American Psycho shows Patrick Bateman’s (Christian Bale) one-of-a-kind lifestyle and tastes, and what stands out among his murderous tendencies and more is his obsession with music. Directed by Mary Harron and based on the 1991 novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho is a satirical horror movie starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, the title psycho. Despite its many (understandable) controversies, American Psycho was a critical and commercial success, and Bale’s performance is regarded as one of his best.

Set in 1987, American Psycho follows 27-year-old investment banker Patrick Bateman, who spends most of his time dining at popular restaurants, working out, and doing self-care routines, all this and more as a cover for his psychopathic ego. Bateman gives in to his murderous desires and does his best to cover his tracks, but these quickly escalate and Bateman gives in to his uncontrollable bloodlust. In contrast to his murders, Bateman was really into music, and this part of his life has an actual meaning within the context of American Psycho.

Patrick Bateman’s Obsession With Music Is About Consumerism (& Wanting To Fit In)

American Psycho Is A Lot More Than Bateman’s Murders

American Psycho is a satire of the 1980s yuppie culture, consumerism, corporate greed, and toxic masculinity, all of these explored through Bateman and his colleagues.

While it’s easy to get lost in the violence of American Psycho, it actually has an interesting meaning. American Psycho is a satire of the 1980s yuppie culture (a term for “young urban professional”), consumerism, corporate greed, and toxic masculinity, all of these explored through Bateman and his colleagues. Consumerism is present throughout American Psycho and from the very beginning, with Bateman and his colleagues going to fancy restaurants just because of their status and reputation rather than their quality. This is also present through Bateman’s obsession with music, though arguably more subtly.

These artists all had top songs during the novel and the movie’s time setting, thus highlighting Bateman’s consumerism.

At different points in American Psycho, Bateman has monologues about Phil Collins, Huey Lewis and The News, and Whitney Houston, which contrast with everything else the movie shows about him. These artists all had top songs during the novel and the movie’s time setting, thus highlighting Bateman’s consumerism. Along with this, Bateman’s obsession with music highlights his desire and quest to fit in, which he literally says is the one thing he wants to do.

Bateman’s consumerism in the restaurants he goes to, the food he eats (even if he doesn’t like it), the clothes he wears, and the music he listens to are all part of his efforts to fit in and conceal his true nature, while also being American Psycho’s way of shooting shots at capitalism and consumer culture, both still relevant nowadays.

Patrick Bateman’s Obsession With Music Highlights How Shallow He Is

Patrick Bateman Didn’t Have A Personality Of His Own

Bateman’s personality is built around his job, his public image, the restaurants he goes to, the clothes he wears, and the music he listens to.

Patrick Bateman’s obsession with music also shows how shallow he actually is. Bateman’s personality is built around his job, his public image, the restaurants he goes to, the clothes he wears, and the music he listens to. As mentioned above, the artists Bateman talks about in American Psycho all had top songs during the events of the novel and movie, so it’s not surprising that he made them part of his personality. Bateman’s identity is built around all these things he consumes, and his monologues, which are very generic, also prove how shallow he is, as he doesn’t even have a personal opinion on them.

By adopting what the masses like instead of creating his own opinion on everything and thus forming his own personality, Bateman is doing the opposite of fitting in, as he comes off as unauthentic and ends up getting lost in the mass, as seen in how Paul Allen and his own lawyer mistake him for other people. Patrick Bateman’s music monologues serve an important purpose in American Psycho and make Bateman a more interesting and terrifying character.