UniversityofBerne,DepartmentofEnglish

WhatMakesaYuppie?
TheEssentialTraitsofYuppiedomasDepictedina WorkofFiction

BachelorsThesis
WordCount:10324 DateofCompletion:1May2009
LaureenLeonaZanotti Gaselstrasse12 3098Schliernb.Kniz laureen.zanotti@students.unibe.ch MatriculationNumber:02881738 SpringTerm2009 Supervisor:Dr.JuliaStraub UniversityofBerne DepartmentofEnglish Lnggassstrasse49 3009Bern

WhatMakesaYuppie?LaureenL.Zanotti

Index
1.INTRODUCTION 2.THEYUPPIESTEREOTYPEACCORDINGTOPIESMANANDHARTLEY 3.YUPPIELOOKS 3.1THEDIFFERENTDEFINITIONSOFYUPPIE 3.2HOWTHENOVELSCHARACTERSCHERISHTHEIRATTIRE 4.GROUPIDENTITY:THEIMPORTANCEOFBEINGALIKE 4.1AHANDBOOKASAMEANSTOSIGNALGROUPIDENTITY 4.2.HOWTHENOVELCHARACTERDETECTSANOUTCAST 4.1FRIENDSORSTRANGERS? 5.CONSUMERISM 6.LOVEANDMORALVALUES 7.CONCLUSION 8.WORKSCITED 8.1BOOKS 8.2PARTSOFBOOKS 8.3ARTICLEINREFERENCEBOOK 8.4ARTICLES 8.5ONLINEARTICLES 8.6EMAILCOMMUNICATION 8.7IMAGES 8.8NONDETECTABLESOURCES 9.APPENDIX 10.DECLARATION 3 4 7 7 9 12 12 14 15 18 25 30 32 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 34 35 36

WhatmakesaYuppie?LaureenL.Zanotti

WhatMakesaYuppie?TheDepictionofYuppiedomin aWorkofFiction 1.Introduction

Readersof1980sandearly1990snovelssuchasBretEastonEllisLessThan Zero,AmericanPsycho,orJayMcInerneysBrightLights,BigCity,orStoryofMy Lifearelikelytodiscoverthatyuppiedomisamoreorlessprominentfeaturein alltheseworks.ThisBachelorsthesisisdevotedtotheanalysisofyuppiedomin BretEastonEllisAmericanPsycho.(NB:Althoughmyprimaryfocusisafictional work,theyuppiealsofiguresinnonfiction,whichwillbecitedlaterinthis thesis). Ishalldiscussthetypicalyuppielooks,forIarguethatattirefunctionsas anextensionoftheyuppiepersonaandthatitisthefirstcriteriawhichhastobe metinordertoconveytowhatsortofgrouptheyuppiebelongs.Thisidealeads tomysecondpoint,whichisgroupidentity.Groupidentityisintertwinedwith yuppieattire,asIarguethatinthenovel,yuppiesfunctionasagroupand thereforeneedtofitinwithacertainlook.Yet,thereismoretotheyuppiethan meetstheeye.Ishallextendmyanalysisbydiscussingtheportrayalofyuppies andtheirhabitofconsumingluxurymerchandise.Thelistingofluxurybrands throughoutthenovelcannotbedenied.Therefore,Iseethisattributeasan integralcharacteristicoftheyuppie.InthelastchapterofmythesisIdiscuss howthenovelsyuppiesbehaveinclose,personalrelationships.Ishall demonstratethatyuppiesdotendtowardsconventionalformsofrelationships, i.emonogamousrelationshipsandmarriage.However,itwillbeshownthat theserelationshipsaremerefaades. OnecanassumethatthefictionalcharactersinAmericanPsychoare presentedasexaggeratedorstereotypedversionsofyuppies(inordertomake thepoint).Forthesakeofhavingthesamestartingpoint,Iwillbeginthisthesis bypresentingsuchadepictionofatypicalyuppie.

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2.TheYuppieStereotypeAccordingtoPiesmanand Hartley
TheYuppieHandbookisaworkofmockfiction,orasJeffGordinierinhisessay, TheReturnoftheYuppie,soeloquentlyputsit,ajokeypieceofsocial anthropology(par.10)byMarissaPiesmanandMarileeHartley.Nevertheless,it isaworkthatmirrorsagenerallyacceptedimageof1980syuppies,andIreferto thisbookbecauseIhavereasontobelievethatEllis,inhiswork,depicts stereotypedversionsofyuppiestomakehischaractersmorevivid,more credible. IfonestudiesthecoverofTheYuppieHandbook,oneisalreadymadeto understandthatattireisnotsomethingmarginal:

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Fig.1

WhatMakesaYuppie?LaureenL.Zanotti

ThefrontcoverofTheYuppieHandbookalreadyshowsseveralsignalingdevices ofayuppie:Arelativelyyoungmaleandfemalewearwhatappearstobethe appropriateuniformoftheirsocialstatus:Themaleisdressedinapinstripesuit withaCrosspenattachedtoitsjacketpocket.TheL.L.Beanduckhuntingboots donotgowithhisattire.However,theyareanindicationofbrandloyalty,i.e.,the yuppiechoosesthisbrandwhenhebuysshoesforrecreationalpurposes.Over hisleftarmhehasdrapedatrenchcoatshowingitsdistinctiveBurberrypattern lining.OnhiswristhewearsaRolex.Themalesadditionalaccessoriesarea squashracquetandaGuccibriefcasewithacoopofferingprospectusthatlies nexttoit.ThewomanwearsaratherformalsuitbyRalphLaurenandarather informalbutnonethelessspecializedpairofrunningshoes(whichtooare indicatorsofayuppiehobby).OnherwristisattachedaCartiertankwatch. Apartfromthis,shecarriesacoachbag,andashoppingbagfromagourmetshop withfreshpastathatsticksout.TheSonyWalkmanheadsetisneatlyplacedover herhead. Whatisinterestingaboutthiscoveristhatlinespointtotheitems,which aremarkedwiththerespectiveinformationaboutbrands,etc.Bythisinsertion ofadditionalinformationitismadecleartothereaderthattheseareitems whichyuppiestendtochoose,andthatitisimportanttomakethisknownto others.Itisclearlyemphasizedthatbrandsplayacrucialroleinthisexampleof ayuppieoutfit. Thetopicofyuppieattire,willbediscussedinmoredetailinthenext chapter.

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3.YuppieLooks
3.1TheDifferentDefinitionsofYuppie
Ibeginwiththedefinitionoftheword,yuppie,asitispresentedinMerriam WebstersCollegiateDictionary.Myintentionistodemonstratethatthis definitionissomewhatwanting,becausetheaspectofappearanceisleftout. AccordingtotheMerriamWebstersCollegiateDictionaryayuppieisa youngurbanprofessional(1455),meaningthatheorsheisayoungcollege educatedadultwhoisemployedinawellpayingprofessionandwholivesand worksinornearalargecity(1455). ThisdefinitionbyMerriamWebsterisratherspecificastothekindof persononehastobeinordertofallintotheyuppiecategory.Firstly,ayuppieis determinedbyhisorherage,andsecondly,byhisorhereducation,andthirdly, bythewayinwhichheorsheputstheireducationintopractice.Inshort,age, educationandahighpayingjobaretheattributeswhichappeartolaythe cornerstoneofyuppiedom. Yet,thedefinitionbyMerriamWebsteralonedoesnotseemtosufficeif onecomparesittothedepictionswhicharegiveninthenovel.Iarguethata personwhomeetsthecriteriacitedaboveisnotyetacompleteyuppie.ThisI explaininmoredetail:Acollegeeducatedpersonwhohasanaboveaverage incomeandlivesorworksnearalargecitydoesnotyetqualifyasayuppiein termsoflooks.Idiscussthisissuebytheexampleoflooks,becausethisisa ratheraccessibletopicandthenovel,AmericanPsycho,offerssomanyexamples foronetomakevaliddeductionsandconclusions.(Butitwouldalsobepossible todiscussthismatterbythemeansofother,morecomplexexampleslike behavior.Theinitialsentencewouldthenbe:Acollegeeducatedpersonwho hasanaboveaverageincomeandlivesorworksnearalargecity,doesnotyet behavelikeayuppie). AccordingtotheveryprecisedepictionsofyuppiecharactersinEllis novel,ayuppiedefinitelywantstolookthepart.MerriamWebstersdefinitionis thereforemisleading.AsRuthP.Rubinsteinstatesinherbook,DressCodes:

WhatMakesaYuppie?LaureenL.Zanotti

Bespoketailoring,whichwaspopularamongmoviestarsinthe1930 Sand1940s,was againbeingsoughtafterbythosethatcouldaffordit.Yuppieswereobtainingshirtsand suitscustommadeinLondon.(333334).

