Cinema of the absurd: The baby boom generation in The Big Lebowski

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

4 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

11/21/2008

Category :

Arts & media

Sub category :

Film studies

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Summary :

Introduction.
1. 75 million births.
2. The rock and roll explosion.
Attempts to create a portrait of baby boomer life.
The central characters in The Big Lebowski.
1. The absurdity of an entire generation ruling mainstream politics and culture.
2. Esslin's 'clowning, fooling, and mad-scenes'.
3. The Dude's lack of control.
Another aspect of absurdist theatre.
Absurdist technique employed in order to downplay the significance of the baby boom.
Conclusion.

Abstract

After World War II, America experienced what would eventually be termed the "baby boom," in which about 75 million births occurred between the years of 1946 and 1964. The "baby boomer" generation has been constantly examined since its inception, and the world during its time has seen tremendous changes, often playing right into the hands of the boomers. The rock and roll explosion appeared just as the oldest boomers were coming of age, and the hippie movement and Vietnam War were available for the rest to claim as their historical times. Due to their tremendous size as a population, the baby boom generation has had incredible impact on politics and the economy as they aged, but for their entire lives they have dominated popular culture. Often, the entire generations of people born during this time are lumped together, as if being of a collective mind. According to Paul C. Light, author of baby Boomers, "[the baby boom generation] grew up as the first standardized generation, drawn together by the history around them, the intimacy of television, and the crowding that came from the sheer onslaught of other baby boomers".