Lauren Kolsum on Easy Rider and the Miller reading
Easy Rider and the Miller reading both relate similar aspects of the hippie counterculture. Rebellious acts of "dropping out," as explained in the reading, were demonstrated first hand in the movie. Fonda and Hopper's characters meet a lot of different people on their cross country journey, and they aren't necessarily protrayed in the best light. The hippies they meet have all dropped out from society in some extremity or another, and the movie shows what a struggle it is for them straying from the normal way of living and thinking. "It was the disowning of a life oriented toward work status and power." The counterculture definitely struggles for the necessities of life and make do with what little they have. Instead of getting caught up in things that are of little significance in the grand scheme of things, they enjoy in eachothers company, conversation, entertainment. The hippies have a similar view of the environment to Millers aspects as well when he says "One was obligated to adapt oneself to the flow of things instead of interfering with it and trying to conquer it." The people the main characters came across outside of the towns grew, or attempted to grow, their food and raised their livestock.
The only ones who truly accept them were other hippies and the country folk they join for a meal. The hippies accepted them in the act of love and peace as they treat everyone with their similar views. The country folk readily accepted their company because by living off the land, they were not as dependent on money as the townspeople who loathe them the moment they walk into the cafe/restaraunt. Nicholson's character does a good job describing their reaction when he says "They're not scared of you but what you represent to them," They are jealous of something they know they don't have the courage to obtain themselves, freedom. In the end the main characters fate lies with the townspeople who just don't understand.