Every film has a story to it, but it takes some analyzing to really know the story behind it as well. Many societal functions and tensions come into play depending on the time period that correlates with some communities in order to be relatable. The interplay between film and American culture’s societal tensions are interesting to watch regarding the meaningful sense in which it may be conveying to the audience. One of the most iconic films throughout the course of history is “Forrest Gump” directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks. Along with this film came nostalgic 70’s music to benefit the relevance. Even though this 1994 film is showing the 70’s war time period, there are many reasons why it is exceptional at displaying American culture and societal tensions. First of all, many excellent films like “Forrest Gump” may not be a true story but it is based on a 1986 novel. Not only were there social tensions in this film but there were many political ones as well. At the time, Vietnam War was taking place until 1975. It focuses on the chaotic time frame for American citizens that include many civil rights movements. Forrest himself while in Washington D.C. catches up with his childhood love, Jenny, and ends up in a …show more content…
This was a major change in American culture with the increase of drug use. The hippie movement came hand in hand with the war going on. Peacemaking was a major factor. The movie also showed some societal tensions of anti-war protests. Jenny was involved in this as well as the experimentation of hallucinate drugs which showed the outcome of almost taking her life off a building. One of the songs that played at that moment was “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. This increased the nostalgia during that scene. However, the legit violence and struggles by American citizens was not really mentioned in the movie it was still relevant to the events that were
Because of Mr. Jackson 's rebellious attitude, the movie parallels the 1960’s and the nonconformist ideology popular during that time.
...oung American men had to endure from the time that they had joined back in their boot camp days, and the brutality of war that showed them no mercy. To me the importance of the movie was to show what truly went on over in Vietnam through the eyes of a soldiers eyes of what happened, as the film created a very disturbing yet a real picture of The Vietnam War.
“If you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything” – Robert Zemeckis. Back to the Future is an American Classic that is on the minds of people around the world with images of Doc Brown’s shiny time travelling DeLorean. In 2007, The American government acknowledged the importance of the movie Back to the Future and its relativeness to American culture by introducing it into the National Film Registry. This award officially certified the movie in being a “culturally” important work that will be preserved for all of time, there by deeming it as a significant non-traditional “cultural media” in American society.
For this free choice final paper, I decided to analyze Oliver Stone and his two films Platoon and JFK. Oliver Stone, a three-time Academy Award winner and known as one of the best filmmakers in his generation, ignores Hollywood convention warning against making films with a message. Among some of his great films, he made the two films Platoon and JFK. In Platoon, he presents a gritty and emotional examination of American soldiers during the Vietnam War through the lens of Chris Taylor, a biographical representation of himself and so...
The Vietnam War was one of the major events that occurred during the “Baby Boom” era. The era was called the baby boom because the United States was going into war and all the men were being drafted so men wanted to pursue their women. However, the Vietnam War started because the country chose to support South Vietnam to fight for anti-communism against North Vietnam (Dudley 91). The war started in 1961 and lasted until 1975, and had many names such as “American War”, “Second Indochina War” and communists labeled it the “War of Liberation” (Lawrence 1). Also, John F. Kennedy was president during this time, specifically in 1961-1963, but his term ended early due to his assassination (Dudley 91). Although by 1963, sixteen thousand troops were in South Vietnam. The war was very emotional and traumatic to the ones who served. As expressed in O’Brien’s How to Tell a True War Story, his friend, Bob Kiley or better known as Rat, writes a letter to his friend’s sister because he passed away. Rat wanted to express h...
Hippies were known for their large amounts of drug consumption and at the time the anti- war movement contained a bulk amount of younger people. In the 60’s, drugs were not seen as corrupt or as a threat. They were seen as a cure for disease. Specifically, drugs were seen as pain relievers, they help with sleeping, they lessened worry, etc (Hippies and drugs). Also, in the 50’s, there was lots of cigarette use. Citizens did not know the influence cigarettes’ had, causing people in the 60‘s to naturally not realize how unacceptable drugs were. Additionally, hippies mostly used hallucinogenic drugs, particularly marijuana and lysergic acid diethyl amide (LSD). In the article “Hippies,” it mentions how hippies were “justifying the practice as a way of expanding consciousness” (hippies). Moreover, hippies undertook the largest drug use in human history that was completely uncontrolled (Hippies and drugs). Youthful people were exposed to the kind of b...
