I know it appears obvious why this book has been banned. Tons of language, sex, violence and gore. It's really a book that is meant to make the reader sick. I would like to discuss the reasons why this book is banned and if it should remain unavailable to high school students (since college students can read whatever they want).
For my first point, lets state some things that are not obvious to the reader right off the bat and require a bit of looking into. I think that one point that is often overlooked is that it takes place in the present age. Having a book set up in the present era is not necessarily a problem, but implementing foul language and violence that does not necessarily occur in a large city could indeed degrade common society today. For example: Bateman's apartment. It is so neat, clean, organized, classy. I can easily picture it as a popular location for a modern person to be growing up. However as the events and murders occur, I find it to become more of a twisted place that really represents Bateman. Good looking on the outside, but has a horrifying history. I've never really thought about these concepts before I reflected on what ties the book had to modern society.
Another point would be because of the name brands used in the book. I looked up some of the examples he used for tailored suits (Marquinn'e) and wines (Chteau Margaux) and found them to be real companies and quite expensive. Also there was the art that was hung in his appartment which (I forget if it was his assistant or a prostitute) who asked about what it was. It turned out to be one of Ruben Verdu's (a Spanish sculptor) few paintings he produced. I think that name brands Bateman himself mentions like Coke or his Earl Grey tea want the book to be censored from youth to hide their assosiation with the film. For example if I saw a man who loved to eat at McDonalds, and then went into a mall and killed everyone, I would care to look for that specific McDonalds and mall out of curiosity more than any other building like it.
My final point is just stating the obvious. It made me feel queezy. On the outside it really lives up to what critics who posted negatively on the story said. A "sick and twisted tale" which "brings shame upon Americans" and "is meant to make you gag. (Bookreview.com and the NBCC) The extent Ellis went on the violence seems very overpowering at times, such as when the girl becomes a meal for a rat, and distracts the reader from paying attention to any sort of comprehension as to why he is doing it besides him going insane, and therefore would require analysis. In a way the critics were right, it is indeed a sick, monster of literature which I wouldn't allow on my High School shelves. But for a College Library there would be at least one or two of this available at all times because I know the college students would appreciate it for what it is: literature, not a blood fest.
Why it was Banned Response
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you it is fairly obvious why the book was banned, because of all the strong language, violence, and sex the book is far past the standards of what a book. If the book was made piece by piece into a movie, for once a movie would not be overrated, it is a crude book that really has no point to it and just seems to be able to accomplish grossing people out. As there are racist, sexist, and extremely descriptive violent portions scattered throughout the book to the point of where it was mainly comprised of those portions, it can insult just about anybody. Because the book can insult just about anybody, and in some cases make people physically ill, no one will want to read it making the book not only insulting but a total waste as people won’t read it. I would agree with you about how Bateman’s apartment seems more of place someone would grow up or that it would be a place in a modern city that doesn’t experience any unusually odd things. It also seems like a reasonable comparison to think of his Bateman’s apartment like a larger version of Bateman himself. The comparison fits because, as you said, just like Bateman the apartment looks good on the outside, like a place you would want to stay, but on the inside it hides many secrets that are dark and dangerous. I also agree with you on how on the surface this book seems like a sick and twisted story that says horrible things; I also don’t think it should be on high school library shelves. However I do not agree that the story should be on college library shelves as it is just a really messed up book. In my eyes it does not seem like a piece of literature but rather something that if someone really wanted to read or had to read for some reason they would be able to specially order it but they had to prove they were mature enough for the book as it is a book that just really could cause issues among the younger people of America.