The 1960s saw rapid advancements in both science and technology in the U.S. along with a substantial increase in the birth rate. Arising from this was an increase in outdoor activities of both men and women, the rise of pop culture, and society progressing from one of stability and cautiousness of the 1950s to one of exploration and innovation. Consequently, family values among the younger generation were gradually eroding and giving rise to new values based upon individualism.
By the 1970s, the Vietnam War had already been in a state of quagmire for many years and had made a deep impact upon American society. The civil rights movements of the mid-1960s had also propelled society to move towards a more liberalized and pluralistic stance on issues. The public’s consciousness was raised which in turn led to rebellions against the establishment. The social climate was morphing from being passive to taking the initiative. However, individuals’ values of the family and society took a step into the unknown during this tumultuous time.
Well-known American Taiwanese film director Ang Lee has launched a total of 11 works in over 19 years during his film career thus far; including five that have explored the themes of American social and cultural history. Aside from “Ride with the Devil” which takes place during the Civil War, the other four are all focused on the period from the 1960s to 1970s. “The Ice Storm” interprets the influence of sexual liberation on American families as well as the outcome of a moral panic and the collapse of the family structure in the early 1970s. “The Hulk,” adapted from the bestselling American comic, implies the impact of science on families and individuals entering the technological age. “Brokeback Mountain,” set in the conservative Midwestern United States, describes a homosexual relationship which was socially taboo during the early 1960s and continued into the early 1980s. “Taking Woodstock” focuses on the historical key event, ‘The Woodstock Festival,’ which resulted in the cultural changes of the 1970s. These four films demonstrate Ang Lee’s deep study of this era and its projection on contemporary society.
This thesis will provide and overview of the key changes of modern American society and culture. I will do this through the interpretations offered by these four films as well as providing an outsiders viewpoint.
