AMERICAN PSYCHO - THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS

Anyway I just wanted to share a couple of clips I found dealing with one of my favourite movies " AMERICAN PSYCHO ". The story takes place in the 1980's about an executive Patrick Bateman but it still rings true today as we watch the Bush Regime & their circle of friends & their antics or we watch as the media goes into a frenzy about pop icons like Britney Spears or Paris Hilton or the trial of Conrad Black - Conrad Black like George Bush, Cheney, Gonzales all see themselves as above the law or any ethical notion people may have - They see themselves as the chosen ones by God , Providence or some form of natural selection - but if they are the end result of " creationism " or " Evolution " then God help us or is it that we are somehow devolving as we approach the end of our species time on this sad little planet -

The film " American Psycho " is a nasty & scathing yet justified attack & critique of the values-system of what once were referred to as YUPPIES & their Neoconservative friends who judge people by their wealth, material possessions & conspicuous consumerism; their selfishness & narcissism ; their belief in dividing society into winners & losers & their belief that altruism is the height of foolishness & that one need only look after oneself & one's circle of friends but one only has friends who will benefit one in some way or other or one only belongs to organizations or religious groups or take part in certain activities whether it is going to the " right" bars & restaurants or being involved in the " right" sports which will help one up the ladder of success- if belonging to a particular group or political party or church will help with getting promoted or being hired or for getting into university or professional schools IE law , medicine , business administration , grad school or for networking purposes to meet those who might further one's goals ambitions or career then one joins such organizations even if one does not believe in their purpose or goals since their only ' real ' purpose is to further one's personal goals & ambitions & this becomes the measure of all things since all that matters is success money & power
- & notions of right & wrong of behaving in an ethical manner or being altruistic is just a lot of nonsense-

This is important I believe on an individual & societal level as we see with the Bush Regime & their gang in the United States of America who do not believe in the law or in ethical codes -for them the ends justify the means & the only true ethical standard is that of loyalty to one another that is to other members of their group for even when they have to take a fall as the scape-goat for the group they know that eventually they will be suitably rewarded for such actions IE getting a plumb of a job with some Neoconservative corporation like being made a CEO at Haliburton or whatever or get a well paid position on some Neoconservative " think Tank "- or get to go on the lucrative public lecture circuit with some lucrative book deals or to work as an over-paid under worked consultant for a corporation or for some government department -

I find it fascinating that the creator of this video chose the song " MAD WORLD " by Gary Jules of 'Tears For Fears ' which I associate with DONNY DARCO which is a film also about a misfit though Donny Darco is basically a good person whereas the American Psycho character Patrick Bateman played by Christian Bale is tragically flawed for his personality is built up by what he is told is acceptable behaviour by others like himself & by the media who are in awe of those who are powerful & wealthy & successful but it leaves him rather empty & sad as he tries to fill up the void which he can't since he is so cynical about human nature believing everyone is just like he is so he is unable to believe that some people are not purely selfish & ambitious- the characters in the film given their borrowed or artificial added on personalities are for the most part interchangeable - They & Patrick are more like automotons or robotic in nature as they have crushed any emotion which would make them seem human such as compassion & empathy which they see as weaknesses- in the film his secretary fulfills the role of a genuinely sincere individual who wishes no one harm but whom Patrick merely sees as a lesser being -

American Psycho clip to Mad World fromYoutube user tisphong
Patrick Bateman(Christian Bale) Mad World/GARY JULES



"Mad World"

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
[ www.azlyrics.com ]


take care,
GORD.