Whaddya rebellin’ against? Youth Rebellion and Domesticity in The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause
Whaddya rebellin’ against? Youth Rebellion and Domesticity in The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on the conflict between youth and domestic values in 1950s America on the example of the movies The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause. Using elements of subcultural studies, the films are discussed as didactic in purpose, conveying a sense of fear of youth culture, then a new development, and reinforcing the patriarchal structure of mid-20th century US society. This was achieved by depicting troubled young people who manage to overcome various difficulties with the help of a strong masculine father-figure. However, as a result of this, some young people sought for characters who in their opinions embodied a non-conformist stance to a much greater extent than the protagonists. These characters, Chino in The Wild One and Plato in Rebel Without a Cause, became subcultural icons in their own right, and illustrate the impact that such cinematic portrayals may have on the development of a subculture.

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