The 1980s: A Look Back at Excess and Ambition in Los Angeles

A Fantasy Acceptance Speech

A woman, high on drugs, holds an Oscar statuette and speaks to the academy from her Beverly Hills estate. It’s an imagined acceptance speech filled with resentment and selfishness, rather than gratitude. The harshest words are directed at her daughter, a well-liked student at an elite private school in Los Angeles. “To my daughter watching tonight, you are the disappointment of my life,” she says candidly.

Bret Easton Ellis and His Influences

Welcome to the world of Bret Easton Ellis, a novelist who has significantly influenced perceptions of wealth and privilege in Los Angeles over the years. This summer, viewers can explore his vision through the FX series “The Shards,” based on his novel. The series follows affluent high school friends engulfed in a world of indulgence, deceit, and crime. Although the plot involves a sadistic serial killer, the true horror lies with the parents who harm their children through neglect and vanity.

The Parenting Debate of the 1980s

Was parenting in 1980s Los Angeles truly dysfunctional? With today’s focus on intensive parenting, looking back can incite criticism. Yet, involvement can go too far. Recently, elite schools were scandalized by a college admissions fraud, where wealthy parents were accused of unethical practices to secure their children’s university placements. Such reality aligns with Ellis’ narrative of the past.

Ellis’ Themes of Excess and Neglect

Ellis made a name for himself at 21 with “Less than Zero,” a novel portraying spoiled youths and disconnected parents. He described parents as so unfulfilled that they metaphorically consumed their offspring. “The Shards” repeats this narrative, yet adults are mostly absent, ensuring that when they appear, they disappoint. It’s a suspenseful horror story without visible monsters.

Real-World Reflections and Responses

The story of reckless youth and complacent parents in wealthy L.A. areas was not unique to Ellis’ fiction. In the late 1980s, Pacific Palisades became notorious for unruly teenagers, prompting national media coverage. However, parents mostly responded constructively by organizing youth services and sober social gatherings in towns like Beverly Hills.

Beyond Luxurious Stereotypes

Three years after “Less Than Zero,” “Hard Lessons” by Michael Leahy provided a nuanced view of Beverly Hills teenagers. While parties and extravagant lifestyles were depicted, the book highlighted a focus on achievement and success. One student expressed that average felt inadequate in a community focused on excellence. The high school was characterized by ambitions, pushing students toward prestigious universities and lucrative careers.

The Continuing Pursuit of Success

Behind the extravagance, characters from “The Shards” display similar ambition, feeling pressured to achieve monumental success. This mindset reflects today’s focus on success, echoing the 1980s’ obsession with upward mobility.

Overall, while Ellis captured a particular cultural excess, changes are gradual. The tensions between ambition, indulgence, and parenting continue to echo in modern society.