In the 1969 film, Easy Rider, the story of two free-spirited friends traveling East on their motorcycles in search for a life better than the ones they are living, the experience of love between the men and their motorcycles can be seen through the various shots and camera angles used throughout the film.
Director Dennis Hopper, who also stars in the film as Billy the Kid, chooses to shoot the motorcycles from various angles to demonstrate their significance in the journey. There is something fascinating about the way the bikes are seen on camera, because there is an element of life brought to them. They are no longer the objects of transportation, but the tool that both brings life to the men and takes it away. The motorcycles are vehicles for mobility and the force to driving the two men towards their dreams, but the relationship established between the drivers and the bikes is stronger than just man and machine.
A love story. Yeah, it sounds crazy, but hear me out. Through the various camera angles, the bike takes on the position of a woman. For example, there is a panning tilt shot of Captain America's bike that we viewed in class, where he is shoving the money into the gas tank, that resembles the shots that were often used to move up on a woman's leg in previous films. This scene, as in many others, places a particular sexual desire on the machine. Also, the idea of Captain America inserting the money into the bike, suggests "penetration" which could be read similarly to a man penetrating a woman, also known as sexual intercourse.Emphasizing this femininity and sexuality of the bike, the men are continuously "riding," which is often a term that relates explicitly to sex.
Although we see both Captain America and Billy the Kid interacting and having social relations with women throughout the film, there is no established relationship or significant other figure present. Except their bikes. The motorcycles are there with them through everything, and become the substitute for a relationship. The care and protection the men put into their bikes takes away from it as a possession and brings light to the fact that it means much more to them than just a bike.
I really liked your insight into the man and machine love story I definitely did not even think about the portrayal of the rider/bike relationship I was more focused on trying to figure out the overall meaning of the movie and how the music relates to the narrative. I can definitely see your point about the bikes and their sexual portrayal and the lack of significant long term female relationship.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do agree that the bikes take the place of women in many ways, I feel like the connection of them riding their bikes to the "riding" of a woman is a stretch. The term riding is used to refer to sex because sex things I don't know about resemble people riding horses, motorcycles, etc. Not the other way around. Still, the slow, steady shots moving along Captain America's bike did remind me of shots of ladies' legs in other movies, particularly The Graduate, which I think came out the same year. So the audience was definitely meant to make the connection.
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