Theabovestatementsuggeststhatattireisavitalpartofayuppieslife,forit wouldseemredundantforindividualstogothroughthetroubleofhiringtailors iftheirappearancewerejustmoderatelyimportant.AsfarasRubinsteins statementisconcerned,itappliestowhatisdepictedinEllisAmericanPsycho:

ThesuitIweartodayisfromAlanFlusser.Itsaneightiesdrapesuit,whichisanupdated versionofthethirtiesstyle.Thefavoredversionhasextendednaturalshoulders,afull chestandabladedback.(29).

Thereferencetotheprototypeof1930stotheupdated1980ssuitsuggeststhat 1930smensattirefunctionsasarolemodelforelegantdressinginthe1980s, justasRubinsteinnotes. ItisnoteworthythatAlanFlusser(thebrandofPatrickBatemanssuit) does,inreality,exist.AlanFlusserisacustomtailorwhohasaboutiqueinNew YorkCity.Apartfromthis,ifonevisitstheAlanFlusserwebsite, www.alanflussercustom.com,onelearnsthatheisacustomdesignerandatailor ofmenswear,asreadsinthefollowingquotefromhiswebsite.Themajorityof thecustomclothesaretailoredfromfabricsthatIdesignandhavespecially loomedinEuropestopmills.(Link:Offerings)WhatFlusserstates, substantiatesRubinsteinsandthenovelcharactersaccountsinthreeways: Firstly,RubinsteinandBatemanbothstatethattheirwardrobeiscustom designed.Secondly,inbothcasestheemphasisonEurope/Londonsuggeststhat onlyoverseasfashionedgarmentsorfabricsstandforqualityandexclusivity. Lastly,thenarrativeandRubinsteinsaccountsbothputemphasisonthe1930s. Itissuggestedthatthefashionofthisrespectiveeraissomethingtowhichthe 1980spersonstrivesfor.Flusseralsomakesseveralcommentsaboutthiseraon hiswebsite.
A1930'sposterofagentdoffinghishatushersyouintoaseriesofwarmlyappointed drawingrooms,eachadornedwithanarrayofoldworldmenswearartsofamiliartothe Flusserstalwart.(Link:Home). [...]Eachpair's[shoes]uniquevintagefrontreprisesthefamousPealetoeofthe1930'' [sic]s,[...].(Link:CustomShoes).

WhatmakesaYuppie?LaureenL.Zanotti
Todaythe"FlusserHouseStyle"owesmuchofitssartorialpedigreetotheLondondrape suit.PopularizedbythelikesofEngland'sDukeofWindsorandAmerica'sFredAstaire duringtheincomparablystylishdecadeofthe1930's,thisSavileRowcutoftheclothes formedthestaginguponwhichtheera'supperclassmaleestablishedastandardfor masculineattirethathasyettobesurpassed.(Link:AboutUs).

Eachexcerptcontainssomeinformationastohowthe1930sarevaluedby Flusser.IhavereferredtoRubinstein,whonotesthat1930smensattirewas emulatedin1980stailoring.(DressCodes333334).Rubinsteinsstatementis substantiatedfirstlybythenovelcharacter,PatrickBateman,whostatesthathis suitwastailoredbyAlanFlusser,andthatitisanupdatedversionofthethirties style.(AmericanPsycho29).Secondly,itwasestablishedthatAlanFlusserexists inreality.ThisobservationisrelevantbecauseAlanFlusserverifieswhatPatrick Batemanstates,namely,thattheFlusserHouseStyleisinfluencedbythe stylishdecadeofthe1930s(Link:AboutUs). Asdemonstrated,MerriamWebstersdefinitionomitsthisrathercomplexaspect oflooks,whichisjustoneofmanyotheraspectsthatcouldbetakenintoaccount. Onecouldcounterarguethatthedefinitionimpliesthatyoungasinyoung urbanprofessional(MerriamWebster1455)isacertainlook,i.e.thelookofa youngperson.However,thisdoesnotchangetheclearimplicationthatattireisa crucialelementofyuppiedom. Inthefollowingsectionitwillbeshownthatthenovelcharacterspay verycloseattentiontoattireandthattheirclothingfunctionsbothasan extensionoftheyuppiepersona,andasameanstosignaltheirstatusinsociety.

3.2HowtheNovelsCharactersCherishTheirAttire
Ibeginwithmyfirstpoint,yuppielooks,becauseattirefunctionsasthemost obvioussignalingdeviceofyuppiedom.Forthesakeofhavingthesamestarting pointonyuppielooks,IbeginthischapterwithaquotefromBretEastonEllis firstdepictionofattireinAmericanPsycho:
PriceiswearingasixbuttonwoolandsilksuitbyErmenegildoZegna,acottonshirtwith FrenchcuffsbyIkeBehar,aRalphLaurensilktieandleatherwingtipsbyFratelli Rossetti.(45).

Asonecandeducefromthisfirstimpression,thevoiceofthenovel, PatrickBateman,paysverycloseattentiontowhathiscolleague,TimothyPrice,

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wears.Inaddition,thisdepictionsuggeststheparticularzeitgeistofa1980s society,whichisanelitistone:Thebrandsthatarementionedareallrather exclusiveprtporterclothinglines.Butmorenoteworthythanthatisthefact thatPriceandBatemanaresoawareofbrandnames,perse.Thissuggeststhat brandawarenesshasbecomethenormforthesetypesofindividuals.Apartfrom this,whenBatemannamesthedesigner,healwaysgivesadditionalinformation astothetypeofnaturalfabricofwhichtheitemsaremade.Thissuggeststhatto thenarrator,thesedetailsarecrucial.WhatEllisdepictsinthisfirstexcerptis theappraisalofanexperteye.Also,thisexperteyeglancesoverthesubjectin thesameorderasitisoftenconducted:Byfirstlookingattheupperpartofthe attireandthendownwardtotheshoes.ThisdescriptionofPricesclothingleads totheimplicationthattheattireisanextensionofayuppiepersona.Price,too,is awareofBatemansappearance:
Whyarentyouwearingtheworstednavyblueblazerwiththegraypants?(4).

ItisnoteworthythatPriceusesasimilarpatterntospeakaboutBatemans dressinghabits,whichincludethenamingofadditionalinformationsuchas colorandfabric.Apartfromthis,Priceseemstobevisuallyperceptiveofhis colleague.Thetwoexcerptsindicatehowhighlypersonalappearanceis weighed.ThefactthatBateman,whoappearstobeaptatrecognizingbrands, andPrice,whoseemstoknowBatemanswardrobe,areindicatorsthatthemen musthaveacquiredthistasteandknowledgeofdressing.Pricesremarkis intriguingbecauseitsuggeststhatBatemancouldhavemadeabetterchoicein dressingorhemightevenhavebrokensomesortofdresscode,ofwhichthe readersarenotaware. AsRuthP.Rubinsteininherbook,DressCodes,notes,accordingtothe economistandsocialcriticThorsteinVeblen,Americansocietytendstobuy moreexpensiveclothingthanisnecessary.(qtd.inRubinstein:3)1Onecanargue thatVeblenalsoaddressesasociologicalissue.Thatis,theissueofattirewhich signalssocialrank.Inhisextensivework,Distinction,PierreBourdieucarefully observestheissueofclothingindifferentsocialranks.Hestatesthat,for
1

Note:RubinsteindoesnotindicatethepagenumberofVeblensworkthatsheparaphrases. 10

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instance,theworkingclasshasadifferentwayofchoosingandbuyingclothes thandopeoplefromthemiddleclass.Thecrucialdifferencebetweenthetwo groupsisthattheworkingclasspeoplegiveprioritytobeing(200)whereasin themiddleclasstheconcernforseemingarises.(200).Inaddition,working classpeoplemakemorerealisticchoicesabouttheirclothing,i.e.theyhavetobe functional,worththeirprice,andtheymustbelonglasting.(200201). Bourdieusstatement,thatthemiddleclassismoreconcernedwiththe waytheyseem(200),appliesdirectlytothenovelcharacterssocialstatus, whichseemstobetheuppermiddleclass.Thatthefictionalcharacterswear expensiveclothingbrandsshowsthattheydonotbelongtothelowerclass. Otherwise,asBourdieunotes,thenovelcharacterswouldbemoreconcerned withbuyingfunctionalclothes.(200). Tosumup,looks,orinthiscase,attire,isapriorityinthelifeofayuppie. Thefactthatattireisalreadydealtwithonpages4and5ofanalmost400page novelsubstantiatesthisposition.Inaddition,thecharactersshowthatthey belongtoahighersocialstatusbywearingthiskindofclothing.However,attire seemstoserveanotherimportantfunctioninthelifeofayuppie,namely,that clothingsignalsgroupidentity.This,Idiscussinchapter4.

