elpais.com
Patrick Bateman's Resurgence: American Psycho's Enduring Relevance
Twenty-five years after its film adaptation, Bret Easton Ellis's "American Psycho" and its protagonist, Patrick Bateman, a Wall Street yuppy with a penchant for violence and meticulous self-care, are experiencing a surprising resurgence in popularity among online communities.
- How does Bateman's character reflect broader trends in contemporary culture and the evolving perceptions of masculinity?
- Bateman's popularity reflects a cyclical trend in cultural fascination. His character, initially a critique of Reagan-era excess, is now ironically embraced by some online communities who focus on his physical appearance and perceived embodiment of "the culture of effort." This mirrors similar trends observed with other fictional characters.
- What accounts for the surprising contemporary popularity of Patrick Bateman, a character originally intended as a critique of 1980s yuppie culture?
- American Psycho's" Patrick Bateman, a 1980s Wall Street yuppy, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity 25 years after the film adaptation. His meticulous self-care routine contrasts sharply with his violent acts, highlighting the character's disturbing duality. This renewed interest coincides with the announcement of a new film adaptation.
- What are the potential implications of Bateman's renewed popularity, particularly considering the groups who seem most drawn to him and his actions?
- The upcoming remake of "American Psycho" suggests a continued relevance of Bateman's character. His appeal to certain groups, while disturbing, indicates a potential societal fascination with unchecked ambition, misogyny, and the darker side of capitalist excess. This fascination is likely to contribute to further discussion of masculinity, societal values, and their evolution.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames Patrick Bateman's resurgence in popularity positively, emphasizing his status as a contemporary icon and focusing on aspects like his physical fitness routine and the cultural parallels to crypto bros. This framing downplays or ignores the darker aspects of his character, such as his serial killings and misogyny, and presents his appeal as more straightforward than it likely is. The headline itself, if there was one, would likely influence this perception.
Language Bias
The article uses descriptive language that, while not overtly biased, subtly reinforces a positive image of Bateman. For example, describing his actions as "carefully descuartizar a sus víctimas" (carefully dismembering his victims) could be replaced with a more neutral phrasing. The description of him as "ironic and sexy" is also subjective and potentially contributes to the framing bias. More neutral language is needed throughout to avoid glorifying his actions.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on Patrick Bateman's popularity and symbolism in current culture, particularly among incels and crypto bros, but omits discussion of alternative interpretations of the character or criticisms of this idolization. It could benefit from including perspectives that challenge this positive reception of Bateman and his actions. The article also doesn't delve into the broader societal critiques present in the original work, instead focusing on his current memetic relevance.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a false dichotomy by portraying Bateman's appeal as solely attributable to his embodiment of the "culture of effort" and the pursuit of the "perfect body." This simplifies the complex reasons for his popularity, neglecting the role of his misogyny, psychopathy, and the ironic nature of his character in the original work. The simplification ignores other interpretations or motivations behind his appeal.
Gender Bias
The article mentions Bateman's selectivity in his victims (mostly women), and this is briefly acknowledged, but the article doesn't fully explore the implications of this misogyny in relation to his current popularity among incels and crypto bros. A deeper analysis of the gender dynamics in both the original work and its current interpretation would be beneficial. Additionally, the description of Bateman's meticulous grooming routine contrasts with the lack of such detailed descriptions applied to his male counterparts.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article discusses the idolization of Patrick Bateman, a character known for his misogyny and violence against women. This glorification of a misogynistic character normalizes and potentially encourages harmful attitudes towards women, hindering progress towards gender equality. The character's actions directly contradict the principles of respect, safety, and equal opportunities for women.