To help me explain it, i am going to be using norman bates from hitchcocks psycho as a case study. Irvine welsh american psycho is a modern classic books. American psycho ist ein roman des usamerikanischen autors bret easton ellis. The film adaptation of the bret easton ellis novel american psycho was. American psycho is a 2000 satirical psychological horror film cowritten and directed by mary harron, based on bret easton elliss 1991 novel of the same name. Business card scene track info american psycho film mary. Patrick bateman psychological analysis by julien yacek on. Christian bale in the 2000 film version of novel american psycho.
Bateman is a new york investmentbanking executive, and strives to be at the top hanley et al. It is an extremely controversial novel, given its depiction of increasingly brutal violence against women. The reader is introduced to the novels narrator, patrick bateman, a 27yearold wall street investment banker. He even arranged to make the film using facilities at paramounts rival studio, universal international. The ending of american psycho finally explained looper. We look into the character of patrick bateman and see what. He is twentyseven and living his own american dream. Learn all about how the characters in american psycho such as patrick bateman and evelyn richards contribute to the story and how they fit into the plot. Speaking to dazed and confused magazine in 2014, harron said. In american psycho, why does he get one cheap and one. This weeks video essay is a film analysis of mary harons american psycho. Based on the novel by bret easton ellis and featuring the sounds of huey lewis and other classic early 80s gems, this satire set in 1980s manhattan follows the.
Analysis of novel and movie production american psycho has been recognized as a brilliant thriller of its time and can legitimately be labeled a scandalous novel. An analysis american psycho is a novel about a serial killer. About the author ke monahan huntley is an editor and publisher based in southern california. American psycho begins with a quote from dantes inferno. Patrick bateman from american psycho 2000 patrick bateman is a 27yearold executive banker living in new york city during the glory that is the 1980s. But in the history of horror film, psycho is everything, plus the kitchen sink and the shower stall. Dissociative identity disorder did, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is a mental disorder that many people have heard of, but most dont understand. The behaviors of patrick bateman, a character in the film american psycho, are examined below in conjunction with the five perspectives of abnormal behavior and treatment methods for each. How does the movie american psycho differ from the book. In his 2005 mockmemoir lunar park, ellis is interrogated by detective donald kimball about a number of grisly murders suspected to have been committed by bateman.
The iconic business card scene from american psycho 2000, starring christian bale as serial killer patrick bateman. It was written in the first person perspective by bret easton ellis in 1991 in the personality of patrick bateman. In praise of american psycho the capitalist satire come. In order to understand the final scene of american psycho, its key to remember the details of the sequence leading up to it. American psycho patrick bateman character study youtube.
The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan investment banker. Owen is a close representation of bateman, as both of them have similar tastes in music, clothes, and when owen is introduced for the first time, bateman jokingly says that they even go to the same barber and that his haircut is better. Mar 22, 2017 in addition to being one of my favorite films of all time, american psycho is also one of the most misunderstood. American psycho summary from litcharts the creators of. Though the tale was intended as a snapshot of the conformist, consumerist, superficial late1980s cultural landscape, american psycho s vision of modern urbane life has proven scarily prescient. It stars christian bale, willem dafoe, jared leto, josh lucas, chloe sevigny, samantha mathis, cara seymour, justin theroux, guinevere turner and reese witherspoon.
The film adaptation of the bret easton ellis novel american psycho was released in 2000, and has been confusing viewers ever since. In addition to being one of my favorite films of all time, american psycho is also one of the most misunderstood. What cinematic techniques are used to explain patrick. Apr 08, 2018 collective identity in american psycho film analysis all video clips from american psycho 2000, lions gate films songs used. American psycho presents a unique challenge for personality theories. A male director might have thought patrick bateman, the hero of american psycho, was a serial killer because of psychological twists, but mary harron sees him as a guy whos prey to the usual male drives and compulsions. American psycho is a novel by bret easton ellis, published in 1991. Analysis of the movie american psycho 1658 words 7 pages.
