American Politics & Pop Culture

The movie we watched in class reminded me of how heavily prejudiced the United States was as recently as the 1970’s. The ways in which people treated hippies in the movie Easy Rider seemed to be an extension of racism. It seems that as the government attempted to lesson racism, the people just vented their problems on the next available group rather than giving up on old stereotypical prejudices.

As Miller says in our readings the hippy counter culture had vastly different beliefs than the mainstream culture on love, nonviolence, and especially with their wish to drop out of the establishment. As was stated in “Anthony,� Florida Free Press, June 1968 “The idea is that we have no ideas. We want to abolish ideas. What we want is peace, communication and escape from automation.� These ideas were represented over and over again in the movie Easy Rider. They were especially visible during the movie while they are at the commune. The interactions between everyone were like the whole commune was one big family rather than a bunch of people with totally different backgrounds. Also, how they regarded sexual relations were very casual and based off simple attraction rather than a long term relationship. The two went skinny dipping with two of the women at the commune after only knowing them for a day or two.

In some ways the traits of the hippies in the movie Easy Rider were shown in a positive light and in others negative. In some aspects they were rude and unkempt with little regard for others such as when they were revving their motorcycles by horses or riding in and disrupting parades. They seemed to distain the culture and thus take a pleasure in causing discomfort to others who had different beliefs. At this same time they also showed many positive traits. They were genuinely appreciative when people helped them out, and showed obvious respect to the farmer and his way of life. They also gave free friendship, and help to those who they could. They were ex-going and loved being free to do what they wanted. The mainstream culture was definitely shown in a negative light. It was constantly prejudice and violent toward anything out of what it considered proper.

At the very end of the film one of the two hippies stated “We blew it�. I believe that when he said it he meant that he should have stayed at the commune. He was happy there but did not realize it and thus regretted leaving. Marti Gras seemed to represent freedom, and that is why they wanted to go, but in the end he realized they did not have to go anywhere to get freedom but could have it simply by how they acted.