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4.GroupIdentity:TheImportanceofBeingAlike
4.1AHandbookAsAMeansToSignalGroupIdentity
Thesimplestwaytoshowthatonebelongstoacertaingroupmightbetodress inthesamemanner.IntheprevioussectionsofthisthesisIhavealready discussedtheissueofyuppieattireandhowitplaysacrucialrole,notonlyin AmericanPsycho,butalsoinreality,asRubinsteinobservedinherbookDress Codes,orinPiesmanandHartleysTheYuppieHandbook.Ihavedemonstrated thatinallthreeworks,attiremustbeexclusiveinthesensethatonlyacertain numberofpeoplecanaffordsuchitems.However,Ihavenotdiscussedwhythis isso.Theitemsapparentlysobelovedbythenovelyuppieandthe Piesman/Hartleyyuppiemakeupasomewhathomogenousentity.Inshort, yuppiestendtolookthesame.This,Iargueisintended. TheYuppieHandbookbytheauthorsMarissaPiesmanandMarilee Hartleywaspublishedin1984,andisthereforeacontemporaryaccountof yuppiedom.Intheirwork,PiesmanandHartleytirelesslychroniclethewaysof theYuppie(Timepar.1).AccordingtoTime,whentheauthorswrotetheirbook in1984,theywerebothaccreditedYups:Piesman,32,isalawyer,andHartley, 38,isaneditor.(Timepar.1).Therefore,onecanarguethatthishandbookisthe workoftwowomenwhowereawareoftheirownstatus.Asdemonstratedinthe book,manycriteriahavetobemetinordertobecomeayuppie.Theauthorof thisTimebookrevuefrom9January1984writesthatthebookisintendedfor yuppies:
Thenewmanualisaimedatanaffluent,surefiremarket:theupscaleyoungsinglesand dualcareercouplesgatheredinornearbigcities.Longthedarlingsoftheadvertising worldandthemedia,thesefasttrackersarenowunitedunderasassynameandinvited tosmilealongattheirowntrendiness.(Timepar.2).

Thisexcerptnotonlysummarizestheimportantaspectsofyuppiedom,which areage,careerandlivingenvironment;italsoindicatesthatyuppiessee themselvesasmembersofagroup.Afterall,thebookistargetedtowardsavery specificaudience.Itisnoteworthythattheauthorswriteamanualforpeople whoarelikethem.ThisleadstothedeductionthattheYuppieHandbookisa meanstosecureayuppiesidentitythroughguidanceofapparentyuppierules

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andregulations.Asonecansee,PiesmanandHartleydonotdepictcovermodels whowearcheap(er)copiesoftherespectiveitems.Whatismore,these guidelinesaresomewhatexaggeratedtothemaximum.Inshort,theyaremock descriptionswhichmakethecovermodelsappearasstereotypes. Iputforwardthisidea:Istheresuchathingasastereotyped1980s

yuppie,orweretheactualyuppiesoftheirrespectiveperiodalreadyliving stereotypes?Tobemoreprecise,doesonenothavetobeastereotypeoran exaggeratedversionofthatlookinordertoberecognizedasayuppie?This questionIposedtoProfessorCarloMichaelSommer,whodealswithissuesof clothingandidentity.Sommerstatesthat,naturally,likeallothertypes,the yuppie,too,isaconstructandthereforeakindofstereotypewhich,principally, issetonadiverseworldappearance.2(Emailcorrespondence2009). AccordingtoSommer,theyuppieisaconstruct(Emailcorrespondence2009), andthereforeakindofstereotype.ThewayinwhichSommerdealswiththe yuppieasatypeofspeciesisafascinatingone.Heseesayuppieassomething thathastobeconstructedinordertobeperceivedassuch.Thetermconstruct, inthissense,functionsasanindicatorofsomethingthathastobeassembledto haveaclear,distinguishedmeaning.Thisideaornotionappliesdirectlytothe modelsonthecoverofTheYuppieHandbook.Themanandwomanonthecover functionasmannequinsthathavebeendrapedintheappropriateclothingin ordertosignaltheirmeaning.Theirclothestelltheviewerswhatsocialrolethey playandwhatpeopleintheirrolesdo.Inthepragmaticsense:Theydress exquisitelyandplaysquashandeatgourmetfood.Apparentlythereisnomore oneneedstoknow;alltheitemsfunctionasashorthandtobringtheright messageacross.So,ifthemanandwomanonthecoverworejeansandaTshirt, wereholdingabaseballbatandcarryingabagfromaconveniencestore,then theywould,inallprobability,beperceivedassubjectsfromamiddleorlower socialclass.

ThisismytranslationofProfessorSommersEmailresponsetome,whichhewroteinGerman. TheEmail,initsoriginallanguage,isentailedintheappendixofthisthesis. 13

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Sommerslastsentencesseemstosubstantiatetheideathatagroupneedsto lookalikeinordertoacquiremembershipinit.Inhislaststatementhesaysthat thestereotypeisembeddedinasocietywithvariablelooks.Inthiscase,the yuppiegroupneedstodistinguishitselfandriseaboveallothers.

4.2.HowtheNovelCharacterDetectsanOutcast
Itgoeswithoutsayingthatdresscodescanbeseenasapartofagroupidentity, andindividualswhodonotparticipateinthegroupsdressinghabitscanbecome outsiders.Thisideacanbededucedbyreadingthefollowingexcerptfrom AmericanPsycho.
Eventhoughheisprobablyuncomfortableatthetablewithussincehelooksnothing liketheothermenintheroomhishairisntslickedback,nosuspenders,nohorn rimmedglasses,theclothesblackandillfitting,nourgetolightandsuckonacigar, probablyunabletosecureatableatCamols,hisnetworthpittance(13).

Thisexcerptdemonstratesthatthesubject(Stash)isperceivedasbeingan incommoditytotheparty.Heachievesthisbynotsharingthesameoverall appearanceastheothermembers,whichincludehairstyle,accessories (suspenders,glasses),andclothing.Whatisnoteworthyinthisquoteisthat BatemanonlyrealizesthatStashistheoddoneoutbecausehedoesnotlooklike theothermalesintheroom. ThewayinwhichBatemandescribeshismalefriends3isratherclinical: Hedoesnotoncementionanythingabouttheirpersonality.Withtheinformation thereadergetsfromBatemanhe/shecanonlydeducethatifamalewantsto befriendthisgrouphehastoslickbackhishair,wearsuspendersandhorn rimmedglassesandbeacigarsmoker.Thisdepictionofahomogenousmale groupisuncannybecauseitresemblesthewayinwhichonemightimaginea groupofclones;alllookthesamebutonedoesnotknowwhatsetsthemapart fromeachother.Besidethis,theexcerptdemonstratesthatacertaingrouphas farmorecomplexsignalingdevices,whichgobeyonddressinghabits.Stashalso doesnotsharethesamebehavioralpatternsastheothermalesbecausehedoes notsmokecigars.Batemanimplies,whenheusesthewordsnourgeto(13), thatStashdoesnotfitinbecausehedoesnotwantto.Furtherbehavioral
3

Iusethetermfriendsalsoinabroadersense,i.e.,thewayMerriamWebsterdefinesit:2a: onethatisnothostileb:onethatisofthesamenation,party,orgroup(501). 14

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patterns,whichStashdoesnotsharewiththeotherguestsaremerelyimplied throughBatemansspeculations,i.e.thathecannotsecureatableatthe respectiverestaurantorthathedoesnothaveanyfriendsworthknowing.From this,onecandeducethatifStashsharedthesamefeaturesasalltheotherguests, thenhewouldfitin.Moreimportantly,hemighthavebeenperceivedasoneof them,i.e.asanewcolleagueorevenasanewfriend.However,thefactthatStash doesnotsharethesameattributesthatappeartobevitaltobeembracedintoa (new)socialnetworkmakeshimanunwantedguestanoutcast,atleastinthe yuppiecontext.Itakethisconnectionbetweenfriendshipandlookingand behavingaliketoafurtherstep,andclaimthattolookandtobehavealikedoes notmeanthatthecharactersinAmericanPsychorecognizetheirfriends.Itwill bemadeclearinthefollowingsection,thattheattributeswhichseemtobeso importantforaffiliatingwiththenovelyuppiegroup(e.g.suits,hornrimmed classes,slickedbackhair,etc),actuallydrawapartthanbringcloser.

4.1FriendsorStrangers?
Interestingly,thepeoplewholooklikePatrickBatemanandhisfriendsareonly perceivedassuchforpreciselythatreason.Thereareseveralinstancesin AmericanPsychoweretheprotagonistsconfuseatotalstrangerwithafriend. Thissituationdoesnotoccurbecausethesupposedfriendsandthestrangers sharesimilarfacialfeatures,butrather,becausetheysharethesameattributes whichStashdoesnot,namely,thesuits,theslickedbackhair,thesuspenders, etc.ConsiderthefollowingexcerptwhereTimothyPriceconfusesastranger withVictorPowell.
Afigurewithslickedbackhairandhornrimmedglassesapproachesinthedistance, wearingabeigedoublebreastedwoolgabardineCerruti1881suitandcarryingthe sameTumileatherattachcasefromD.F.SandersthatPricehas,andTimothywonders aloud,IsitVictorPowell?Itcantbe. Themanpassesunderthefluorescentglareofastreetlampwithatroubledlookonhis facethatmomentarilycurlshislipsintoaslightsmileandheglancesatPricealmostasif theywereacquaintedbutjustasquicklyherealizesthathedoesntknowPriceandjust asquicklyPricerealizesitsnotVictorPowellandthemanmoveson. Thankgod,PricemuttersashenearsEvelyns. Itlookedalotlikehim.(78).