In american psycho, patrick bateman picks up one hooker from the street assuming shes a cheap or reasonably priced one, considering shes one that gets picked up from the street, and then calls for one from an agency, who was much more classier and well dressed, so its safe to assume she was more expensive than the street one. A novel and a movie always differ, theyre very different media. American psycho is based on a novel by bret easton ellis and directed by mary harron. He is focused on fitting in and though he has real flesh and blood, he does not feel like a human being hanley et al. The movie removed or mitigated the novels violence, and rearranged much of the material. Apr 16, 2014 the film makes fine satirical hash over bateman and companys petty oneupmanship, but its all an extreme version of a common phenomenon. Alfred hitchcocks psycho has been commended for forming the archetypical basis of all horror films that followed its 1960 release. These days, the film is easily and often analyzed as a positive example of what. While initially appearing straightforward, the film. How to treat patrick bateman how to treat patrick bateman to treat his narcissistic personality disorder it might be best to do group therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Psycho for psycho this is an extensive psycho fan site, including information on the movie, the sequels, the television series bates motel, and more psycho for hitchcock this is the official hitchcock website, with a biography, filmography, images, quotes, and links to interviews and other information. There are five perspectives on abnormal behavior, and those are biological, psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitivebehavioral, and sociocultural hanley et al. What cinematic techniques are used to explain patrick bateman american psycho.
American psycho is an allegoric movie that satirizes on the american society, in which material values are more important that moral ones. Jul 08, 2016 analysis of american psycho mawr gorshin capitalism, horror novel, literature analysis july 8, 2016 august 18, 2019 9 minutes american psycho is a satirical novel written by bret easton ellis and published in 1991. It is an unreliable first person narrative, in the present tense, given by the main character, patrick bateman, who is a yuppie living in 1980s new york city. American psychoanalysis the damaging contradictions of author bret easton ellis. American psycho 2000 frequently asked questions imdb. She ridicules of these attitudes, and cuts through the romantic view of wall street as an arena for noble gladiatorial combat. Patrick seems to believe that the fact that he has a lot of cash makes him an extremely. This is because group therapy would help him relate and listen to others. American psycho, a novel by bret easton ellis, satirizes the apathy, narcissism. In the movie patrick tends to show lack of empathy, he also think he is an important man or sense of selfimportance.
Psychoanalysis american psycho and psychoanalysis founded by sigmund freud born in moravia, austria in 1856 believed that people could be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight. Last part of this chapter is called theory of ignorance and it is devoted to the communication among the characters from american psycho based on their egocentrism and selfcentredness and misunderstanding necessarily resulting from that. The movie american psycho 2000 features a 27yearold male, patrick bateman, who has an alternative psychopathic ego. American psycho study guide from litcharts the creators of. While ellis satirized wall street in the 1980s, i narrate my encounters with his novel over the course of my two decades in american academia. Another example is that a novel describes and a film shows things. Were not vikings, were civilized, and in lieu of settling beefs with swords and fists, it comes out in another form. As film adaptations of books go, the movie american psycho released in 2000 is fairly spoton. Jan 10, 2015 irvine welsh american psycho is a modern classic when published in 1991, bret easton elliss american psycho caused outrage for its depictions of violence, especially towards women. He represents an almost total lack of ego, a superego based on a deviant. Consider the joy with which one megacorp stockraids another and dumps its leaders. Sounds of traffic and pedestrians on a crowded street.
Despite its controversial nature and horrific content, american psycho is a near perfect example of a post modern horror. Shes transformed a novel about blood lust into a movie about mens vanity. Examining the personality of patrick bateman of american psycho. The movie was released in april of 2000 continue reading film analysis. Examining the personality of patrick bateman of american. American psycho, a more ambitious, far more confident film, salvages a novel widely loathed for its putative misogyny and gruesome torture.
