On the Road

About this course:

Road movies have always defied strict classification. Loosely defined as narratives of characters traveling on a journey of self-discovery, these films often encompass a blend of literary and cinematic genres, including coming-of-age novels, buddy movies and picaresque tales. In this course, we screen and discuss six road movies that highlight the difficulty of reducing this genre to its lowest common denominator. Whether they adopt the style of a classic film noir (Detour, 1945) or venture into counterculture escapades (Easy Rider, 1969), these films use the journey to shine a spotlight on issues of cultural identity, socio-political challenges and to capture the zeitgeist of the era in which they were created. Differently from traditional genres, road movies don't rely on a closed set of cultural and moral values, as the road trip can either foster a sense of familial unity (Little Miss Sunshine, 2006) or serve as an escape from suffocating family dynamics (Thelma and Louise, 1991). They can also show the odyssey of a group of individuals trying to survive (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, 2000) or the postmodern journey of a disgruntled hero searching for closure (The Limey, 1999).