American Psycho Book by Bret Easton Ellis and film by Mary Harron

Introduction

American Psycho book was authored by Bret Easton Ellis and published back in 1991 and later a rather successful film version of the book emerged in 2000 directed by Mary Harron. The book is accounted to be a controversial and combative literature in the contemporary society as it attempted to illustrate the actual state in the society (Harron, 2000). The novel and its accompanying film were selected for this study based on the controversy that the novel raised after its publication. It is rather bizarre and yet fascinating to try and comprehend a controversy after debates regarding the novel have for long faded. Even past twenty years after the publication the novel and the film are still relevant since one can still learn a thing from all it tries to address. The American Psycho story follows a narrative of a United States-based banker by the name Bateman who despite his conformist style is involved in the serial killing of those that fail to suit into his thoughts (Harron, 2000). His character is a description of a capitalist and a definitive conservative. The book is thus considered to be a primary assessment of the 1980s capitalism and the conservative culture that followed as the characters are focused on material gains and riches.

It cannot be denied that both the film and the novel did a pleasing job in depicting the capitalist and consumerist cultures in the contemporary society that is responsible in shaping individuals behaviors in general (Harron, 2000). The thing that attracted my attention in regard to the novel was the fact that the contemporary mediocrity culture blinded individuals from accepting the true depiction of the society by the story and ended up criticizing it. Although this exploration by Ellis does place the readers in some discomfort the author fully highlighted the values, inconsistencies, and perceptions of the society through the role Bateman. Given that the novel is a satire guided one its responsibility was to mock the targeted subject and thus overstatement is the primary approach that was required to make it more demanding (Ellis, 2015). 

Bateman is the protagonist in the story and it is through his actions that the readers get to understand the actual meaning of the story. In that, he lives in a place where people are only exposed to consumption as capitalist create more wealth for themselves. Even after hiring a prostitute he asserts that he does not even know her factual name but she expects her to respond when he calls (Ellis, 1991). In this context, the author illustrates the capitalist and consumerist cultures as  Bateman tends to believe that his money gives him the authority to own and utilize anything and everyone he wishes to even if he is required to kill them. The novel addressed rather a sensitive issue of the 20th century which led to it being received with much unwillingness which led to the actual publishing firms withdrawing based on their appealing distinctions. However, most of them were mainly discouraged by the illustration of sexual aggression, torment, anthropophagy, and slaughter. Most individuals particularly feminist criticized the book for its detailed depiction of forcefulness against women. It is amidst the rising criticisms that the book triggered the production of a film version to counter or create a balance amid some of the issues that were being raised while trying to bring about clarity as it appeared that most individuals had misinterpreted the general message (Ellis, 2015). The novel grew to be the turning point of Ellis authoring career which gained popularity based on the controversy that it raised so much that Paul Bernardo a known American serial murderer noted that he utilized it as his guide (Ellis, 2015). The novel was sold in millions of pieces globally.

However based on the issues that it raised and the fact that individuals questioned its morality most countries such as Australia and Queensland limited its sales only providing copies to those above eighteen years and beyond (Ellis, 2015). The motion picture version that was created in 2000 starring Christian Bale did not, however, limit the controversy. Most individuals criticized the novel on the ground that it was a full mockery of the American populace of the 80s to an extent that denied them comfort as it was basically dealing with the issue of exploration thus exaggerating its moral positioning. For Bateman aggression appears to be a primary source of entertainment while sex is perceived as a form of trade that involves sharing and consumption. It is this character that the readers are pressured to question their own values in general. Ellis seeks to ensure that the readers fully understand that not everything that is done in the contemporary society is right yet most refuses to acknowledge the reality of the depiction. The novel is fascinating because despite the fact that it deals with a sensitive matter it does not shy away from illustrating the actual nature of the matter to show the severity of the subject (Ellis, 2015).

Ellis utilizes a disturbing and yet a dark plot to illustrate his ideas in regard to social criticism. The novel is characterized by some disturbing representation of the society that existed in the 80s in which extensive consumerism, ethical devastation, and shallowness prospered. This is mainly about the same conservative lifestyle that was mainly focused on the creation of more wealth, emotional estrangement, and excessive abuse that the book addresses (Ellis, 1991). It is widely acknowledged that although the book presented rather exaggerated concepts to depict the society that was existing during the period it is factual that the state was similar just that most individuals were not willing and ready to accept and embrace reality in general (Harron, 2000). It is categorized under some of the most real literature pieces that described the American society at the end of the 20th century and still remains relevant.

Most reviewers assert that the American Psycho is a threatening exploitation and an irresponsible dependent in regard to value. However, to most others, it is a form of definition that utilizes a symbolic character in depicting the existing gluttony and cruelty of the upper-class individuals who mainly mistreats those from the low classes due to the authority that they hold in regard to control that is asserted by their material gains (Harron, 2000). In that author the character is considered to be beyond all that is accounted as reality most of the upper-class persons are known to having a tendency of exploiting those that are below because they are desperate and that their positions disadvantages them and cannot, therefore, act against the command and the oppression that they are subjected to (Ellis, 2015).