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Theconfusioninthisexcerpttakesplacebecausethestrangerappearstobe equippedwithallthenecessaryattributeswhichmakehimlooklikeVictor Powell:HishairisslickedbackjustlikeVictors,hewearshornrimmedglasses, heprobablywearsasimilar,orclosetoidenticalsuit,andhecarriesthesame attachcase.Fascinatingly,thestrangermusthavehadthesameideathatPrice issomeoneheknows,butneverthelessisuncertain.Thesentencewitha troubledlookonhisfacethatmomentarilycurlshislipsintoaslightsmileandhe glancesatPricealmostasiftheywereacquaintedbutjustasquicklyherealizes thathedoesntknowPrice(7),suggeststhattheconfusionismutual.However, onemightfinditratheroddthatpeoplewhoaresupposedtobeacquaintedonly detecteachotherbecauseoftheiroverallappearanceandnotbecauseoftheir facialfeatures.Innoinstanceinthisexcerptistherementionofthefacebeing thesourceofrecognition.Onpage50thereisavaguesuggestionthatPatrick BatemanisbetteratrecognizingsomeonethanTimothyPriceis.Inaddition, BatemanevenseemspuzzledbyPricesinabilitytorecognizethatparticular person.Butasitturnsout,Batemansreasoningseemshighlyunsubstantial.

WheresConrad?Iask.Ishouldsayhellotohim. ThedudewhocalledyouHamilton,Pricesays. ThatwasntConrad,Isay. Areyousure?Itlookedahelluvalotlikehim,[] No.ThatwasntConrad,Isay,surprisedatPricesinabilitytorecognizecoworkers. Thatguyhadabetterhaircut.(50).

Itisnotclear,however,ifBatemanactuallyknowswhatthisConradlookslike;it ismerelysuggestedinthelastlinewhereheexclaimshissurpriseaboutPrices inabilitytorecognizecoworkers(50)Yet,onecannottakethevoiceof Batemanforgrantedbecausethereisnoothervoicetoverifyifheiscorrect. WorthyofnoteisthatBatemanbaseshisverdictsolelyonthehaircutofthis supposedConrad.TheonlyreasonBatemanthinksitisnotConradisthatthe lookalikehasabetterhaircutthanConrad.Tothereader,Batemansreasoning mayseemratherawkward,foritissuggestedthatitisnotnecessarythatone lookatthepersonsfacewhich,onewouldassume,wouldbethesourceof recognition.Instead,thehaircutgetsmoreattention,andthusisamorevalued proofthantheface.Inshort,tolookatapersonshaircutisamorethanfeckless wayofdeterminingifheorsheisonesacquaintance. 16

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Apartfromthis,thefirsttwolinesofthequoteindicatethattomistakesomeone foranotherisnotjustamishapofoneperson,butamishapwhichotherpeople makeaswell.Firstofall,itisPricewhostatesthatConradmistookBatemanfor Hamilton,thenPricemistakesConradforthemanwhoreferredtoBatemanas Hamilton,andlastly,BatemanmightalsohavemistakenConradwithyetanother personbecauseheonlypaidattentiontothatpersonshair.Whatonecandeduce fromthissituationisthattheindividualmenmusteithernotlookanythingoutof theordinary,orallofthemdonotbothertomemorizetheircoworkersfaces.As discussedpreviously,thegroupofwhichBatemanandhisfriendsaremembers, allshareverysimilaroverallappearances,thereforeitishighlyprobablethatthe mixupstakeplacebecausetheseindividualsareonlyperceivedthroughthe attributesthatdelegatethemtothesamegrouptobeginwith.Tobemore precise,theclothes,thehairstyles,thebriefcases,etc.arepracticallyidentical withallthesemembers(otherwisetheywouldnotbeperceivedassuch,asthe exampleofStashhasshown).Thedownsideofthisisthatthememberslooktoo alike.ItisasifEllishascreatedastoryinwhichthemalecharacters,especially, appearasclones.Therefore,thesemixupsareboundtohappen. InthenextchapterIdiscussafurtherattributetoyuppiedom,namely,

consumerbehavior.

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5.Consumerism
ItseemsthattheyuppiecharactersinAmericanPsychosuccumbtothe compulsiontospendincessantlyonconsumeritems.Moreover,theitemsthat arebeingboughtthroughoutthisnovelarealwaysluxuryclassgoodsthiseven appliestohouseholdequipment.Giventhefactthatinthenoveltheseitemsare alwaysreferredtobytheirbrandnamesemphasizeshowimportantthisisfor thecharacters.Onecannothelpbutthinkthatconsumerismepitomizes yuppiedom.InthecourseofthefirstsectionItrytosubstantiatethisassumption bydiscussingvarioustextualexamplesinAmericanPsychothatdealwiththese issues. Yet,toprovethatluxurygoodsarecherishedbythenovelcharacters seemstobearedundanttaskifonedoesnotattempttofindoutwhatthecauses areforthiscompulsiontoconsume.Itis,therefore,advisabletoviewthisissue fromaneconomicstandpoint.ForthispurposeIconsultthebookLuxuryFever bytheAmericaneconomistRobertH.Frank.Theaimofthissectionistodiscuss thenovelscharactersactionsbymeansofFranksobservations.Itwillbeshown thatthenovelscharactersportraythewayinwhichconsumerism,inreality,is conducted. Apartfromthis,Ishalldiscusstheissuethat,inthenovel,thecharacters oftenseemtobeconstantlycomparingandcompetingwitheachother.The subjectsofthesecompetitionsareveryoftenconsumergoods,andthereasonfor thesecompetitionsisinitiallytoestablishtheownerofthebestitem.Usually, thesecompetitionsculminateintoformsofaggravation.Thenovelcharacter, PatrickBateman,seemstobetheidealspecimentoshowsuchaggravationwhen heloosesinoneupmanship.Iarguethatthesedisputesareaportrayalof consumerbehavior,i.e.thatsomeindividualsaimtowardsowningthebestitem available.ForthisdiscussionIshallreferagaintoRobertH.Frankwhodiscusses theimportanceofevaluation,andtoArthurAsaBerger,whoexplainsinAds, Fads,andConsumerCulture,bymeansofreferringtoRenGirard,whywe consumethings(29).IwillconcludethatFranksandBergersobservations aboutconsumerbehavioraremirroredinthenovel.

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IwillnowdiscussthefirstpointthatImadeintheintroductionofthischapter, namely,theissuethatconsumerismcharacterizesyuppiedominElliswork,and howthisissuereflectsrealsociety.ConsiderthequotefromRobertH.Frank:

Toearnagoodevaluation,somethingmusttypicallycomparefavorablywithother thingsinitsclassintheimmediatecontext.Aninevitableconsequenceisthatour evaluationofthethingswehavedependsonhowtheycomparewiththethingsthat othersinthelocalenvironmenthave.(LuxuryFever132).

Inotherwords,ifoneownsthingsthatnootherpersongetstosee,thenthe valueoftheseitemsbecomesirrelevantbecausetheevaluationofanitemcan onlybedonethroughtheperceptionofanother.Moreover,theitemsareina senseworthlessiftheycannotbecomparedtootheritemsofthesamecategory. ThepointwhichFrankmakes,isthatitemscanonlybecomparedwhenthey belongtothesamecategory.Iexplainthisbymeansofasimpleexample:Ifa personwithanewwristwatchgoestoseehisorherneighborandasksifheor shecouldcomparethewristwatchwiththeneighborscandleholdertoevaluate thetwo,thenthisundertakingdoesnotmakemuchsense.Ontheotherhand,if thepersonwiththewristwatchaskstheirneighboriftheycouldcompare wristwatches,thenthatwouldmakesensebecausethetwoitemsbelongtothe samecategory.Thewristwatchescouldthenbeevaluatedfortheirstyle,price, weight,andsoon.ProbablythemostprominentpassageinAmericanPsycho whichdealswithperceptionandevaluationofanitemistheonewheretheco workersshoweachothertheirnewbusinesscards.
Newcard.I[PatrickBateman]trytoactcasualaboutitbutImsmiling proudly.Whatdoyouthink?Woa,McDermottsays,liftingitup,fingeringthecard, genuinelyimpressed.Verynice.Takealook.HehandsittoVanPatten.[]Cool coloring,VanPattensays,[]Itisverycool,Bateman,VanPattensaysguardedly,the jealousbastard,butthatsnothing.Hepullsouthiswalletandslapsacardnexttoan ashtray.Lookatthis.WeallleanoverandinspectDavidscardandPricequietlysays, Thatsreallynice.AbriefspasmofjealousycoursesthroughmewhenInoticethe eleganceofthecolorandtheclassytype.IclenchmyfistasVanPattensays,smugly, EggshellwithRomaliantypeHeturnstome.Whatdoyouthink?Nice,Icroak,[] Jesus,Pricesays,holdingthecarduptothelight,ignoringthedrinks.Thisisreally super.Howdanitwitlikeyougetsotasteful?ImlookingatVanPattenscardandthen atmineandcannotbelievethatPriceactuallylikesVanPattensbetter.[] Butwait,Pricesays.Youaintseennothinyet.Hepullshisoutofaninsidecoat pocketandslowly,dramaticallyturnsitoverforourinspectionandsays,Mine[] Holyshit,VanPattenexclaims.Iveneverseen[]Iamunexpectedlydepressed thatIstartedthis.(4445).