American psycho by matthew markwalder unproduced screenplay based on the book by bret easton ellis june 1998 fade in title card. Analysis of american psycho and abnormal psychology hubpages. But i have difficulties understanding if cinematic techniques are used consciously to tell something bigger or used randomly. Alison kelly of the observer notes that while some countries deem it so potentially disturbing that it can only be sold shrinkwrapped, critics rave about it and academics revel in its transgressive and. Study such films as in the company of men, glengarry. A big difference in my opinion is that a book lends itself. The film is a pitchblack comedy of manners about male narcissism official site archived here david ansen critic. Paul owen paul owen is a young, intelligent and charismatic individual that is always striving to be the best. American psycho, a novel by bret easton ellis, satirizes the apathy. He is the picture perfect definition of a young urban professional person a yuppie. And as things fell apart nobody paid much attention talking heads ext wall street day soft focus on a blur of moving shapes and colors. A neoliberal nightmare in american psycho and trainspotting. Alison kelly of the observer notes that while some countries deem it so potentially disturbing that it can only be sold shrinkwrapped, critics rave about it and academics revel in its transgressive and postmodern. Though the tale was intended as a snapshot of the conformist, consumerist, superficial.
A wealthy new york city investment banking executive, patrick bateman, hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his coworkers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies. American psycho and psychoanalysis by chynna downie on prezi. Sign up to our email newsletter for updates on new videos, fun film trivia, news on. American psycho has strong acting from christain bale and willem dafoe. American psycho, if presented on film as it appears in the novel, will offer only one point of view a halloween tale guaranteed to generate more nightmares than revenues. But this perspective is what elevates the film above the the source material. Examined is how psychoanalytic theory applies to this character. Bateman, who relays the action of the novel, as well as his innermost thoughts. Patrick bateman of brett easton ellis american psycho presents a unique challenge for personality theories. American psycho explained there are obviously potential spoilers as it is an attempt to decipher and explain the ending of american psycho.
The main character, patrick bateman, is a wealthy and successful lawyer. Abandon all hope ye who enter here is graffitied across the side of a bank in bloodred paint. The american psycho film community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. In elliss 1998 novel glamorama, both patrick bateman and christian bale the actor who played bateman in the american psycho film adaptation make appearances. American psycho has been confusing viewers since it was released.
American psycho analysis imitates the style of american psycho. Though the tale was intended as a snapshot of the conformist, consumerist, superficial late1980s cultural landscape, american psychos vision of modern urbane life has proven scarily prescient. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of american psycho film by mary harron. A book usually doesnt fit into a movie, for example. Analysis of the movie american psycho 1295 words bartleby. In order to understand the final scene of american psycho, its key to remember the details of the sequence leading up to it and it all begins with a rather. Sep 02, 2017 the film adaptation of the bret easton ellis novel american psycho was released in 2000, and has been confusing viewers ever since.
He goes through a lengthy exercise routine in his living room even though hes already been to the gym and goes shopping, where he buys a number of expensive clothing items. Dec 21, 2016 but this perspective is what elevates the film above the the source material. He is interested in luxurious clothes, expensive restaurants, fashion, and personal appearance harron, 2000. Even after 15 years of its release, the much ambiguous ending of american psycho calls for debate amongst fans. American psycho and the dark side of 3s psychology today. Essays for american psycho film american psycho film essays are academic essays for citation. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of american psycho by bret easton ellis. Patrick bateman is handsome, well educated and intelligent. Patrick bateman in american psycho a freudian analysis.
Patrick bateman is the protagonist in the film american psycho. The central character, patrick bateman played impeccably by christian bale, flushes out his repressed anger born out of corporate culture by. Ive been known to be both a picky reader and a finicky film critic, and even i think the movie version of bret easton ellis novel, published in 1991, is faithful to the text its based on. The movie dissects the 80s culture of materialism, narcissism and greed quoted here. Not only does it break common treads in horror archetypes and structure but its critique of consumerism and materialism gives the film a post modern complexity as an analysis of both an insane character and a time in american history. Courtney has called him, too wasted on pills to be able to go to dinner, so he stays in to watch television. Jay electronica exhibit a instrumental cliff martinez. Detailed analysis of characters in bret easton elliss american psycho. Whenever i mention it to someone, i usually get one of three reactions. As the narration progresses, events in the film get more.
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