...nd genuine kindness extend further than just treating the President of the United States like a normal person, even though Forrest Gump is ignorant of the ‘issues’ of different people. At the University of Alabama, two African American students are granted acceptance after an enormous ordeal on blacks going to colleges with whites because of the insane amount of racism the United States of America had. As the two African American students made their way up the staircase, one dropped a book and Forrest rushed through police officers and rioters to pick up the book and hand the book to the colored student who dropped it. Forrest’s ignorance definitely contributes to his selflessness and generosity towards people who are different (during the time period in American history the movie was based on), however, it is one of his traits that makes him a true unexpected hero.
It is a great example of how persevering through life’s obstacles can make life even better than before. Being different creates many challenges for Forrest, however, he shows inner strength as he fights through these challenges. Along with this, Forrest Gump shows how having support while trying to escape a dark path will make success easier. Therefore, the movie reveals that life will not always be perfect, but it is important to persevere through the adversity that it is filled with. Ultimately, no matter the circumstances, any obstacle can be
This movie is a wonderful production starting from 1960 and ending in 1969 covering all the different things that occurred during this unbelievable decade. The movie takes place in many different areas starring two main families; a very suburban, white family who were excepting of blacks, and a very positive black family trying to push black rights in Mississippi. The movie portrayed many historical events while also including the families and how the two were intertwined. These families were very different, yet so much alike, they both portrayed what to me the whole ‘message’ of the movie was. Although everyone was so different they all faced such drastic decisions and issues that affected everyone in so many different ways. It wasn’t like one person’s pain was easier to handle than another is that’s like saying Vietnam was harder on those men than on the men that stood for black rights or vice versa, everyone faced these equally hard issues. So it seemed everyone was very emotionally involved. In fact our whole country was very involved in president elections and campaigns against the war, it seemed everyone really cared.
Have you ever had one of those days that were so bad that you desperately needed a night at the ice cream or candy store? The 1970’s was that really bad day, while the night of self- indulgence was the 1980’s. Americans love to escape from our daily stress, and of all the products that allow us to do so, none is more popular than the movies. Movies are key cultural artifacts that offer a view of American culture and social history. They not only offer a snapshot of hair styles and fashions of the times but they also provide a host of insights into Americans’ ever-changing ideals. Like any cultural artifact, the movies can be approached in a number of ways. Cultural historians have treated movies as a document that records the look and mood of the time that promotes a particular political or moral value or highlights individual or social anxieties and tensions. These cultural documents present a particular image of gender, ethnicity, romance, and violence. Out of the political and economic unrest of the 1970’s that saw the mood and esteem of the country, as reflected in the artistry and messages in the movies, sink to a new low, came a new sense of pride in who we are, not seen since the post-World War II economic boom of the 1950’s. Of this need to change, Oscar Award winner Paul Newman stated,
Of all the 1980’s films, that can be described as “Eighties Teen Movies” (Thorburn, 1998) or “High School Movies” (Messner, 1998), those written and (with the exception of “Pretty In Pink” (1986) and “Some Kind of Wonderful”(1987)) directed by John Hughes were often seen to define the genre, even leading to the tag “John Hughes rites de passage movies” as a genre definition used in 1990s popular culture (such as in “Wayne’s World 2” (1994 dir. Stephen Surjik)). This term refers to the half dozen films made between 1984 and 1987; chronologically, “Sixteen Candles” (1984), “The Breakfast Club” (1985), “Weird Science” (1985), “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” (1986), “Pretty In Pink” (1986) and “Some Kind Of Wonderful” (1987) (the latter two being directed by Howard Deutch). For the purpose of this study, “Weird Science” and “Some Kind of Wonderful” shall be excluded; “Weird Science” since, unlike the other films, it is grounded in science fiction rather than reality and “Some Kind of Wonderful” as its characters are fractionally older and have lost the “innocence” key to the previous movies: as Bernstein states “the youthful naivete was missing and the diamond earring motif [a significant gift within the film] was no substitute” (Bernstein, 1997, p.89). Bernstein suggests that the decadent 1980s were like the 1950s, “an AIDS-free adventure playground with the promise of prosperity around every corner … our last age of innocence” (Bernstein, 1997, p.1). The films were very much a product of the time in terms of their production (“suddenly adolescent spending power dictated that Hollywood direct all its energies to fleshing out the fantasies of our friend, Mr. Dumb Horny 14 Year Old” Bernstein, 1997, p.4), their repetition (with the growth of video cassette recorders, cable and satellite with time to fill, and also the likes of MTV promoting the film’s soundtracks) and their ideologies.
