fight club post modernism

In what ways is Fight Club considered post modern?
Fight Club, an American film directed by David Fincher in 1999 contains various elements which could be considered postmodern. However the fact that these elements are so discreet and the enigma of the film isn’t revealed until the very end, I feel is what made the film so successful.
The first thing we become aware of is the narration throughout the entire film, the voice of Ed Norton’s character. This narration aims to fill in gaps within our knowledge and that which the actual character of Ed Norton, doesn’t present. However as the film progresses, we find that information fed by the narrator isn’t necessarily reliable. Almost two thirds of the way through the film and we are yet to have a name for Ed Norton’s character. This creates an enigma for the audience as we become to question what it is we actually know about the character as he defies original perceptions. This post modern element of keeping Ed Norton’s character, in a sense, anonymous, is effective in keeping the audience intrigued to find out who he really is.
Perhaps a deeper element of postmodernism represented within Fight Club is the internal change in which Ed Norton’s character, as well as the other members of Fight Club, endures. It is arguable that the change came from within and not from external forces. This could be considered post modern for it tends to be society, an external force, which expects us to conform to change. However, by conforming, one is not considered ‘manly’. Of course this is a vital characteristic to feel as the entire films arguably revolves around the examination of masculinity and if perhaps that was what the members of fight club were missing from their seemingly ‘dull’ lives. It isn’t until they have the opportunity to rebel from the forced conformity that they feel manly. Hence; project Mayhem.
A third element of postmodernism represented within fight club, is the subliminal messages we see throughout. At the beginning of the film, we see ‘flickers’ of a person from the view point of Ed Norton, so quick that we frequently miss them. It isn’t, of course, until the end of the film that we realise these ‘flickers’ were the beginning of the creation of Ed Norton’s alter ego; Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt. Tyler Durden is everything that is desirable to Ed Norton’s character, hence him creating him within his mind. The way in which this schizophrenia is post modern is that the entire film is based upon a partnership to ultimately be defied by the realization that Tyler is a ‘made up’ character. Again I find the fact that Ed Norton wants to be so much like Tyler Durden ironic. He bases his desires upon Tyler’s carefree lifestyle and attitude. However once fight club progresses to project mayhem, the group becomes fascistic, defying the whole original purpose of the organization. It began to escape reality, to rebel, and to excel the conformity they must face within society. However within project mayhem, they all present the same hair cuts, uniforms, have homework, etc. The most ironic thing about this, is that Tyler/Ed Norton ends up being the figure of a dictator and the cause of this conformity, which goes against everything he was trying to change about his life.