Living Like an American Psycho

American Psycho, a movie adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel holds within its pages some universal truths and valuable guidelines for modern living. Leaving aside his unquenchable lust for psychopathic mayhem and the occasional compulsion to feed a kitten to a teller machine, Patrick Batemen excels in many areas. Here are just a few of the things which we can learn from his decadent 80s lifestyle:

An emphasis on the maintenance and development of the body

Bateman is a perfect specimen of health and beauty. He is aware of this and yet he works hard and constantly to maintain and increase his level of excellence. Note his morning routine:

BATEMAN (V.0.) I believe in taking care of myself, in a balanced diet, in a rigorous exercise routine. In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. I can do a thousand now.
Bateman ties a plastic ice pack around his face.
Bateman does his morning stretching exercises in the living room wearing the ice pack.
CUT TO:
A mirror-lined bathroom. Bateman is luxuriating in the shower steam, scrubbing his body, admiring his muscles.
BATEMAN (V.O.)
After I remove the icepack, I use a deep pore-cleanser lotion. In the shower, I use a water-activated gel cleanser, then a honey-almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub.
Bateman stands in front of a massive marble sink applying a gel facial masque.
BATEMAN (V.O.)
Then I apply an herb mint facial masque which I leave on for ten minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine.
Bateman opens the door of a mirrored cabinet, which is stocked with immaculate rows of skin care products. He begins selecting bottles jars and brushes, laying them in readiness on the marble counter.
BATEMAN (V.O.)
I always use an after-shave lotion with little or no alcohol because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm, followed by a final moisturizing "protective" lotion...
Bateman stares into the mirror. The masque has dried, giving his face a strange distorted look as if it has been wrapped in plastic. He begins slowly peeling the gel masque off his face.

Although to many this might seem excessive. Bateman gives us a sense that this is a well considered and logical progression. It has not simply been borne of response to a marketing campaign but is the result of a deep consideration of what is required to meet his goal of maintaining an optimum physical appearance.

An appreciation for fine food made with quality ingredients

Throughout the film there are countless references to the farcical pecking order expressed through the ability to achieve a booking at the most exclusive restaurants. The various dining scenes give us an insight into the excellent food which Bateman and his ilk consider acceptable. Beautifully presented and formulated of the finest ingredients these meals are spectacular and would arguably deliver a high level of nutrition. We should similarly aim to deliver to our bodies the best fuel which we can practically arrange.

WAITER
With goat cheese profiteroles and I also have an arugula Caesar salad. For entrées tonight I have a swordfish meatloaf with onion marmalade, a rare-roasted partridge breast in raspberry coulis with a sorrel timbale...
Huge white porcelain plates descend on very pale pink linen table cloths. Each of the entrees is a rectangle about four inches square and look exactly alike.
CLOSE-UP on various diners as we hear fragments of conversation. "Is that Charlie Sheen over there?" "Excuse me? I ordered cactus pear sorbet."
WAITER
And grilled free-range rabbit with herbed French fries. Our pasta tonight is a squid ravioli in a lemon grass broth...
CLOSE-UP on porcelain plates containing elaborate perpendicular desserts descending on another table.

An appreciation for the simple things

Bateman's fixation on business cards seems over the top. However the minute detail with which he is able to appreciate their beauty. The nuance and intricacy he brings to this simple thing is something which we can all learn from. In meditating upon simple things we can more completely understand our surroundings and our place in the universe.

