The filming of Bret Easton Ellis’ bestseller novel American Psycho caused a major scandal after its publication in 2000 (Lee Brien). It covers the story of the serial killer Patrick Bateman, who enjoys a good reputation everywhere in Manhattan. Bateman is a young, athletic, handsome, successful, and stereotypical 1980s yuppie, who you are able to see in magazines, journals, advertising for Calvin Klein or Hugo Boss, and on Wall Street. On the other hand, he murders, rapes, tortures, mutilates, and cannibalizes his victims, but his cruel acts remain undetected. At first sight, Patrick’s behavior seems very irritating because he neither provides the audience with any reasons for his murders, nor with any psychological insight into his character to justify his actions. Taking a closer look, his behavior and violence are an expression of the materialistic, superficial nature of the American society to which Bateman wants to belong “and into which his sickness and inhumanity do actually ‘fit’” (Horsley 222).
Although a lot of Bateman’s brutal actions are shown, at the end of the movie the audience comes to question if all these murders really happened because some inconsistencies in his story become apparent e.g. Bateman outlines the murder of a man, who at this point was not even in town. Therefore, the question is raised as to whether the murders are real or just a product of Bateman’s imagination, and if they are real, is the society so over the top that not even the crime matters and he is able to escape unpunished?
In this paper, this question and especially what the murders are about to express either way will be analyzed in view of social criticism. Therefore, first of all, American society in the 1980s will be outlined to help the reader better understand the contemporary historical background to which the movie refers. Subsequently, the amoral materialism in American consumer society pictured in American Psycho will be described to clarify the social circumstances Bateman lives in. Accordingly, Bateman’s cruel actions will be analyzed and its truth content will be discussed to later on conclude that this kind of society is not able to fulfill his life and by the help of violence Bateman wants to escape the conformity of America’s superficial society.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The American Society in the 1980s
3. American Nightmare
4. Meaning of Bateman’s Murders
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the social criticism embedded in the movie American Psycho by analyzing how the protagonist's violence reflects the amoral materialism and superficiality of American society in the 1980s. It explores whether the depicted murders serve as a manifestation of the protagonist's desire to escape the conformity and emptiness of a consumer-driven culture.
- Historical and political context of the 1980s in America
- The role of materialism and consumer culture in shaping social identity
- The duality of reality versus fantasy in the narrative
- Social alienation and the loss of moral values
Excerpt from the Book
3. American Nightmare
From the outset of American Psycho the amoral materialism and superficiality of the American consumer culture sticks out. In this society, it is not about who you are, it is about who you seem to be. For this reason, Patrick Bateman states right in the beginning: “There is an idea of a Patrick Bateman, some kind of abstraction, but there is no real me, only an entity, something illusory” (American Psycho). His real personality does not matter in this circumstances, everything is about one’s look, not about one’s inner values. A friend of Bateman confirms this view by saying: “If [women] have a good personality and are not good looking, then who fucking cares?” (American Psycho). We can therefore see that a good character is worth nothing compared to one’s appearance.
As a consequence of this, everything in Bateman’s external appearance embodies this impersonal, superficial, frozen, materialistic society. Thus, Patrick is obsessed with his perfect skin and his dozens of skin-care products. Every morning he invests a lot of time in training his body and caring for his smooth skin. One could say he prepares himself to be consumed in this consumer society.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the study, focusing on the character Patrick Bateman and the social criticism inherent in his violent actions within an 1980s consumerist context.
2. The American Society in the 1980s: Provides the historical and political background of the 1980s, emphasizing the rise of yuppie culture, economic prosperity, and increasing social divisions.
3. American Nightmare: Analyzes how the superficiality and materialism of the era are mirrored in Bateman’s obsession with image and the loss of traditional moral values.
4. Meaning of Bateman’s Murders: Discusses the significance of the violence, the potential distinction between reality and fantasy, and how these acts represent an attempt to find identity in a conformist society.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes that the movie exposes the emptiness of the American Dream and highlights the inescapable nature of a society driven solely by status and greed.
Keywords
American Psycho, Patrick Bateman, 1980s, Social Criticism, Consumer Culture, Materialism, Yuppies, Reaganomics, Violence, Alienation, American Dream, Identity, Conformity, Morality, Capitalism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the social criticism presented in the film American Psycho, specifically how it reflects the materialistic and superficial nature of 1980s American society.
What are the primary themes discussed throughout the work?
Central themes include the impact of Reagan-era politics, the "yuppie" consumer culture, the loss of moral values, and the existential struggle of the protagonist, Patrick Bateman.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to analyze whether Patrick Bateman’s violent acts are an expression of his attempt to escape the conformity and emptiness of an amoral consumer society.
Which scientific method is utilized in this analysis?
The author employs a socio-cultural analysis, examining the film's narrative and characters in relation to historical background, political climate, and academic literature on consumerism.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The body chapters detail the 1980s societal context, the superficial nature of the consumer culture depicted in the film, and a nuanced interpretation of the protagonist's murders as both real and symbolic acts.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include American Psycho, 1980s, Social Criticism, Consumer Culture, Materialism, and Alienation.
How does the paper address the debate regarding whether the murders were real or imaginary?
The author suggests that from a sociological and allegorical perspective, the literal reality of the murders is secondary to the message they convey about the brutality and indifference of the era.
What role does the "Reagan era" play in the author's interpretation of the film?
The author views the Reagan era as the catalyst for a society that prioritized wealth and status over human life, directly contributing to the moral vacuum depicted in the film.
What is the significance of the "This is not an exit" sign mentioned in the film?
It symbolizes the protagonist’s inability to escape the oppressive, materialistic consumer culture he lives in, reinforcing the film's grim conclusion.
Does the author believe there is a solution to the societal problems described?
No; the paper concludes that the film presents a bleak outlook where the growing gap between rich and poor is ignored, and the cycles of mindless consumerism continue unabated.
- Citation du texte
- Lena Groß (Auteur), 2013, American Psycho and Social Criticism. Illusion or Reality?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/269057
