Almost Famous Essay

In 2000, the semi-autobiographical romantic-comedy, Almost Famous, was released to the world. The film was both written and directed by Cameron Crowe. The majority of Almost Famous takes place in 1973, as 15 year-old rock journalist, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), tours across the country with the up and coming band Stillwater while writing an article for Rolling Stone magazine. During his time on the road he encounters a wide variety of people, ranging from lead groupie, Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), to Stillwater guitarist, Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), and all the while relying on and remaining in contact with San Diego based renowned rock writer, Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman). William is exposed to a world he never knew existed and

Anita states, “This song explains why I am leaving home to become a stewardess”(Almost Famous). Without a word, Anita places a record upon the turntable, drops the needle and slowly, Simon and Garfunkel’s “America” starts to play as William and his mother just sit there, taking it all in. This is a moment that resonates with me, because it shows the division between generations and the lack of understanding that constantly comes up between teenagers and their parents. Anita identifies with the music and uses it to rebel against her mother. It is impossible for Anita to convey her feelings, so she uses the only outlet she knows, music. It has been stated that “Rock music has been a cultural battleground over which the principles of order and disorder fight…The battle is about achievement of identity by the young – individual, sexual, class, racial, regional and age group identity” (Martin). William is awestruck by the incident, and I believe that it leaves a very strong impression of the power of music on him. As the song continues to play, we watch Anita look back out of a speeding car window, at the house she grew up in and the life she once