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ThisexcerptclearlysubstantiateswhatFrankpointsout.Thatis,thatagood evaluationofanitemcanonlytakeplaceifthatitemiscomparedtoanother fromthesamecategory(LuxuryFever132).Intheabovequote,onelearnsthat theitem,whichissubjecttoevaluation,isabusinesscard.Fromthefirsttwo linesonecandeducethatBatemanseekspositivereassuranceabouthisbusiness card.Atfirsthegetsthispositiveevaluation.Butassoonasothersdisplaytheir businesscardsitisclearthatBatemanscardisnolongertheonewiththemost positiveevaluation.ThisiswhereFranksotherstatementaboutthe consequencesthisevaluationhas,namelythatitdependsonhowtheycompare withthethingsthatothersinthelocalenvironmenthave(132),comesintoplay. Theothercardsfunctionascompetitors.Butwhatmakestheothermembers changetheirmindsthatBatemanscardisnolongerthenicestone?The thickness,thefont,andthecolorofboththepaperandtheletteringandhow welltheycomplementeachotherappeartobethecriteriaonwhichthe evaluationisbased.IntheendallmembersconcurthatPricesbusinesscardis thenicestonebecausehiscardapparentlybeatsalltheothersintermsofthese criteria. Tooutsiders,thisundertakingorcomparingbusinesscardsmightseem rathertrivialifnotdownrightridiculous.Whatisthereasonbehindallthis comparingandevaluating?WhydoesBatemangetsoupsetthathiscardwasnot chosenasbeingthenicestone?AsPiesmanandHartleymockinglyputit,the ultimategoalofatrueYuppieistobehisownrolemodel.(TheYuppieHandbook 21).Inthatsense,Price,whoeveryoneconcurshasthenicestbusinesscard, becomestherolemodelforbusinesscardholders.However,Piesmanand Hartleysexplanationdoesnotseemsatisfactoryforitisnotyetclearwhya yuppiewantstobehisownrolemodel.Inthecaseofthebusinesscardexcerpt thiscompetitivenessleadstoaggravation.Thissituationmightremindreadersof instanceswherechildrenplaywithtoys,andattheverymomentonechildsees thattheotherisinpossessionofthebettertoy,becomesaggravated.ArthurAsa BergerdrawsonRenGirardsATheaterofEnvy:WilliamShakespeare,todiscuss whythisnotionisimportant,especiallywhenonetriestoexplainwhypeople consumethings.Girard,asBergerexplains,statesthatonedesireswhatothers desire.Thus,mimeticdesiremeansthatoneimitatesthedesiresofothers.This

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notionappliestoanykindofdesire,beitmaterialpossessionsormarriage partners.(qtd.inBerger29).
Individualswhodesirethesamethingareunitedbysomethingsopowerfulthat,aslong astheycansharewhatevertheydesire,theyremainthebestoffriends;assoonasthey cannot,theybecometheworstofenemies.(Girard1991:3qtd.inBerger:29).

Whatappliestotheexcerptwherethecoworkerscomparetheirnewbusiness cardsisthatPatrickBatemandesirestobeinpossessionofthenicestbusiness card.However,thefactthattheothermembersalsocompareandcriticizeeach otherscardsimpliesthatthisisacompetitionwhereeverybodywantstowin. PatrickBatemanisconvincedthatVanPattenisajealousbastard(44)andhe, himself,feelshisjealousyrisewhenherealizesthathisbusinesscardisno longerthefavoredone.Inaddition,derogatoryexclamationssuchasbutthats nothing(44)addtobuildupnegativetensionbetweenthecompetitors.As mentionedearlier,accordingtoGirard,itdoesnotmatterwhatisbeingdesired. Theinitialconclusionthatonecandrawfromhistheoryisthatthereisaroutine behindthisnotionofdesire.Thatis,therehastobeanitem,orperson,etc,thatis thesubjectofdesire,evenifitissomethingastrivialasabusinesscard.Although atthispointBatemanandhisfriendsarenottheworstofenemies(Girard 1991:3qtd.inBerger:29)onecanstillimaginethatanothersituationmight bringaboutamoretragicoutcome,asGirardargues.Afurtherexampleshows thatBateman,althoughheexperiencesmimeticdesire,dealswithhisjealousyby meansofdenial:
Ihave,VanPattensays,pausingformaximumimpact,atanningbedathome,[] Ohbullshit,Isay,cringing.[] Ijustthinkthatscrazyaboutthetanningbed,ItellVan Patten,thoughsecretlyIthinkitwouldbeahipluxuryexcept Ireallyhavenoroomforoneinmyapartment.(4849).

ItisquiteobvioustoVanPattenthatheistherolemodelofthegroup,forallthe othermembersvisittanningsalons.ThatVanPattenownsatanningbedis somethingunique.ToquoteRobertFrank,Itisfuntogetthenewtoys,but wheneveryoneinyourcirclegetsthem,itisnolongersospecial,[...](qtd.in

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Uchitellepar.22)4.BatemanisawarethatVanPattensowninghisowntanning bedputshiminabetterposition,justasFrankstates.Whatisnoteworthyisthat BatemanexpresseshisdisapprovaleventhoughhesecretlyadmiresVanPatten. Girardstheory,asBergerrightfullyobserved,playsacrucialroleinthe promotionofconsumerism.AsIhavedemonstratedonbehalfofthenovels characters,thedesiretobetherolemodelofagroupmeansthatthesubjects needtobeinpossessionofthedesireditems.Thisprobablyexplainswhythe mentioningofhighendproductsissoemphasizedinAmericanPsycho.Inthe nextsectionIdiscussthispointinmoredetail. AccordingtoRobertH.Frank,itisageneralpatternthatwithtime,each newproductcomeswithmorecostlynewfeaturesandthatthehighendmodels oftodaybecometomorrowsbasemodels.Apartfromthis,isitthecustomer whodesiresbiggerandmorehighlydifferentiatedversionsoftheproducts whichalreadyexist.(25)Ibelievethatthisobservationfitscompletelywithwhat isdepictedinAmericanPsycho.BelowIshowtwoexamplesofthewayinwhich householdappliancesarebeingreferredto.
[T]heSharpModelR1810ACarouselIImicrowaveovenwithrevolvingturntable[] (29). AnewTVmonitorwithatwentyseveninchscreen,theCX2788fromToshiba,hasa builtinMTSdecoder,aCCDcombfilter,programmablechannelscan,asuperVHS connection,sevenwattsperchannelofpower,withanadditionaltenwattsdedicatedto driveasubwooferforextralowfrequencyoomph,andaCarverSonicHolographing soundsystemthatproducesauniquestereo3Dsoundeffect.(307).

Whatisnoteworthyisthatinthefirstexample,PatrickBatemandoesnotsimply refertotheobject.Healsomentionswhichbrandandmodelitisandwhatitcan do.Inthesecondexample,ifoneisnotversedinthiskindoftechnicallanguage, onemayfinditratherdifficulttounderstandwhatisbeingdiscussed.In exaggeratedtermsitisasifonewouldbeexposedtoalanguageonedoesnot fullycomprehendandwhereonehastotrytofilteroutwordsthatsound familiarinordertogetthegistoftheconversation.So,inthesecondexample, wordsofrecognitionmightbeTVmonitor,VHSconnection,soundsystem,and

Note: Uchitelle, in his essay, As Taste for Comfort Rises, So Do Corporations Profits, does not indicate the source of Franks quote. Therefore, in the Works Cited list of this thesis, I have listed Robert H. Frank under the heading 8.8 Non-Detectable Sources (32).

