摘要

    公路电影诞生于美国，是除西部片外最能体现美国文化与精神的电影类型之一。公路电影以公路作为基本的叙事空间背景，讲述主人公借助移动的交通工具在公路上发生的故事。反叛都是美国公路电影的一个明显的特征和重要的主题，反叛年轻人包含有关“美国梦”及自我意识的困惑与思考，这也十分有助于了解美国文化精神。

关键词：公路电影，反叛，文化，美国梦，美国精神   

Abstract

    Road movie genre was born in America. Except the Western, it is one of the most typical film genres that contain American culture and spirits. Road movies tell stories of the protagonists’ experiences on the road, riding on some motor mobiles. Rebellion is a distinct feature and significant theme of this genre, which contains youth people’s confusion and quest for “American Dream” and themselves. Road movie also contributes to the understanding of American culture and spirits.

Key words: Road Movie, rebellion, culture, American Dream, American spirits

1.    Introduction
French cultural theorist and sociologist Jean Baudrillard equates American culture with “space, speed, cinema, technology”, which just describes the characteristic features of road movie. Road Movie genre was born in America and road is an enduring theme of American culture. Road movies tell stories of protagonists’ experiences riding on vehicles (automobiles, motorcycles, etc.), which often are associated with counterculture and self-seeking. Protagonists are usually young people. This genre is actually a productive ground for exploring issues of nationhood, economics, sexuality, gender, class and race.
This genre is originated from the Western, another typical film genre that can represent typical American culture and spirits, and the differences between them will be talked about later.      
Easy Rider (1969), directed by Dennis Hopper, is most recognized as the first real road movie. Since the late 1960s till now, road movie has been undergoing changes. For example, there are more visionary rebellions in the 1960s road movies, but more existential irony in the 1970s and 1980s, while post-modern is the cultural background of the 1990s, multicultural road movie becomes prevalent. But anyhow, rebellion came through these changes and it is the persistent theme of this genre.