Influence of the Moment: Patrick Bateman

I’m going to start something new, every week I will post one of my newest idols. I will tell you what I like about them, how I wish to be like them, and how they are influencing me. Hopefully this will be somewhat interesting, and will give you some more insight into what my values are, and whom I aspire to be.

My first Idol of the Week will be Patrick Bateman, the main character in Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho.  I’m sure most people have watched the movie American Psycho, featuring Christian Bale.  In my opinion the book is much better, you really get a sense of the character and his twisted personality. Patrick Bateman is what is known as a yuppie, someone is incredibly wealthy, usually as a result of their parents.  He has everything he could ever ask for, except for happiness.  Patrick Bateman also happens to be an insane psychopath, his bloodlust spills over into his personal life and he begins to kill his friends.

You’re a fucking ugly bitch. I want to stab you to death, and then play around with your blood.

Patrick Bateman is a perfectionist, an extremely introverted person, and extremely handsome. He constantly lusts for drugs, sex, and fulfilling his violence urges. He remarks “I’m just trying to fit in”, he just wants to be normal, yet he constantly strives for perfection. His body is top quality, rock hard abs, huge biceps, and broad shoulders. People constantly ask him if he is a model, he is obsessed with designer clothes and the latest fashion. In vain and materialist ways he is the model human, a sculpted physique that shows what humans can achieve with dedicated work.  But on the inside…

I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don’t know why. My nightly blood lust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

On the outside Patrick Bateman is the male American dream, model physique, great hair, works on wall street making hundreds of thousands of dollars, ladies man, intelligent and witty.  Yet on the inside Patrick Bateman is a psychopath killer, axing his co-workers, killing hookers and the homeless.  It gives some insight into the way that we perceive the American dream, how diluted our vision of perfection truly is.

I live in the American Gardens Building on W. 81st Street on the 11th floor. My name is Patrick Bateman. I’m 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I’ll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now. After I remove the ice pack 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. Then I apply an herb-mint facial mask which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. 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.

Patrick Bateman is not my idol because of the fact that he is a psychopathic serial killer.  He is my idol because deep down, even though I wouldn’t like to admit it, I wish I was like him.  I wish I was a perfectionist, always alert and always aware of my surroundings. I want to be like Patrick Bateman, minus the killing part.  I want to strive for perfection everyday of my life, I want to have perfect skin and have a model physique.  I want to be able to live the dream.  Patrick Bateman has influenced me, after reading the above quote I actually went to my local store and purchased a Facial Moisturizer, Facial Exfoliater, Anti Aging Eye Balm, Apricot and Almond Body Scrub, and a herb-mint facial mask.  I have started to use these products everyday, I have a morning ritual very similar to Patrick Bateman’s now.

Patrick Bateman is also one of my biggest influences in working out everyday.  I want to have a body that girls lust for, I want to have a six pack abs.  Admitting all of these things makes me feel extremely vain and materialist, but it is the truth.  Deep down I know most Americans feel and desire these things, they just do not want to admit it.  I have slowly started to try and become more like Patrick Bateman, one piece at a time.