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alltheotherwords,inawaysoundfamiliar,butinthecontexttheyappear,make littleornosense. Nonetheless,whatBatemanrefersto,inaratherconfusingway,arethe extrafeatureswithwhichhistelevisionmonitorisequipped.Thewayinwhich themicrowaveovenandtelevisionmonitoraredescribedsuggeststhattheycan domorethanjustheatupaglassofmilkorprojectimages.Inshort,theymustbe exclusiveversionsofhouseholdequipment,ortouseamorecolloquialterm, theymustbetopofthelineproducts.Itisnoteworthyhowmuchemphasisisput onthemerchandisewhichismentionedthroughoutthenovelandthemore extragadgetsandfeaturestheycomewiththebettertheyareperceivedtobe.I havegivenexamplesofdomesticappliances,butthisnotionofowningthemost exclusiveproductsoftheirlinesseemstoapplytoanyitemdiscussedinEllis work.ItappearsasifEllismirrorsinPatrickBateman,albeititinexaggerated terms,thearchetypicalconsumer.Ihavearguedintheintroductorypartofthis chapterthatconsumerismappearstoepitomizeyuppiedom.ButIwish, however,toemphasizethatIdonotbelievethatconsumerismisprimarilyan attributeofjustoneeraandacharacteristicofonenation.JohnL.Hammond arguesinhisessayYuppies,thatitisthemediawhichhavepicturedyuppiesas materialistic,becausetheywereeconomicallyprivileged,andthattheytook advantageoftheirsituation.(488)Inaddition,heclaimsthatthemediaalso reportthatyuppiesareveryconcernedwithincome,consumptionand possessions(489),aswellasphysicalfitnessandconsumerism(496).Imustadd atthispointthatHammondwantstoprovethatthereisageneralinaccuracyin thewayinwhichthemediadepictyuppies.(497)Ideal,however,withtheways inwhichyuppiesareportrayedinthemedia,ortobemoreprecise,infiction.I takethestandthatEllisworkswiththestereotypeorthegenerallyaccepted image. Toreturntothenovel,itseemsimportanttoexplorethereasonsfor purchasingapplianceswhichappeartohavemorefunctionsthanonemay actuallyneed,andwhyoneispreparedtobuytheexclusiveversion,whichcosts more,ratherthanthestandardversionwithlessfeatures,thatcostsless.Robert H.Frankstatesthatitisacommonwaytocoaxpeopleintospendingmore moneywhenmoreperformancefeaturesareaddedtoappliances.Butwhatone

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needstoknowisthatthehighendapplianceshavehighermarkupsthanmodels thatarelesscostly.Toaddmorefeaturestoanitem,Frankstates,isaclever marketingtactictogetpeopletobuythehighendappliances.(24)Hequotesthe NewYorkTimeseconomicsreporter,LouisUchitelle,whostatesthat manufacturersaddsomegadgetortwistthatmillionsofconsumersarewilling, orcanbepersuaded,topayextratohaveIneachofthesehigherprices,an extraprofitisembedded.(Uchitelle:p.A1qtd.inFrank:24)Uchitelles observationseemstoapplydirectlytothespendthriftinessofthenovels characters.AsfarasBatemanspurchaseconcerns,itappearsthathewants readerstoknowthatheownsapplianceswhichcomewithadditionalfeatures. WhatonecanderivefromUchitellesstatementisthatBatemansmicrowave ovenandhistelevisionscreenmustbehighendproductsbecausetheyhave extrafeatures. However,FrankandUchitellespeakaboutthespendinghabitsinAmerica ofthelate1990s,soonemustpresumethattospendmoneyondomestic appliancesisnotnecessarilyanactwhichisattributedtothe1980sgeneration. InTheYuppieHandbookPiesmanandHartleyofferAKitchenQuiz(42)for readerstotakeinordertofindouthowyuppietheyare.Intheintroductorypart, theauthorsemphasizethatthekitchenisthemostaccuratereflectionofones Yuppiequotient.(42)Thus,itseemsthatinhisworkoffiction,Ellishas portrayedconsumerbehaviorasitworksinreality,justasFrankexplainsin LuxuryFever. Toconclude,consumerisminAmericanPsychoreflectsinthebehaviorof thecharacters.TheexcerptsdiscussedinthischaptershowthatRenGirards theoryonmimeticdesire(qtd.inBerger29)reflectsinthebehaviorofthe characterswhentheycompete.InadditionIhavediscussedthathighend productsplayacrucialroleinthenovelandthattheyreflecttherealityof consumerbehaviorwhichFrankdiscussesinhiswork.Therefore,Iarguedthat Ellisincorporatedthisnotionintohisfictionalworkwithcertainexaggerations.

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6.LoveandMoralValues
Inthischapter,Idiscussthepersonalrelationshipsbetweentheyuppie charactersinAmericanPsycho,withregardtothewayinwhichtheydealwith theirmoralvaluesasreflectedintheirlovelives.Again,ImustemphasizethatI dealwithfictionalyuppiecharactersandnotwithreallifeyuppies.Therefore, thedeductionsandconclusionsthatImakeinthischapterwillonlyapplytothe fictional,orstereotypicalcharacters.Iwilldemonstrateinthissectionthatisa ratherdifficulttasktofindthecombinations,yuppieandlove,inAmerican Psycho. ItsOnlyYuppieLove(89)isthetitleofasectioninTheYuppie Handbook.WiththistitlePiesmanandHartleyimplythatyuppieloveis somewhatdifferent.Whatismore,theadverb,only(89)inthetitle,isused pejorativelyandthussuggeststhatyuppieloveisnotgenuinelove.Indeed, accordingtoPiesmanandHartley,thiskindofloveisamergernotinthe romanticsense;yuppieloveappearstobemoreofabusinessstrategy.Consider thefollowingstatement:
YUPPIESDONTlovetheirlovers.TheyloveVivaldi,theirnewapartmentsandthecolor oftheoceanoffSt.ThomasinJanuary.(89). Yuppiesdomarry(orbuyajointcondoifgay)andtendtoremainmonogamoustoavoid herpes.[]Notoriouslyshortontime,Yuppiesdontlookforemotionalrichesin marriage.Instead,theyviewthemselvesastwowelleducated,highlypaidpeople comingtogetherforthebetterlife,lowerhousingcostsandacombinedannualincomein thesixfigures.Infact,themarriageoftwoYuppiesisnotunlikethemergeroftwo corporations.[]Thus,signingthemarriagecertificateisamereformality,[](89).

Inthefirstquote,thetermloveisusedinapejorativesensetodescribethelove towardsapartner.Butthetermisamelioratedwhenusedinothercontexts, usuallytodescribethelovetowardsworldlypleasures.Inshort,theverblove, inthewayitisusedinthequote,functionsasatwowayconcept,whereone conceptofloveappearstobebetterthantheotherconcept.Forthesakeof coherenceIrefertothefirstconceptasaweaklove,andtheotherIrefertoas thestronglove.IfoneappliestheseconceptstowhatPiesmanandHartleystate, thenitisclearthattheauthorsascribetheweaklovetothepartner,andthe worldlypleasuresorconceptswouldbeascribedthestronglove.Whatis noteworthyisthatVivaldi,thenewapartments,andthecoloroftheocean

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offSt.ThomasinJanuary(89)cannotreturnlove,whereasthelovercould.Soin endeffect,thelover,whowouldbecapabletolove,isleftwiththeweaklove, andVivaldi,thenewapartmentsandacertaincolor,allofwhich,inaway,are abstractconcepts,receivethestronglove.Thisdoesnotseemtomakemuch sensebecauseitissafetoassumethatmanywouldseeittheotherwayaround. Thus,themessage,whichtheauthorsconvey,isthatyuppiesarenotcapableof lovingtheirpartnersinthewaytheylovegoodsorconceptswhich,inreturn,are incapableoflovingthemback.Asreadersmightconcur,thisisarathersad depictionofanindividual.Furthermore,theconceptofmarriage,astheauthors suggest,isanunromanticone.Firstofall,ayuppiecouplewantstoavoid sexuallytransmitteddiseases,andbymarriagetheyaretraditionallyboundtoa monogamousrelationship.Ifayuppiecouplemarriesforthisreason,thenthat appearsratherstrange,andtosomeextentevenneurotic.Apartfromthis, accordingtotheauthors,matrimonytakesplaceforthesakeofconvenienceand notforlovessake.Moreover,PiesmanandHartleyusetheratherunromantic termmergertodescribeaweddingbetweentwoyuppies,whichtheycompare withamergeroftwocorporations.(89)Thus,marriageisnothingmorethanthe signingofyetanotherworkrelatedcontract. InowreturntoAmericanPsychoandcomparethewaysinwhichEllis portrayshischaractersviewsonclosepersonalrelationshipswiththewayin whichthisappliestoPiesmanandHartleyspersiflagediscussedabove.

