Easy Rider Counter Culture

On July 14th 1969 “Born to be Wild” bellowed from movie theatre speakers across the United States along with the opening scene of a new film called Easy Rider for the first time. There was a lot happening in the U.S. during the year 1969. To give you some perspective as to what was going on at the time a few monumental events from 1969 include: mankind’s first trip to the moon, the government instituted the first U.S. draft lottery since World War II (which didn’t go over too well), and more than half a million people gathered in the small, upstate New York town of Bethel for four days of rain, sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. The new Easy Rider film was wildly successful and went on to gross over 40 million dollars in the U.S. alone. The film is now viewed as the voice of a generation and recognized as an American classic. …show more content…
The two bikers travel across the country by motorcycle from Los Angeles to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Both characters have long hair and frequently use marijuana and other drugs throughout the film. Which identified them as members of the counter-culture of the time. On their journey the two men befriend multiple strangers from all walks of life and encounter many of the diverse social settings that make America so unique and strange. The visual aspect of the film is fantastic. It flows smoothly from scene to scene with incredible cinematography. With footage of the country’s beautiful landscapes and diverse terrains, America’s vastness is captured throughout the film. A timeless soundtrack that blends everything together perfectly complements the majestic cinematography and solidifies Easy Rider as a piece of classic Americana