Sociology

Easy Rider (1969) is a ‘road film’ where Wyatt and Billy travel eastward. First, it is important to note that the film reflects the life of youth and some of the music in this film “Born to be Wild” clearly shows how young people were searching for freedom during that time (Thio & Taylor, 2012). Easy Rider played an important role as it reflected the live of American during this period.  However, the film contributed to long-term effects in that young people in modern societies find freedom through drug use. Cocaine and cannabis are common drugs used today.  In the movie, there are many scenes presenting drug use and how characters find liberating experiences (Thio & Taylor, 2012).

             An important point is that Easy Road film has influenced the drug culture in that first, the drug use in the movie generates absurdity, violence and brutality. Note that Easy Rider is a youth culture film that focuses on drug pleasure. Contemporary movies on drug use were influenced by this film and the elements that influenced are romantic alienation, position of drug and forceful realism (Manning, 2013). The film encourages the use of drug use in contemporary world due to the positive portrayal of drugs. Note that the characters use drug and continues with life activities such as eating, socializing, desiring sex and so on.

 In the contemporary world, Marijuana is a common drug used in U.S and the high rate of drug use rooted in the period of 1960s. In the movie, drug taking is presented as a way of creating social anxieties and humor. Though the authors used drug for contextual development, the act has influenced the use of drug as majority gains a positive experience on drug (Manning, 2013). In modern societies, drug use has become a norm since the film present the characters on everyday consumption to experience humor and laugher. In fact, many films do not show a negative outcome on drug use and majority experiences everyday reality (Manning, 2013).   

            According to sociological theories, ‘Easy Road’ film has highly influenced the drug culture in contemporary world. First, young people and adult in modernity develop deviant behaviors due to lack of social control. The social control theory asserts that   the weak social bonds creates path for deviance. In other words, the use of drug in the film is a norm   and this has shaped the popular perception on the drug use.  Note that young people learn the use of drug from sociocultural practices (Thio & Taylor, 2012). Through cultural aspects, they   learn the psychological effect of drug. Other theory that explains the role of film in influencing drug culture is self-control theory. The theory relates with social control theory in that it assert that people engage in drug use due to lack of control. Control may come from society or parental socialization. Note that self-control leads to social control and lack of the two in life would lead to deviance. The last theory which explains drug use is subcultural theory (Thio & Taylor, 2012). The theory affirms that people are influenced by a social group whose attitudes support the use of drug use. In other words, social group or social circles in a community encourage the use of drug through supplying, teaching on how to use and acting as a role model. In other words, the theories tend to show that drug use is a culture practice. This means that the use of drug is shaped by historical social context and social identities (Thio & Taylor, 2012).

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Thio, A., & Taylor, J. D. (2012). Social problems. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Manning Paul. (2013). Drugs and Popular Culture. Routledge