After inserting the shots from the movie, "Easy Rider", I slept on it and decided I needed to add this:
At the time of its making, the United States was involved in a cultural revolution. The definition of freedom had many inter- pretations which collided. The three characters in the film were in search of this, for them, an illusive goal.
The choosing of Louisiana's Mardi Gras as the characters goal, represented freedom in overdrive. But, Mardi Gras is followed by Lint, a time of restraint. Louisiana is a state of contradictions which is exactly the ingrediant the makers of the film wanted. Everytime it appeared that the goal was theirs, wham, it was taken away. And finally, freedom, symbolized by riding freely down the road died at the hands of prejudice in the character of one of the state's "finest". I understand Louisiana's part in the picture But.....
The facts are: The entire crew praised the friendlyness and cooperation that the local people gave to this bunch of Hollywood "hippies". This is a conservative part of Louisiana but, right across the Achafalaya from the killing scene, one of the first large pop festivals in the late sixties occurred, The Festival of Life. The only problems there were brought on by outsiders, a motorcycle gang from New Orleans. A likewise "freedom" minded group. There in lies the problem with "searching for one's freedom". My freedom verses your freedom.
Of course, yours truly went to that festival and duh, almost ran out of gas in Melville. Nothing opened at 6pm. I, with my riding partner went to a filling station and tried to get some gas out of the hoses. First, leaving a buck on the pump. Here comes the local constable. Oh, help us. After explaining our problem and where we were headed (our appearance said it all, no use lieing), he said follow me. Oh, help us. He brought us to his home and filled my tank out of his lawnmower stash. No charge. Wished us a good trip. And away we went. If you think Easy Rider was about Louisiana, you've got it wrong. But, if Louisiana is guilty of anything in this instance, it was selling its reputation for a buck. Sure there is prejudice. Every state has its crazies. Enough on that. |
