The 1960’s films

This week we focused on the history of film and motion picture. We saw a group present “Singing in the rain” which I think superbly contributed film’s transition from silence into sound. The 60’s was an iconic time for television because it marked the transition from silent viewing to sound. Studio seemed to collapse during this time as well, as big motion picture studios did not want to catch on to the times and were hesitant to incorporate sound into their motion films. These studios banked on happy-themed movies that were somewhat lackadaisical and people didn’t care about them anymore. The innovation of color ushered in the new era of thriving cinema. The induction of color was what sparked the blockbuster of cinema. 

Movies were allowed to finally show blood and there was backlash. Before, people would get shot in movies and there would be no wound, or bullet hole. When the late 60’s arrived it prompted producers to increase the amount of blood, sex, and violence that was displayed to audiences. The reviews for these films were polarized in nature, with half of people loving these films and the other hating them. This is a genre that truly encapsulated the divisive nature of the 60’s decade. The introduction of color into film made the blockbuster era thrive even more because of it’s wide appeal. 

This week we saw the movie Bonnie and Clyde. This movie was highly pertinent to the time period because it was a pioneer in many areas. It introduced depth into film and plot subplot that paved the way for dynamic film plot. It brought about radical social change, as it made films in ways that portrayed the darker sides of society. Movies became cynical and showed the selfish 

and corrupt side of humanity. Violence on television also became more prominent and graphic, as well as more realistic in nature. Sex became more explicitly portrayed in film so that they could appeal to the subcultures that were forming during the time, such as teens. Those of the teenage crowd were exploited because of their rebellious nature. Teens were rebelling against their parents and started to not agree with their ideals. This was the breeding grounds for exploitation films, which were movies that targeted trending social phenomena and items of cultural relevance. 

Some of those who are movie enthusiasts would say that the blockbuster era of Hollywood where self-reinvention was deemed iconic. The release of these films was at a crucial time, one where people where feeling tumultuous and jaded from Vietnam and government influence. Conformity was also starting to be questioned, as people were becoming more skeptical about society as a whole. The system of Hollywood was collapsing due to the deaths of industry moguls. I have learned about the depth of the music industry, as well as the tribulations that big-time producers went through in order to deliver quality entertainment to the mass public and increase popularity.