The Graduate Movie Themes

The Graduate The Graduate was an important film during the 60’s, it represented the age of revolution. It focused on the average suburban kid and his quest to not be like his parents. The idea of self-choices and freedom from the 9-5 lifestyle that was accustomed to them. One choice that youth in the 60’s was their own sexuality and this film explores the social concept of sexuality. In one scene Mrs. Robinson is seen briefly nude and was very explicit for cinema in the 60’s but there was a high demand for it. “…Once the news of onstage disrobing broke, the Gielgud box office was selling tickets faster than you can say “drop trou.””[Grove] Sexuality was also a topic explored in this film, with one main theme coming from the fact the female was the sexual aggressor. As well as an older woman that

Robinson and starts to ramble about how she can expect that and that he’s not the kind of guy, once again Ben is fidgeting and the camera is following him. A focus to Mrs. Robinson shows she is interested in the conversation once again and ask Ben “expect what”. A hard cut to medium long shot framed through Mrs. Robinson’s legs shows Ben saying one of his most famous lines “Mrs. Robinson you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?” This angle of the camera through legs represents the provocative nature of this shot and the sexualization of Mrs. Robinson. The scene then cuts to a medium shot of Ben looking over the shoulder of Mrs. Robinson, while she is laughing with a blank expression on Ben’s face. Overall this scene start to explain one of the main themes in the movie. The idea that Ben is someone with no relationship experience what so ever and he idea that the women are the sexual aggressor in the movie. This relates to my theme of the youth looking to change their life and revolt from their parents beliefs, in the concept that a fling with an older woman is unheard of and no one would approve of