Contextual Studies: Easy Rider (1969)

This extract from the film Easy Rider is a peak example of both drug use in the 70s and an example of 'french new wave'; this film is considered to be one of the many that 'helped spark the New Hollywood Era of filmmaking during the early 1970s' (Wikipedia, 2018).

The clip starts with two gentlemen (Billy & Wyatt, played by Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda) encouraging two prostitutes to take LSD in a graveyard. The four shot is a wide shot, but all the characters sit comfortably close together. The lighting is ambient, but slightly dark due to being sat in the shade; the scene just looks like a normal/average scenario that would have been seen in the 70s. This is even more exemplified with the rusted/damaged building behind them. Same goes for the machinery that could be heard in the background, its diegetic and adds a sense of verisimilitude.

A montage sequence begins signifying the effects of the LSD, with quick cuts to a woman reading scripture juxtaposing one of the prostitutes stripping. This cross cutting technique could be not only significant of their location but also even the metaphorical representation of what Hollywood seems like vs what it actually is; the heavenly views and perfect lifestyle vs the drug ridden, "broken dream" reality.

I think having juxtaposing images and sounds here could also be the conflict within the two protagonist's minds. Having the woman reading scripture and then also having one of the males saying "shut up" and (what sounds like) crying could show his struggle of identity; it could suggest how he would rather cast Blasphemy rather than consider the drugs to be a problem. Similarly with the nude shots of the women on tombstones or hiding between pillars, it could even suggest a struggle with his sexuality; almost playing on the idea of Adam and Eve in God's Garden of Eden. Whilst visually we would assume he is heterosexual, the fact it is in a church with cross cuts and jump cuts to the sun and the trees, it could mean God is watching him so he leans into women but distracts himself with drugs.

If we listen closer to the scripture, we hear lines like "Virgin Mary" or "he descended into hell" with the crosscuts of the prostitutes removing their clothes being more prominent. Again it's blasphemous what they're all doing but it almost feels like his actions are more directed at God; as though he is rebelling. Even in the finally shots, one of the main protagonists is sat on a society tomb which holds numerous family tombs and vaults. It could show his struggle to fit in or alternatively acceptance of God as he lays in the arms of the statue (which i'm assuming is a religious figure).