross
• Film UK Gross
• Film that Fight Club was competing against at the
  time of release
• Information about director, filmography and
  background
• Awards and nominations that Fight Club received
• Production and distribution information including
  background information on the companies
• Cast information and background of lead actors
• Task 2
• Find, read and print 2 reviews of Fight Club -
  one should be a critical/academic review and one
  should be a popular review.

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Critical Reception

• Controversial films are rare
• P416 a level of controversy similar to Natural
  Born Killers and Clockwork Orange
• Worried about copycat violence (symptomatic of
  fear over medias grip over people as opposed to
  moral or religious values)

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Reception - Social Anxiety

• 1999 Columbine shootings (blame the media!)
• Often easier to blame mass media products rather
  than any kind of socio-political failures (soft
  targets are better)