August 13, 2005
Easy Rider
Watched Easy Rider last night with the guys. I entirely understand why this is viewed by countercultural activists as such an important, brilliant film. I also understand that it's a delusional, self-gratifying wank job (written by, directed by, and starring Dennis Hopper) that could use a real editor (seriously, what's with those bizarre triple-cuts between scenes?).
Observations:
- It doesn't matter how noble your cause, how much you assert your own humility, or the effort you put into it, planting seeds in the desert is a dumb idea. There's a reason no one lives there: it's an entirely miserable place to be. If anyone wanted to live there, someone would already be there.
- Contemporary counterculture types don't seem to be able to distinguish between civil rights activism, gay rights activism, the smuggling, sale, and use of illegal substances, and ufology. All are granted equal legitimacy as all are seen as threatening to the status quo. Easy Rider indicates that this has been true for at least 35 years.
- Only people with hair that is longer/shorter than "normal" consider this to be of any political or social consequence.
- The "squareness" of the people one is attempting to annoy does not justify being a public nuisance.
- Though spending money on consumer goods or industrial food is "bad", it's consistent with the countercultural ethic to spend money on prostitutes and alcohol.
- Lens flare, shots taken from the groin area, and rapid, unpredictable cuts were really cool effects in 1969.
- Being named "Peter Fonda" or "Dennis Hopper" is not proof against being a pretentious jackass.
do some unpacking here, because it seemed to me that the film was saying, with Captain America, that the counter-culture "Blew it" and had no where to go.
Posted by: jCave at August 13, 2005 11:13 PMNo, it just seems that way because the counterculture the film glorifies is seen today as so obviously delusional. and with the amount of drugs Nicholson, Hopper, and Fonda did back in the 60's, it's easy to understand how they became so delusional.
Posted by: Andy at August 14, 2005 04:44 PM