June 29th, 2004

THE BOY WHO LOVED FIGHT CLUB:  THE TALE OF A

POP CULTURE PHONY

I used to know this guy named Jack. Now his name wasn't really Jack, but for our purposes that's what I will call him.  Jack was a good enough guy. I mean he wasn't perfect, but who really ever is?  However, when push came to shove, he and I got along fairly well. But there was one thing about Jack that really bothered me. Jack was a pop culture phony.

Let me explain to you what a pop culture phony is. A pop culture phony is someone who enjoys to talk about film, music, and media and is intelligent enough to make it sound like he has a fairly good knowledge of pop culture. In reality however, he doesn't have the first idea of what he is really talking about.  All it takes is to trap him in a truly intellectual conversation about pop culture and his true colors will eventually show.

When I first met Jack he and I were thrown into a situation where we were both trying to make a connection amongst people that weren't cut from the same cloth as we were. I met Jack and he and I engaged in a fairly lengthy discussion about film. We talked about Kevin Smith movies, Quinton Tarantino, and Star Wars. Jack's knowledge of these subjects impressed me and I thought to myself that I had managed to find someone who understood pop culture. I felt that I could make that connection with him and so Jack and I became fairly good acquaintances.

However, as time went by I began to think differently. I mean, Jack was a smart guy and he could definably talk very intelligently about the subjects he knew.  There was no denying that. Yet, after a while I realized that, when we were discussing film, if I began to cross reference any subject we were talking about with any film more then ten years old Jack would get this glazed look in his eyes. He would then look at me with this friendly open mouth smile and shake his head up and down as well as let out a chuckle which clearly meant "you're right and I agree". In reality, however, it was very clear that he had no idea what the hell I was ever talking about. Then, after I was finished, he would take my point and bring it back to 1999's "Fight Club." Although it's not a personal favorite of mine, "Fight Club" is considered by most to be a modern classic.  I can understand how a lot of film conversations could be tied into a discussion of Fight Club but this guy went a bit over the top.  If I was discussing racism and sexism in Disney movies Jack found a way to tie it back to Fight Club. The films of Frank Capra were brought back to Fight Club. Drive in cinema equaled Fight Club. Gene Kelly musicals were just a springboard to Fight Club. It got a bit silly. I began to realize that Jack sure could talk about Fight Club until he was blue in the fact, but he had very little interest in what I was talking about, nor any interest in watching any films that weren't in the "New Releases" section of Blockbuster. I began to resent this greatly, but due to the fact that I liked Jack as much as I did, I didn't ever let on that I knew he didn't know as much as he was putting on.

However, I soon began to realize that Jack had the inability to critically look at any films he was watching. I mean, he talked a good talk when it came to telling you how good the movies he watched were but there was a never a time when he told you he didn't like a movie. I remember a certain time when he tried to talk me into believing that a romantic comedy that he went to was a good movie. He had been dragged to it by his girl friend and, considering that he pretty much liked every mainstream movie he saw, he attempted to tell me how good it was mainly based on the strength of its soundtrack featuring the Rat Pack. Knowing that I was a fan of the drunken musical trio he tried to win me over with that but it didn't work. Seriously. If I want to hear Frankie, Dino, and Sammy I could do it in my own home and not spend thirteen dollars to see some piece of crap romantic comedy. However, to irritate me more was Jack's short fascination with Frank Sinatra following this film. I mean, everyone needs to discover something, somewhere, but Jack didn't stay interested for very long - that was the problem. With the exception of Fight Club, Bruce Campbell, and Quinton Tarantino, Jack didn't really stay interested in anything to do with pop culture long enough to really get to the heart and soul of it. I mean, he talked the talk and he talked it good. As I said, he was a very intelligent guy. He knew what he knew, however, he didn't really know much but could surely fool you into believing he did.

I think what made me the sorriest for Jack was that in him I did see an intelligent guy who had the ability to understand film, and probably had the ability to analytically look at it. However, he's denied himself that luxury by being lazy about it and confining himself to popular media. Oh, and as I said, I found his phoniness offensive. Really, if you're going to talk with me, listen to what I say and go and discover it later on.  I talk to share not only my ideas but my knowledge on media and if I didn't listen or observe the ideas of others, how would I had gained the knowledge I have?  Pop Culture is a gift that we all must share with each other.  The power of the word of mouth and recommendations are the greatest treasures in our Pop Culture journey.  We are to learn from one another, not to just act as a body for people to talk about Fight Club to. 

I don't know Jack anymore. He left town and I can only hope that he is doing well and having a fairly good life. He probably is.  He was a decent, intelligent and popular guy.  However, I hope he has watched some truly good and interesting films as well because, quite honestly, the guy really doesn't need to see Fight Club one more time.