So one of my most favorite movies of all times is Dazed and Confused. I love this movie because it really hits home for me and reminds me a lot about my high school years and growing up.
In this scene the upper class men take the young freshman, after a good ol freshman hazing of being paddled. The Emporium is a hang out for all the high school kids and the freshman was a bit hesitant going in since he was still on the market for continued hazing. As they walk in, Bob Dylan's "Hurricane" song is playing. This song is about an African American boxer who was convicted to life in prison for the murder of three white people.
After corresponding with the boxer, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Dylan felt he was innocent and that is when he wrote this song. He was convicted for the murders in 1966 for a life sentence, he got a retrial but was convicted again in 1976 and in 1984, the conviction was finally overturned. In 1966 with racial injustices all around Carter was guilty right off the back before his trial because he was black and the victims were white.
I find the use of this song an interesting choice because the freshman was only guilty of being a freshman which automatically meant he had to go through this hazing of being beaten essentially. It was as if he had to go through this punishment before he could establish his life as a high school kid.
By no means are these two situations the same or of equal relevance but I just thought it was an interesting use of music for a scene in a movie.
So interesting. I've forgotten about both of these movies! They are great. You do a good job connecting the music to the action of the scene and to themes overall.
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