Bateman takes out his wallet and pulls out a card.
PRICE
(Suddenly enthused)
What's that, a gram?
BATEMAN
New card. What do you think?
McDermott lifts it up and examines the lettering carefully.
McDERMOTT
Whoa. Very nice. Take a look.
He hands it to Van Patten.
BATEMAN
Picked them up from the printers yesterday
VAN PATTEN
Good coloring.
BATEMAN
That's bone. And the lettering is something called
Silian Rail.
McDERMOTT
(Envious)
Silian Rail?
VAN PATTEN
It is very cool, Bateman. But that's nothing.
He pulls a card out of his wallet and slaps it on the
table.
VAN PATTEN
Look at this.
They all lean forward to inspect it.
PRICE
That's really nice.
Bateman clenches his fists beneath the table, trying to control his anxiety.
VAN PATTEN
Eggshell with Romalian type.
(Turning to Bateman)
What do you think?
BATEMAN
(Barely able to breath, his voice a croak)
Nice.
PRICE
(Holding the card up to the light)
Jesus. This is really super. How'd a nitwit like you get so tasteful?
Bateman stares at his own card and then enviously at McDermott's.
BATEMAN (V.O.)
I can't believe that Price prefers McDermott's card to mine.
PRICE
But wait. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
He holds up his own card.
PRICE
Raised lettering, pale nimbus white...
BATEMAN
(Choking with anxiety)
Impressive. Very nice. Let's see Paul Owen's card.
Price pulls a card from an inside coat pocket and holds it up for their inspection: "PAUL OWEN, PIERCE & PIERCE, MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS." Bateman swallows, speechless.
The sound in the room dies down and all we hear is a faint heartbeat as Bateman stares at the magnificent card.
BATEMAN (V.O.)
Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark...
His hand shaking, Bateman lifts up the card and stares at it until it fills the screen.
He lets it fall. The SOUND RETURNS TO NORMAL.
CARRUTHERS Is something wrong? Patrick...you're sweating.
...
CARRUTHERS
Yes, I do. No, it's my business card-I decided to get a new one too. He pulls out something incredibly tasteful. Everyone compliments Luis except Bateman. The SOUND DROPS and all we hear is the beating of his heart as he stares at the card enviously.
Luis plucks it from his hand and walks away, pleased with himself.

Aspiring to excellence in the personal realm

Bateman has a special relationship with his personal environment. His apartment is monochromatic and beautifully designed and furnished. He has a great deal of personal pride as he sees his home as an expression as both his level of achievement and an outward expression of his taste, style and an extension of his own beauty.

INT. BATEMAN'S APARTMENT- MORNING
Tableaux of Bateman's apartment in the early morning light.
A huge white living room with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Manhattan, decorated in expensive, minimalist high style: bleached oak floors, a huge white sofa, a large Baselitz painting (hung upside down) and much expensive electronic equipment. The room is impeccably neat, and oddly impersonal - as if it had sprung straight from the pages of a design magazine.
BATEMAN (V.0.)
My name is Patrick Bateman. I am twenty-six years old. I live in the American Garden Buildings on West Eighty-First Street, on the eleventh floor Tom Cruise lives in the penthouse.
...
When I get to Paul Allen's place, I use the keys I took from his pocket... before disposing of the body.
There is a moment of sheer panic... when I realize that Paul's apartment overlooks the park... and is obviously more expensive than mine.

We must all be conscious of our environment and aspire to live in a home which truly expresses our right inner world. In the case of Bateman his taste has more to do with conformity and status. However even in this we can tell that he has a true personal relationship with the place and that for better or worse, it suits him well.

Speaking out against intolerance, even in the presence of a strong opposing peer group

Bateman moves in circles with entrenched ideas and prejudices like any other. We receive an insight on his humanity with the following exchange. Despite an overwhelming desperation to fit in (and an obviously mixed respect for human life) he speaks out against his compatriots.

PRICE
Lucky bastard.
McDERMOTT
Lucky Jew bastard.
BATEMAN
Oh Jesus, McDermott, what does that have to do with anything?
McDERMOTT
Listen. I've seen the bastard sitting in his office on the phone with CEOs, spinning a fucking menorah. The bastard brought a Hanukkah bush into the office last December.
BATEMAN
You spin a dreidel, McDermott, not a menorah. You spin a dreidel.
McDERMOTT
Oh my God. Bateman, do you want me to fry you up some fucking potato pancakes? Some latkes?
BATEMAN
No. Just cool it with the anti-Semitic remarks.
McDERMOTT
Oh I forgot. Bateman's dating someone from the ACLU.
Price leans over and pats Bateman on the back.
PRICE
The voice of reason. The boy next door.

Here Bateman poses somewhat of a paradox as we at once gain an insight onto his own humanity (such as it is) and are delivered yet another example of the moral ambiguity of his peer group. It is for each of us to maintain a strong moral and ethical compass despite outside influences and especially to speak out in cases of flagrant intolerance.

A lucid acknowledgement of our existential and nihilistic predicament

BATEMAN (V.O.)
There is an idea of a Patrick Bateman, some kind of abstraction, hut there is no real me, only an entity, something illusory, and though I can hide my cold gaze and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping you and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable: I simply am not there.

This passage speaks directly from that 'inner observer' in each of us. The one that quietly watches as the wheels turn and the words and actions are formed. As such it is perfect in its way, describing a hollow sense of something missing. Who are we? Why are we here? Bateman doesn't know and who amongst us does?




Acknowledgements:

The American Psycho book and movie are the property of their respective owners. Quotations presented for research purposes only.

