When reading the resource of the viewing of “Easy Rider” they spoke a lot of the way it was in the times. The fact that the year 1969 involved many different things. One of witch was “Woodstock” which has become one of the greatest concerts and gatherings of all times. Other things that happened in that year were the assassination of Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., the Vietnam War and the Nixon administration. “Easy Rider, one of the first films of its kind, was a ritualistic experience and viewed (often repeatedly) by youthful audiences in the late 1960s as a reflection of their hopes of liberation and fears of the Establishment.” (Dirks 1996) In that one sentence totally explains what Dennis Hopper was trying to project to his audience.
Works Cited
Dirks, Tim “Easy Rider (1969)”. www.filmsite.org. 1997. Jan 26, 2006 http://www.filmsite.org/easy.html
4 responses so far ↓
1 Diane Cantalupo // Jan 28, 2006 at 9:46 p01
Robb, I believe as well that the film was successful because of the way it explored the turbulent social climate during that era. The film explored the negative aspects, as well as the positive, and did so without compromise. I agree that Dirks’ quotation is a good summary of Hopper’s purpose in making the film. I was born a mere 5 years prior to the film, but had I been a teenager or young adult at that time, I would have been among the many who gravitated to the movie, and related to its message. Young people of every generation seek liberation, and experience resistance to it. Just think about the punk era! Today, body piercings and elaborate tattoo’s are popular among young people, and there are still many places in this country where they would encounter ridicule and hostility based solely on their appearance.
2 Jeanne Donnelly // Jan 29, 2006 at 9:46 p01
Robb, I enjoyed reading your entry, I was connected with the films abiltiy to take in so much of what was going on in that decade. I think that its relese in the same year as woodstock and the assasination amongst many other things is telltailing of its sucess.
3 Nora Martinez // Jan 29, 2006 at 9:46 p01
Rob, I agree with you. It would be hard to understand the feelings of the film makers without knowing the kind of events going on arround them or understand the freedom they now had to make the kind of film they wanted to with out heavy censorship.
4 Diane C.’s HUM210 Blog » Module 1: Reflection on the Module // Feb 8, 2006 at 9:46 p02
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