KateisthechickwhoVanPattenshavingtheaffairwith,[]
WhathappenedtomissKittridge?[] Yeah,Pricesmiles.WhataboutAmanda? Ohgod,guys,lightenup.Fidelity?Right. Arentyouafraidofdiseases?Priceasks.(46).

Asreaderswillconcur,thereisnomentionofpure,romanticfeelingstowards thewomen,KateandAmanda.Alreadyinthefirstlineofthequote,thereaders aremadeawareofthefactthatVanPattencheatsonAmanda.ButKate,the womanwithwhomhecheatsonAmanda,ispejorativelyreferredtoasachick andnotasawoman.Moreover,whenPriceasksVanPattenaboutAmanda,the latterderogativelyaddressestheissueoffidelity.Theitalicizedexclamation Right(46)emphasizesVanPattenscondescendingattitudetowards

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monogamy.WhatisnoteworthyisthatPriceraisesthequestionaboutdiseases justasdoPiesmanandHartleyintheirYuppieHandbook.Inbothcases, monogamyisnotsomethingthecharacterspracticebecausetheycherishtheir relationshipsandtheirpartners,butbecausetheyareafraidofcontractinga sexuallytransmitteddiseasewhentheywouldbewithsomeoneelse.Inboth casesitisimpliedthatmonogamybepracticedforthesakeofonesownmedical healthandnotbecauseofreasonsoftrustandmutualrespectfortherespective partners.Inbothcasestheprotagonistsareprimarilyconcernedabout themselves. Thefollowingexcerptdemonstratesthestanceonrelationshipissues fromafemaleperspective.ItisEvelynwhocommentsonherfriendCourtneys fadedlovetowardsherboyfriendLuis:
ThereallydreadfulthingaboutCourtneyisnotthatshedoesntlikeLouisanymore.[] Itsthatshesreallyinlovewithherrealestatebroker.Somelittletwerp[].(19).

Evelyn,makesaninterestingand,tosomeextent,ratherdisturbingstatement, namely,thatshedoesnotthinkitisdreadful(19)thatCourtneynolonger likes(19)herboyfriend,Louis,butthatsheisinlove(19)withatwerp (19).WiththisstatementEvelynimpliesthatitismoredreadfultoloveatwerp thantonotlikeonesboyfriend. Again,itisnoteworthythatEvelynusesthenegativeaspectoftheverb likei.e.notlike,torefertoCourtneysfeelingstowardsLuis.Thismeansthat thepositiveaspectoflikecanonlybelike.Butinreferencetoaboyfriend,the useofthetermlove,orinCourtneyscase,notlovewouldbeinorder.Inshort, thestrongestfeelingtowardsaboyfriendistolikehim.Thisnotionties togetherwiththestatementthatPiesmanandHartleymake.Thatis,thatyuppies donotlovetheirpartnersinthetraditionalorconventionalsense. Iofferanotherexampleofyuppielove:EvelynandPatrickareanengaged couplethatcheatsoneachother.This,asthefollowingexcerptshows,doesnot seemtoposeaproblem.
IamfairlysurethatTimothyandEvelynarehavinganaffair.Timothyistheonly interestingpersonIknow.(22). WhydontyoujustgoforPrice?[] Hesrich,Isay.

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Everybodysrich,shesays,[] Hesgoodlooking,Itellher. Everybodysgoodlooking,Patrick,shesaysremotely. Hehasagreatbody,Isay. Everybodyhasagreatbodynow,shesays.(23).

Inthefirstexample,theideathatEvelynmighthaveanaffairdoesnotseemto causeanyanguishtoPatrick.Whatismore,heevenapprovesofPricebeing Evelynsloverbecausehefindshimtheonlyinterestingpersonofhis acquaintance.Inthesecondexcerpt,PatrickevenattemptstoconvinceEvelyn thatPricewouldbeagoodsuitorforher.Apartfromthis,Patricknamesallthe criteriathatseemtobeimportantforawomantochooseherpartner.Hehasto berich,goodlooking,andheneedstobephysicallyinexcellentshape.Again, lovedoesnotappeartoplayanyroleinchoosingapartner. Atonepoint,however,Evelynbringsupthesubjectofmarriagewhenshe andPatrickhavedinner.Shetriestoenticehimintomarriage:
Weddingsaresoromantic.Shehadadiamondengagementring.Youknow,Patrick,I wontsettleforless,[]Ithastobeadiamond.[]Idwantazydecoband,Patrick. ThatswhatIdwant.Azydecoband,shegushesbreathlessly.Ormariachi.Orreggae. SomethingethnictoshockDaddy.[]Oh,andlotsofchocolatetruffles.Godiva.And oysters.[]Marzipan.Pinktents.Hundreds,thousandsofroses.[]WellgetAnnie Leibovitz,[]Weshoulddoit.(124).

OnewouldassumethatEvelyn,aftersheclaimsthatweddingsareromantic, wouldmakesomestatementastowhatitisthatmakesweddingsromantic. Instead,sheliststheconsiderablyexclusivearrangementsshewantsforher weddingandthenconcludesthattheyshoulddoit(124).ItappearsthatEvelyn hasaratherunromanticviewonromancebecausesheequatesromancewithan ostentatiousdisplayofwealth.Tobeginwith,Evelynscandidremarkthatshe wontsettleforless(124)thanadiamondengagementringsuggeststhatsheis arathercalculatingindividualandnotsomeonewhocherishesromance. However,EvelyndoesnotsucceedinherattempttogetPatrickto proposetoher.ItisoddhowEvelynreactstothissituation.Onewouldassume thatanywomanwouldbedevastatedifitbecameclearthatherpartnerfelt reluctanttogetmarried.However,Evelyndoesnotexpressanyanguishor sinceredisappointment.Instead,shereactsratherstubbornlyandchildishly:
Whatareyougoingtodo?she[sic]asks.Waitthreeyearsuntilyourethirty?

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Fouryears,Isayglaring.ItsfouryearsuntilImthirty. Fouryears.Threeyears.Threemonths.Ohgod,whatsthedifference?Youllstillbean oldman.[]Youknow,youwouldntbesayingthisifyoudbeentoJayneSimpsons wedding.Youdtakeonelookatitandwanttomarrymeimmediately.[]Youre impossible,shewhines.Youreapartypooper.(125).

InthisexcerptEvelynneverexpressesanyheartfeltdisappointment.Instead,she triestotalksenseintoPatrickbyimplyingthatheisalreadyonthevergeof beingtoooldtogetmarried.ThisratherinsultingstatementsuggeststhatEvelyn isonlyconcerned,forwhateverreasons,withmarryingyoungthantomarrying perse.Apartfromthis,sheisconvincedthattheviewingofanostentatious weddingceremonywouldbeenoughforPatricktochangehismind.Keepingin mindthatEvelynsideaofromanceistoimpresswithapretentiouswedding reception,thiswayofcoaxingPatrickintoreconsideringmarriagedoesnot expressthegenuineandheartfeltdesiresonewouldexpectinsuchasituation. Lastly,Evelynrealizesthatshewillnotsucceed,andsimplyexclaimsthatPatrick isimpossible(125)andthatheisapartypooper(125).Thesetwo exclamationsseemmoreappropriateforexpressingonesangertowards someonewhobehavesunmannerlyduringaparlorgame.Especiallythelatter expression,partypooperdoesnotseemsuitedtothissituation.Moreover, partypooperisaratherchildishreferenceforsomeonewhodoesnotwantto getmarried,anditimpliesthatEvelyndoesnotseemtounderstandthattomany individuals,matrimonyismorethanaparty. Tosumup,IhavediscussedinthischapterthattheyuppieinEllis AmericanPsychoisanunloving,adulterous,calculating,andmaterialisticbeing whenitcomestointimaterelationshipsandmarriage.Whatshouldbe emphasizedisthefactthattheyuppiediscussedinTheYuppieHandbook,canbe seenasapersiflageaccountofreallifeyuppielove,whereasEllisyuppieloveis fictional.However,allauthorsseemtobeinagreementthatyuppiesdonotlove theirpartnersinthewayonewouldexpectthemto.Moreover,alltheexcerpts discussedinthischapterhavethesamemessage,thatis,thatyuppiesdohave relationshipsandtheydogetmarriedbutnotforlovessake.Itisinterestingthat yuppiesstillclingtoconventionalrelationshipseventhoughtheyareamere faade.

