Cameron White
Easy Rider from the start of the first scene portrays the hippie era and the counterculture movement, which took place during the 1960’s. This new counterculture “was based not on exploitation but on love, not on violence but on peace, not on restraints but on freedom� (Costello pp. 187). In the film the counterculture development was both shown on the ranch and the commune show. It basically was all about being apart of nature and excepting things for the way they were. The counterculture movement was shown through Billy and Wyatt. They lived off the land and played by their own rules. These people “aka� hippies lived with self indulgence, not caring what the rest of society viewed them due to breaking so many cultural norms.
You can tell through watching the film that that the film is bias in favor of the counterculture lifestyle, basically saying that it is a good this. The Film also created a false impression of freedom. Even though they were able to conform to the lifestyle of the counterculture movement at the same time they did not agree upon everything hippies were about. They had a large amount of money which challenges what other people associated with the counterculture lifestyle they were working towards, living off the land and fending for themselves.
In the end everything starts to unravel when the values start leaning towards normal societies cultural views. Ultimately Billy’s and Wyatt’s decision to choose money over the easy lifestyle, their voyage becomes their demise.