Before his lecture for SCAD’s Ivy Hall Lecture Series, held on June 18 in building 4C, author Bret Easton Ellis advised students and staff on their own writing endeavors. “The cardinal rule [is to] ignore the audience. Do not write for the reader. Write because you really want to express yourself,” Ellis said to an audience eagerly awaiting to hear about his newest book, “Imperial Bedrooms.” He answered questions from students and fans with wittiness and sarcasm, both indicative of his writing style.
“Imperial Bedrooms” is the seventh novel in Ellis’ collection of writings. An author since his twenty-something college days, Ellis’ works include “Less than Zero,” “The Rules of Attraction,” “American Psycho,” “The Informers,” “Glamorama” and “Lunar Park,” four of which were adapted into films. Ellis implied that “Imperial Bedrooms” is not a sequel, though the novel continues to follow the character of Clay from “Less than Zero.” Rather, this novel was written because he wanted to know where Clay would end up.
A writer who enjoys seeing the progression of his characters, Ellis stated that he began writing books such as “American Psycho” because of “loneliness, alienation and isolation [from] the adult world, the yuppified, consumerist culture and the attraction mixed with the disappointed feeling [towards this lifestyle].” He observed that his writing came from “filling a void and from pain.” Ellis stated that “life is lonely and the novel is your friend [and you must be] engaged with the novel” if you want a career as a writer. His engagement with the characters in his novels brought him not only solace from loneliness and alienation, but also critical acclaim from those in the writing world.
Ellis’ works may appear grizzly to some, but Tamara Joyner, SCAD graduate academic advisor, stated that “his works are for those who will ‘get it.’ [For] others, it will take a while. I expected him to be humorous to write those types of characters because there is humor in his writing, even with a sinister undertone …” “Violence is as interesting as comedy” she commented, echoing Ellis’ words. Responding to such works as “American Psycho” she continues: “The 80s were a time of excess, true have and have nots…now everyone has everything, [but] it is lopsided.” Yet, Ellis insisted that he never meant his works to be examples of transgressive art, which aims to outrage or violate basic morals and sensibilities.
Ellis’ lecture was not only informative, but motivational to students as well. Graduate writing student Tammy Green said she “found it inspiring when Mr. Ellis reflected on being in our same shoes listening to a successful writer. It was an encouraging start to our dialogue with him and made me want to be in his seat even more.”
To learn more about Ellis and his works, click here.