The American Psycho presents rather ugly imagery of the society. In that, it offers an abnormal visual description in regard to extreme violence which is spiced by disturbing music and unending repeated definition of the 80s (Harron, 2000). The central character in the book is considered to be a psychopath who conducts business without having to consider the wellness of others. He holds meetings in his standard restaurants and then later he will rape and kill these prostitute based on the belief that they fail to suit to his ideas and lifestyle (Ellis, 2015). The book and the film do not demonstrate any distinction in regard to this concepts thus suggesting that immorality is suitably created into the designed modern life. In that, the author seems to be emphasizing that it is not possible to observe this lifestyle or even to represent it without being offensive as one cannot truly understand when capitalism and oppression begins. As the character is involved in pressure trying to comprehend his situation but cannot seem to understand the source of his unhappiness and that of others. It is such ideas that result in him generally enjoying the pain of others based on his power and the quest for capitalism. In this sense, the book generates a higher anticipation for moral certainty since none of the characters understand what is appropriate in the contemporary society in regard to the culture that appears to be incomprehensive and ridiculous. This is some form of longing that mainly talks in regard to the existing innocence even in the presence of depravity.

The novel and the book are similar and yet different in several ways. In that, although the film was the adoption of the novel it does not seem to fit fully in the graphical version. This is because while the novel offers detailed descriptions in regard to the subject the film only demonstrate such aspects to the readers thus allowing them to come up with their personalized descriptions. There are undeniable distinctions amid the two both minor and major (Harron, 2000). For instance, from the novel, Bateman’s house is presented as untidy with human body parts and blood covering the place but the film demonstrates a rather clean house to argue in support of the character’s obsession to cleanliness (Harron, 2000). Such bodies are seen in the film but are not as devastating as the novel presents. One of the primary distinction is that the book commits itself in regard to describing the thinking of the character while the film mainly focuses on his actions rather than consciousness. Most of the descriptions from the film which appears to be horrible to represent graphically are avoided throughout the film (Harron, 2000).

Harron mainly focused on taking the main ideas from the novel but basically ensured that the amount of violence is minimized (Harron, 2000). This is because as a female the director had to portray less discrimination against women as a way of representing them in a more improved way. The tome of the film is also different from that of the Novel despite the fact that it cannot be accounted as a friendly film the horrific nature has to be minimized thus making it easier for the viewers to follow. Harron successfully moves the tone from the playing comedy tone to a darker to enable the viewers to handle the nastiness (Harron, 2000). The performance throughout the film is rather depressing but some sense of humor is created along although in a disastrous by fitting approach (Harron, 2000). The film focused mainly on lowering the general amount of violence that was depicted in the novel in order to minimize the controversy in its regard. However, due to this concentration, unlike the novel which is highly satirical, the film lost much of it. The inability to depict the same level of gore visually created a distinction amid the two. The American Psycho novel appears to be more authoritative than the film mainly based on its capability to describe different scenes thoroughly thus creating a more lively visual of the situation. The novel is fascinating as a literacy piece and on the other hand, the film provides entertainment with an authoritative theme. However, the novels appear to be more appealing based on the minimized violence amount that makes it easier for the viewers to follow.

With respect to the selected scene, it commences with Patrick Running across the street immediately after breaking up with his fiancé. As the police as following him rather fast an elderly lady attempt to stop him but he shoots her and flees to his office building to escape from the accompanying gunshots. It is there in his hideout that he calls his lawyer (Harron, 2000). This scene is essential as it demonstrates the psycho nature of Patrick as he has started to break down and experience varying illusions. This scene also demonstrates the disentanglement nature as he acts abnormally he believes that he is actually running from the police officers but he is not even sure of everything that is happening (Harron, 2000). He has become delusional and even cries on his own based on assumptions rather than the reality of what is happening. This scene helps in illustrating the actual nature of the movie which mainly seeks to demonstrate the psycho nature of the protagonist thus questioning the morality of the society.

From this project, I learned that film adaptation mainly follows some of the most pressing issues in the society to allow the audience to follow and accept the concepts quickly. In addition, it is apparent that films are mainly adapted from the already created stories which help in easy plotting and designing. It is therefore essential to adhere to an easier concept and subject that the target viewers can comprehend. In my opinion, I would recommend both the film to a friend because it is detailed, convenient and more lenient in regard to violence depiction. In general, it is rather evident that the book has utilized much description which might be uncomfortable for the readers based on the nasty content that it provides. On the other hand, the film has minimized such aspects and focused more on creating a more appealing content that raises fewer controversies. The film was well accepted into the markets selling a million copies as individuals were mainly eager to understand the raging controversy that the novel had raised. This, therefore, means that based on its general sale the film mainly performed quite well in the market. In summing up, both the film and the novel performed well in the market based on the controversy that the storyline created among the public.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Elis E. Bret. (1991). American Psycho. Vintage Print, 1st edition.

Ellis, B. E. (2015). American psycho. Picador London Print.

Harron, M. (2000). American Psycho. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144084/