Discussion Questions
October 21, 2015

We can examine the movie The Wild One on two levels.  On one hand the movie stands simply as an example of early 1950' American cinema.  But, on the other hand cinema, like literature or academic writing, often reflects the wider values of the time period in which it was produced.  In viewing The Wild One in light of our readings on the 1950s to this point, consider the following points for discussion.

1. How does the film represent the dominant themes of the early 1950s culture.  How could the movie be seen as a microcosm of the early 1950s American society as a whole?  To what extent might the townspeople represent the American people as a whole?
2. What is meant by the consensus of the early 1950s?  What were its characteristics?  How was it enforced?  Why was it enforced?
3. How does Johnny and his gang represent the Beat generation as described by Holmes in his article "This is the Beat Generation"?
4. It could be argued that the threat to society by the disaffected youths such as Johnny and his gang seemed very real in the 1950s.  How?  Why?

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