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7.Conclusion
ThisBachelorsthesiswasdevotedtothedepictionofyuppiedominBretEaston EllisAmericanPsycho.Theinitialconcernwastodiscussvariouswaysinwhich certaincharacteristicsfunctionasextensionsofafictionalyuppiepersona. Probablythemoststrikingfeaturethatcannotbeleftoutwhencreatingthe yuppiecharacterforanovelistheaspectoflooks.Idonotthinkthatthis charactercanbemadecrediblewithoutthementioningofhisorhertypical attire.Ithinktherearetworeasonsforthis:Firstly,becausetheyuppieisa construct(Sommer.Email2009).AsIhaveargued,theyuppiechooseshisor herattireverycarefullyinordertobeperceivedasayuppie.Itisameansto signalones(perceived)highsocialstatus(thisIdiscussedbymeansofreferring toBourdieusobservationsonclassdistinction)andonesbelongingtoacertain group.Secondly,asthecoverpageofTheYuppieHandbook,whichisamock ethnographicwork,proved,yuppieswereallottedacertainstylewhich ultimatelyleadtotheirdistinctiveness.Inshort,theremusthavebeenacertain generalawarenessaboutyuppiesandwhattheytypicallylookedlike.I, therefore,cometotheconclusionthatEllismirrorsthisgeneralawarenessofa yuppiestereotypeinhisworktomakehischaractersmorecredibleandrealistic. Thefactthatattireissominutelydepictedinthenovelleadtothe hypothesisthatclothingfunctionsasashorthandtosignalgroupidentity.Ihave demonstratedthatthisnotionofgroupidentityhasdifferentoutcomes.To substantiatemyhypothesisIhavechosenanexcerptofthenovelwhereacertain personisperceivedasbeingtheoddoneoutatanallyuppiedinnerparty, becausehedoesnotdressthesamewayastheothers.Therefore,thepersonis notperceivedasafriend.Onthecontrary,tolookalikealsohasitsnegative aspects.Inthenovel,themalecharacterslooksomuchalikethattheynolonger cantellfriendsapartfromstrangers.Ihavecomparedthesementoclones. AnotherimportantaspectthatEllisemphasizesinhisworkistheissueof consumerism.Throughoutthenovelthereaderismadeawareofconsumer goodswithemphasisontheirbeinghighendproducts.Moreoverthementioning oftheirrespectiveluxurybrandsisalwaysapparent.Thisleadstothededuction thatconsumerismisacrucialattributeofyuppiedom.RobertH.Frank,and 30

WhatmakesaYuppie?LaureenL.Zanotti

ArthurAsaBergerwhodrewonRenGirardsmimeticdesiretheory,helpedto explainwhythecharactersofthenovelwouldcompeteagainsteachother.For instance,Iappliedthenotionofmimeticdesiretoexplainthattheratherchildish businesscardcompetitionIdescribedwastoestablishtherolemodelbearerof thenicestbusinesscard,andasGirardpredicted,thisleadtoaconflict.In addition,asBergerpointedout,thisdesiretheoryisaconsiderablyimportant aspectinadvertisement.Becausepeoplewanttoberolemodels,theyarewilling tobuyhighendproductstheydonotnecessarilyneed.Again,thisnotioncanbe directlyappliedtothenovelcharacters. Lastly,Iexploredthewaysinwhichyuppiesexperienceclosepersonal relationships.AsIhavedemonstrated,novelyuppiesseemoblivioustolove.By meansofexcerptanalysis,Ihaveshownthatrelationshipsarenotvaluedinthe sensethatwouldseemconventionallyappropriate.However,theformsofthe relationshipsamongyuppiesstillappeartobeconventional,beitunderfalse pretences.Thesubjectofmarriage,asPiesmanandHartleystate,ismoreofa businesstransactionthanacommitment.Itissuggestedthatayuppiewedding ceremony/receptionisanostentatiousdisplayofthecoupleswealthandsocial rank. ThecharacteristicsofthenovelyuppiediscussedinthisBachelorsthesis, namely,attireandgroupidentity,consumerbehavior,andattitudestowards love,representsomeoftheessentialsofalltheattributesofwhichthenovel characterconsists.

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8.WorksCited
8.1Books
Berger,ArthurAsa.Ads,Fads,andConsumerCulture.AdvertisingsImpacton AmericanCharacterandSociety.Lanham,USA:Rowman&Littlefield Publishers,Inc.,2000. Bourdieu,Pierre.ASocialCritiqueoftheJudgementofTaste.Rpt.Transl.Richard Nice.Cambridge,MA:HarvardUniversityPress,1994. EastonEllis,Bret.AmericanPsycho.NewYork:VintageBooks,1991. .LessThanZero.1986.London:Picador,2006. Frank,RobertH.LuxuryFever.MoneyandHappinessinanEraofExcess. PrincetonandOxford:PrincetonUniversityPress,1999. Girard,Ren.ATheaterofEnvy:WilliamShakespeare.NewYork:Oxford UniversityPress,1991. McInerney,Jay.BrightLights,BigCity.NewYork:RandomHouseInc.,1984. .StoryofMyLife.London:PenguinBooks,1989. Piesman,Marissa,MarileeHartley.TheYuppieHandbook.TheStateoftheArt ManualforYoungUrbanProfessionals.NewYork,NY:POCKETBOOKS, 1984. Rubinstein,RuthP.DressCodes.MeaningsandMessagesinAmericanCulture. BoulderCOandOxford:WestviewPress,2001. Veblen,Thorstein.TheTheoryoftheLeisureClass.1899.NewYork:Mentor Books,1953.

8.2PartsofBooks
Piesman,Marissa,Hartley,Marilee.ItsOnlyYuppieLove[and]AKitchen Quiz.TheYuppieHandbook.TheStateoftheArtManualforYoungUrban Professionals.NewYork,NY:POCKETBOOKS,1984.89.[and]4243.

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WhatmakesaYuppie?LaureenL.Zanotti

8.3ArticleinReferenceBook
Yuppie.MerriamWebsterCollegiateDictionary.11thed.2003. Friend.MerriamWebsterCollegiateDictionary.11thed.2003.

8.4Articles
Uchitelle,Louis.AsTasteforComfortRises,SodoCorporationsProfits.New YorkTimes14Sept.1997,ed.:A1,A34.

8.5OnlineArticles
HereCometheYuppies!Time9Jan.1984.21Feb.2009,9.03p.m. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,952325,00.html. Hammond,HohnL.Yuppies.ThePublicOpinionQuarterlyvol50.issue4 (Winter1986):487501.14April2009,3.40p.m. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2748754?&Search=yes&term=yuppies&list =hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dyuppies% 26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26wc%3Don&item=1&ttl=413&returnArticleServ ice=showArticle. Gordinier,Jeff.TheReturnoftheYuppie.Details.Men.Style.Com/ 30April2009,3.28p.m. http://men.style.com/details/features/full?id=content_5182.

8.6EMailCommunication
Sommer,CarloMichael.AW:FragezumYuppieStilder80er.EmailtoLaureen Zanotti.3March2009.(Note:AcopyoftheEmailisentailedinthe appendix).

8.7Images
Fig.1. Johnson,LonniSue.1984.CoverPage.TheYuppieHandbook.TheStateoftheArt ManualforYoungUrbanProfessionals.NewYork,NY:POCKETBOOKS, 1984.

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8.8NonDetectableSources

Frank,RobertH.qtd.inUchitelle[Note:Uchitelledoesnotindicatethesource whenhequotesFrank,asin:Itisfuntogetthenewtoys,butwhen everyoneinyourcirclegetsthem,itisnolongersospecial,saidRobert Frank'']http://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/14/us/astasteforcomfort risessodocorporationsprofits.html?pagewanted=2.Accessed30April 2009,3.43p.m.

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9.Appendix
From: carlo.sommer@hda.de Subject:AW:FragezumYuppieStilder80er Date:March3,20093:59:39PMGMT+01:00 To: laureen.zanotti@students.unibe.ch
HalloFrauZanotti, dankefrIhreAnfrage. IchfindeIhreArbeitsehrinteressant.Daichgeradesehreingespanntbin,kannichIhnenim Momentallerdingsnichtvielbieten. IcherinneremichaneinesmeinerBcherausden80ern"Menschen,Stile,Kreationen.Ein StreifzugdurchdieJugendkultur"(odersohnlich,zus.mitTh.WindbeiUllstein).Dahabenwir verschiedeneTypenbeschrieben,evtl.auchdieYUPPIEs.ZumehrRecherchefehltmirgeradedie Zeit. WiealleTypenistauchdiesernatrlicheinKonstruktunddamiteineArtStereotyp,dasmanauf eineimGrundedochvariantenreicheErscheinungsweltangelegthat... HoffedemnchstetwasmehrZeithierfrzuhaben,fallsichnochetwasfinde,meldeichmich. InjedemFallgutesGelingen! Gre CarloMichaelSommer ______________________________________ Prof.Dr.CarloMichaelSommer h_da HochschuleDarmstadt UniversityofAppliedSciences fbgs StudienbereichSozialundKulturwissenschaften Haardtring100 D64295Darmstadt Tel+49.6151.168747 Fax+49.6151.168925 carlo.sommer@hda.de www.hda.de

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10.Declaration

Declaration

IherebystatethatIhaveread5onplagiarisminHelpandIconfirmthatIhave compliedwiththerequirements.

Date:________________Signature:____________________

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