Novel: Robinson Crusoe (1719)
Considered as 1 of the 1st novels in the English language
About:
A story about a young man who ‘escaped’ his wealthy life to seek adventure sailing the seas. Throughout his journey he is sold into slavery, escapes and learns to become a man of independent wealth before he is shipwrecked and forced to fend for himself on a desert island. His tale of adventure leads him to understand the sins of slavery, the benefits of hard work, and the irrelevance of material wealth.
The Road West (18th Century)
European immigration to America
18th Cent + > was largely influenced by the need to escape from religious persecution and class constricting poverty.
America offered ppl both religious freedom & the chance to start a new life.
Discovery of gold (1849)
Created a world-wide fantasy with 'going west' that was to continue up until the present day.
The West at once became mythic and psychologically linked with success.
Nineteenth century lottery ticket to a new life and the 'road west' is forever linked in American minds with escape
Western Genre Created (1850 - 1900)
The Great Depression (1930's)
Roosevelt’s New Deal poured federal funds into the redevelopment of America’s road network
Durastically, expanded after WW2 because new aircraft factories & naval bases started to ‘open’ the West Coast.
Second World (Started 1 September 1939)
Germany's invasion of Poland
California that had the massive pool of cheap labour that could be put to work in the Navy yards, aircraft manufacturing and vehicle production. For these people, a golden age was about to begin
Second World War (Ended 2 September 1945)
The Interstate Freeway
New Freeway System(1950's)
Spanned previously independant states - linking the East and West Coasts of America - providing easy travel for ordinary people within America
Ppl could easily venture out & find new lives, new jobs, & new adventures
Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road' novel (1956)
Post World War 2 (1950's - 1960's)
Social & Economic changes
1960's Movement of "Counter-Culture"
Bonnie & Clyde (1967)
Fay Dunaway as Bonnie Parker
Tim Corrigan's 4 defining feartures of Road Films
(Held female auto-mobility & protagonists back from contributing to the road genre ((particullarly in early stages of the genre - 1960's - 1970's))
Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road' influenced road movies of this time period
(1960's - 1970's)
Traditional Road movies (1960's - 1970's)
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
'The Western: From silents to the Seventies' - book
1970's - 1980's films kept Easy Rider's stereotypes
'Third-wave Feminism' late 1980's - early 1990's
Issues of sexual harrassment
9/11 - 11/12 September 2001
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Anita Hill vs Clarence Thomas Sexual Harrassment Case
First Time Female Heroine
Main Protagonists