In recent times, such stereotyped categorizations of films are becoming inapplicable. ‘Blockbusters’ with celebrity-studded casts may have plots in which characters explore the depths of the human psyche, or avant-garde film techniques. Titles like ‘American Beauty’ (1999), ‘Fight Club’ (1999) and ‘Kill Bill 2’ (2004) come readily into mind. Hollywood perhaps could be gradually losing its stigma as a money-hungry machine churning out predictable, unintelligent flicks for mass consumption. While whether this image of Hollywood is justified remains open to debate, earlier films in the 60’s and 70’s like ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ (1967) and ‘Taxi Driver’ (1976) already revealed signs of depth and avant-garde film techniques. These films were successful as not only did they appeal to the mass audience, but they managed to communicate alternate messages to select groups who understood subtleties within them.
Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies. I have seen hundreds of movies, all of which seemed alike and predictable. The writer of Forrest Gump did an awesome job creating a completely unique main character and plot. There are so many things that make this movie as great as it. First, viewers are captivated by the childhood relationship of the two main characters. Forrest continuously pines over Jenny as the movie takes us on a journey through historical events. The classic nature of the moral lessons the movie teaches, the charming love story, and the way actual historical events are depicted in the movie Forrest Gump are what I have chosen to write about in my review.
During the late 60’s and early 70’s there were many social issues, and political hardships. This is the time when America had to deal with some of it's greatest challenges. Like The Vietnam War, The Civil Rights Movement, Drug Abuse, and The Women's Movement. All of these issues have made an Impact in the world today, especially America. The Vietnam War has made one the greatest history in the world.
The movie Forest Gump was a historical fictional story narrated by the main character, Forest Gump. Forest Gump was born in 1944 in Alabama .He was raised by his mother ,and his father left when he was little .Forest Gump wasn’t your average white boy ,Forest was different psychically and mentally .Forest Gump had to wear leg braces as a little boy because of his back. His mother would always encourage him .even though forest was deemed as an idiot, she was still supportive. Forest Gump was teased in school because of his mental capacity .He befriend a girl in school name jenny ,and she would hold a special place in his heart besides his mother .Forest Gump talks about his life and the historic events that the nation endured. Forest Gump’s mother would always say life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what gonna get.”Throughout forest Gump’s life, he meets new people and he also began to have an impact on peoples lives. Forest Gump goes through life becomes successful in everything he does. Even though many might say forest was slow or stupid, he still managed to finish college become an all-star football player for college. He then goes to the army to fight in Vietnam and becomes a war hero .He always managed to keep Jenny in his life even though they were not together. Forest became successful by starting a shrimp business. Forest recruits lieutenant Dan from the army to be his business partner .Forest becomes a millionaire; however he was still humble and living with his mother. Forest was never involved with women socially nor sexually is .The reason for this because Forest never developed a scene of maturity to enter an adult relationship, and besides being a mother’s boy.