This clip of Fight
Club shows when one of the members of Project Mayhem, Robert Paulson, dies
in the line of duty and how the other members react to his death. In Project
Mayhem everyone is said to have no name and their only duty is to serve Project
Mayhem by committing acts of vandalism of corporate America. When Robert
Paulson dies the rest of the members come to the conclusion that “in death a
member of Project Mayhem has a name.” This shows that people, sometimes without
knowing it, feel the need to work while living towards a high meaning in the
afterlife. In the case of Project Mayhem, it was going from having no name
while living to in death where they gain their name.
This scene also contradicts the scene shown in class with
the chemical burn being given to the narrator and Tyler Durden expressing how
life should be lived in the moment. Tyler Durden by using a chemical burn on
the narrator made the narrator accept that life is right now and in this moment
he must accept the burning flesh on his hand if he wanted the vinegar to
neutralize it; not mediate out of the moment. This is right in line with
eastern philosophy were it says “you will not let your hopes and fears for the
future run your life.” Interesting that naturally the members of Project Mayhem
when presented with the death of one of their own resorted to western
philosophy and a hope in the afterlife.
Hey Zach
ReplyDeleteThis comment is really interesting. To me, it seems that in life, there is flux and potential and the call to stay in the moment rather than rest on past accomplishments or live for future dreams. Your Eastern quote definitely ties in well.
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