On August 20, Lisa Danker will introduce the film Easy Rider at the Foosaner Museum of Art in Melbourne. Following the screening, Danker will lead a discussion about the production history, style and the impact of Easy Rider on the reception of independent filmmaking.
In the film, two counterculture bikers travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans in search of spiritual truth. On their journey, they experience bigotry and hatred from the inhabitants of small-town America and also meet with other travelers seeking alternative lifestyles. After a terrifying drug experience in New Orleans, the two travelers wonder if they will ever find a way to live peacefully in America.
Easy Rider marks a significant moment in the representation of rebellion and countercultural lifestyles during the 1960s. The tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy occurred in 1968, around the time of the film’s production. Easy Rider was released in 1969, a year of pivotal events, including Woodstock, further escalation of the Vietnam War and the inauguration of Nixon’s presidency.
The film screens at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 20 and is open to the public. The screening occurs in conjunction with the current Pop Art in America exhibition on display at the Foosaner.
The film screening and discussion will take place in the Harris Community Auditorium, located at 1463 Highland Ave, Melbourne, FL.
For more information, visit www.foosanerartmuseum.org.