Script sources:
http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/American-Psycho.html
http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/a/amercan-psycho-script-transript-bale.html

Honouring Personal Commitments in Generation Y

Given all our technology you'd think that everyone would be more closely linked and bonded than ever before. However that doesn't seem to be the case for most people and the quality of relationships is also being effected.

In Gen Y there is nothing quite so important as the ability to be 'easy going'. This is a loose term which at one time would have meant to be relaxed and happy to go with the flow. Over time this has shifted and the phrase has taken on a more demanding connotation. The new incarnation of easy going requires that a person have no particularly strong identification with anything. That is to say that they must be willing to give over any notion that they had when it comes to discussion, expression of opinion or interactions with others.

An inability to immediately release from ones values and ideas is often seen as being difficult or uptight. In many cases it is not simply enough to acknowledge the opinion of another, there is a mania for attempting to convert others to a congruent point of view. As a social study this is interesting as it is in direct contrast with those values which would have been at one time highly prized, particularly amongst men. The idea of a stoic man of sound principle who would calmly express his unshakable ideal was treated with reverence. These days he wouldn't get invited to any cool parties.

Keeping in mind this premise of the chronically easy-going GenY'er, whom expects complete malleability of the opinions of others but whom conversely feels an unyielding thirst to convert others to his point of view; let us consider how this may manifest itself in the way of actions.

As a member of Generation Y myself I base my ponderings mainly upon personal observation. Statistically it must be said that there is a great deal of variation, however what I am discussing here are broad themes, represented again and again as patterns of behaviour.

The process of making an arrangement with a Gen Y'er is the classic example. A time is set, a place is set and therefore an arrangement is made. To a more traditional mind this might seem straightforward and deceptively simple. In the mind of Gen Y however an arrangement is just an idea: A thing that could happen, maybe... but you'd better be prepared to be easy going about it. I have noted again and again in dealing with people of my own age group that there is a real difficulty in translating ideas into action. So many things remain abstract and beyond the thinker to make the move into actualizing the thought.

Why is this? It's hard to say, however maybe the mindset can be partly explained by the complete lack of existing paradigms for normal behaviour in Gen Y. The traditional notions of 'making a life' which were summarily demolished during the Baby Boomer and Gen X years are by now almost beyond memory. So in Gen Y we grow up with no particular expectations placed upon us in terms of marriage or procreation. The astronomical price of housing in most countries encourages many not to enter the property market and anyway, eventually the Baby Boomers will die, leaving everyone nicely inflated properties and pension funds (or so the theory goes).

So is it this lack of expectation which leads to a general malais and a large scale abandonment of traditional 'core' values? A commitment to ideas such as respect and honour is difficult when it is exercised in such a minority, especially in an environment where the majority are enforcing their own stance wherever there is conflict.

Another factor is the constant anxiety around doing these things perceived to increase status or happiness. One might end up with a priority structure which sees one attending every Pilates class and seeing every episode of Gossip Girl but then declaring they have no time for socialising. This kind of self imposed time poverty is an outward symptom of a life lived in neutral, or first gear at best. The results is a quagmire of cancelled appointments, missed deadlines and broken goals: failed commitments.

Contrary to what was discussed in the previous blog entry about values based living I would doubt that many people would look back on such a life with a glowing sense of pride.

The ability to be consistent with oneself and with others is a skill and one which takes a great deal of attention. It is something that all of us have varying success with at different times and I don’t believe that anyone has escaped failure. However it is possible, through treating your commitments as important, to achieve a state of greater ease and honesty.

Being reliable has come to be seen as being rather dull in Generation Y and sadly as such has been disregarded by many. Along with many other key traits, the ability to honour ones commitments is more important now than ever. With a population that is being driven apart by communication tools rather than drawn together. As personal contact becomes less the norm than text messages, Facebook and Tweets, these ‘appointments’ become some of the most precious agreements of our lives. There can be no lasting emotional fulfilment in a life which finds room for work, gym, naps, Internet porn and television and marginalises simple human contact.

Having been through the exercise outlined in the Values Based Living article you should have gained a clearer idea of the kind of things that are important to you and importantly, what kind of people you want to be close to. There is no special trick to translating this into firm, consistently met commitments. It is a general shift in thinking, a transition from idea to action which can only be brought about by increased mindfulness.

Take some time each day to think about the commitments you make to yourself. Nail down those abstract ideas of who you want to be and where you want to go. Start to do all those small things which you have left undone and be strong and decisive moving forward in becoming reliable, both to others and with your own True self.