There is a point where Bateman is talking to Courtney Rawlinson on the phone, trying to convince her to go out with him. The scene opens with a wide shot of Patrick walking around his TV area with Inside Lydia's Ass playing in the background. The color of the TV screen stands out in the opening shot because it goes against the monochromatic color scheme of his apartment. As he walks with the video case in his grip, the sound from the TV can be heard behind the phone conversation. In his attempt to get her to go out, he tells her they are going to Dorcia's and she cordially obliges. A POV close up reveals a 1987 Zagat Survey in his hand as the scene changes directions. Within the shot, slightly out of focus, is a stack of movies on the counter in front of him. This shot implies that he has more movies, probably pornographic ones, than just the one playing. To add to the banality of his character is the fact that he is not paying any attention to the video playing, and it plays uninterrupted throughout the scene. His inattentiveness could be commenting on the idea that porn is a cause of violence. But he is not paying any attention to the video, so how could it influence him? His violent thoughts are more a part of his psyche, like the video is part of the subconscious or psyche of the movie scene. And the scene ends with a book case shot, identical to the first of the scene.

Patrick Bateman is a CEO at Pierce and Pierce on Wall Street. His position in the company implies his income, power, and control over aspects of the company. Whenever a shot positions Bateman with the New York skyline behind him, it shows his height in the building, reflecting his job title. These types of shots once again reflect the American dream of becoming someone who has money and power. At his office he never answers to any bosses; he only really interacts with his secretary, Jean. While the secretary is the only one he interacts with, he seems to have control over her. He tells her what to wear, what to get him, and how to deal with clients or colleagues he doesn't want to see. He controls everyone else he wants to see through her. He also doesn't do an inkling of work, but still wants to appear as if he is doing so. Through his high paying job he is able to afford all the other commodities in his life, be it a Sony Walkman or a prostitute.

One materialistic item Bateman is infatuated with is his Sony Walkman. He walks into his office with his headphones on, tuning out the rest of the world. He often uses his Walkman, like in his office, to tune out the outside world. The music helps to solidify himself in his own world far away from the rest. There is a short scene where Patrick and Evelyn are riding in a cab to a club. She is talking about how their wedding should be. The scene opens up with a song by Huey Lewis playing non-diegeticly as the cab drives through the city. Abruptly the song becomes quietly diegetic when he takes off the headphones and the viewer is taken into the POV of Bateman. He tunes her out the best he can but, as he states through a voice over, she is "buzzing in my ear." Through his control he can manipulate how he interacts with the world around him, especially with a materialistic item such as a Sony Walkman.

Along with the Sony Walkman, Bateman is consumed by popular music of the 1980s. He often comments while playing music by such artists as Phil Collins, Robert Palmer, Huey Lewis, and Whitney Houston. When playing the music for other people he gives a critic-like description of the CD. The CD responses are taken from full "band name" chapters in the book and infused into scenes in the film. He often talks about his CDs when he has someone over who he is going to hurt, maim, or kill. He does it more for himself than his "guests." One of the funniest moments in which he does this is when he is describing the Huey Lewis CD to his colleague Paul Allen, just before killing him with an ax. He has a catchy rhythm to his walk as he puts on his raincoat and gets the ax ready.

Then he psychotically slashes Paul to death with the ax, and sits on the couch with a fat stogy. While killing Paul he is trying to be very trendy with the music he likes. His critiques are very mechanical, or robotic, like he wants to be a messenger for popular culture. His use of music is just one way in which he controls his murder scenarios.

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