Anonymity is a beautiful thing. The universalization of a simple feeling or urge, of a thought process or realization - all explained through "Jack."
I am Jack's raging bile duct.
I am Jack's cold sweat.
I Am Jack's complete lack of surprise.
I Am Jack's smirking revenge.
I Am Jack's broken heart.
I am Jack's disturbed nightmares.
I am Jack's overwhelming rage.
I Am Jack's inflamed sense of rejection.
I am Jack's deflated happiness.
I am Jack's lost youth.
I am Jack's insane mind.
I am Jack's wasted life.
Feel free to add any that I have missed.
May 25, 2009
May 10, 2009
Meaning Through Anonymity
Let's begin with brief background to the relevance of the anonymity. Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club, makes it very clear that he narrator is meant to be anonymous. The character, usually referred to as "Jack" (or Joe, in the novel), due to his constant references to "Jack's (blank)" from Reader's Digest articles referring to organs and bodily functions, stating "I am Jack's ..."
"Jack" (as I will refer to him in order to simplify this post) is anonymous for, in my opinion, two reasons:
1. His anonymity relates to the idea that the individual does not matter. The individual does not single-handedly create or destroy. The individual is irrelevant. It is the collective authority or potential of a group that leads to true creation or destruction. "Project Mayhem" - a group created for the destruction of corporatism - relies on the existance of a collection of individuals, anonymous AS individuals. Their personal traits or personal attributes mean nothing to the greater cause. They are separate from what is necessary. As my cohort, Mr. Szott, put it: The anonymity has nothing to do with the individual, but everything to do with what the entity stands for."
"Tyler Durden" is attributed a name not because of his individual accomplishments, but because Tyler Durden is a concept. He is not human, he is a basis and inspiration of corporate destruction.
The individual is insignificant to the cause, the collection of individuals is necessary to the cause.
2. His anonymity makes the story and concept of anti-corporate movements universal. A name or identity is irrelevant, it is the movement that is crucial. One can not in any way be like "Jack," but may hold the anti-corporatist ideals that he exemplifies through his extreme and dramatic notions of destruction.
The world cannot be viewed through rose-colored glasses. We are all to blame for corporatist influences and corporatist control upon all aspects of life. By universalizing a concept such as anti-corporatism, we allow our eyes to be opened past ignorance.
Thanks to Chris for his insight on the matter. View his blog:
Daily Ramblings from the Master of Confliction
Also, I apologize for the jumping around in this post, my mind is exhausted.
"Jack" (as I will refer to him in order to simplify this post) is anonymous for, in my opinion, two reasons:
1. His anonymity relates to the idea that the individual does not matter. The individual does not single-handedly create or destroy. The individual is irrelevant. It is the collective authority or potential of a group that leads to true creation or destruction. "Project Mayhem" - a group created for the destruction of corporatism - relies on the existance of a collection of individuals, anonymous AS individuals. Their personal traits or personal attributes mean nothing to the greater cause. They are separate from what is necessary. As my cohort, Mr. Szott, put it: The anonymity has nothing to do with the individual, but everything to do with what the entity stands for."
"Tyler Durden" is attributed a name not because of his individual accomplishments, but because Tyler Durden is a concept. He is not human, he is a basis and inspiration of corporate destruction.
The individual is insignificant to the cause, the collection of individuals is necessary to the cause.
2. His anonymity makes the story and concept of anti-corporate movements universal. A name or identity is irrelevant, it is the movement that is crucial. One can not in any way be like "Jack," but may hold the anti-corporatist ideals that he exemplifies through his extreme and dramatic notions of destruction.
The world cannot be viewed through rose-colored glasses. We are all to blame for corporatist influences and corporatist control upon all aspects of life. By universalizing a concept such as anti-corporatism, we allow our eyes to be opened past ignorance.
Thanks to Chris for his insight on the matter. View his blog:
Daily Ramblings from the Master of Confliction
Also, I apologize for the jumping around in this post, my mind is exhausted.
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