Floundering Values
“The young of the 60's had contended that their culture was based not on exploitation but on love, not on violence but on peace, not on restraints but on freedom” (Costello 187).
The film Easy Rider was a counter culture classic. It reflected the ideology of freedom, love and peace prevalent in the youth subculture at the time. These themes were present throughout the movie in the main characters actions and experiences. They were particularly evident in contrast to the ‘normal’ characters violent and repressive actions.
Captain America and Billy were out on the open road, the ultimate symbol of freedom. They had no schedule as shown by their continual vagueness on their estimated arrival time in New Orleans. There were no detailed travel plans restraining them. They just had their bikes and the open road, stopping to camp or staying with new acquaintances.
The anti-exploitation was apparent in their treatment of the prostitutes. Even though Billy seemed ready to go when he picked the tall one this was followed by awkward sitting on the couch, offering to make her a drink and ultimately having them all out on the street. While it could have been an impersonal business transaction with tawdry sex it turned into an intensely intimate experience emphasising their humanity.
Finally their pacifist stance whenever confronted on their style and appearance was a testament to avoiding violence. They left the café when they weren’t served and everyone was staring at them and making hostile comments. These same people they left in peace attacked them in the night, killing their new friend.
All of their personal peace, love and freedom were no match for the ‘normal’ values of fear, intolerance and violence. They lost their lives because they refused to let the men intimidate them.
WORKS CITED
Costello, Donald P. “From Counterculture to Anti-Culture” The Review of Politics, Vol. 34, No. 4, America in Change: Reflections on the 60's and 70's. (Oct., 1972), pp. 187-193
Nyssa Shawstad