Analysis Of R. E. M: Losing My Identity

R.E.M. - Losing My [Identity] The 1960s and 70s were a time of both radical change and free expression for America. Whether it was the Kennedy assassination, the Civil Rights Movement, or even Woodstock, Americans in this time strived to be different and change the cemented ways of the past. What is very interesting about this time period is that television was gaining increasing popularity. Most Americans could afford television sets and news broadcasting (especially of the Vietnam war and Civil Rights Movement) was taking off at rather deadly speed. The topics shown on TV had a huge influence on the way the world was viewed and directors certainly took advantage of this. They sought to express their own ideas and appeal to the youth of America

They both captured violence, sex, and all other kinds of illegality in their works. They worked to make films that would be highly controversial between the youth and more traditional Americans; as well as attempt to break barriers in the film industry. Both Taxi Driver, by Martin Scorsese, and Bonnie and Clyde, by Arthur Penn, use setting and more importantly, outside influences, to justify the acts being committed by the protagonists. In Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, Travis Bickle’s actions are influenced by the world around him. Having just come home from the Vietnam War and moving to a new city different from his midwestern lifestyle, Travis attempts to discover the normalities and abnormalities of the world around him (Iannucci). He struggles to piece together his own identity due to the contrasting

One huge influence that shapes the characters in this film is the idolization of guns and weaponry. This can be seen in the early stages of the film when Clyde brandishes his pistol as a way to impress Bonnie. The brandishing introduces guns into the film, but Bonnie’s reaction of awe and sudden shift in body language towards Clyde is what really shows the viewer the importance and idolization of weaponry. Her actions towards Clyde and his gun is what eventually corrupts Bonnie to join Clyde in his bank robbing cascade across America. In addition to weapons giving Bonnie the introduction into the world of crime, the repeated publicity surrounding Bonnie and Clyde’s heists is the fuel that drives them to rob more banks. They enjoy seeing their names published in the papers week after week for committing crimes. This can clearly be seen when they decide to take a picture with the Texas sheriff and send it in to the papers. It shows that they don’t fear anyone and want see more than just their names in the press. Most villains would be afraid for their picture to get out in the open as it makes them easily identified. Bonnie and Clyde, however, use the publicity to their advantage as they take great pride in being known all across America. They care about their image and this can be seen when the paper writes some nasty things