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The portrayal of perverse cultural values in Bonnie and Clyde

I think that the film is highly inaccurate in its portrayal of the sentiments of ordinary Americans. I recognize that the film takes place during a period of “hard times,” but I am not at all convinced that the American people would respond so enthusiastically to criminals in this way. 

The thief and the gangster and the outlaw and so on have always been common tropes in American popular media, oftentimes as the heroes. But those narratives are so compelling because, usually, they are the stories of these people reckoning with their lives of evil and, in some cases, choosing to leave the criminal life. Bonnie and Clyde distinctly do not fall into this category as they were excited about the prospects of committing crimes up until the moment it got them killed. 

I believe the authors got it wrong that average Americans would cheer Bonnie and Clyde, especially in the small town/rural setting of the time period the film takes place. The main characters kill a significant amount of police officers and some civilians as they go on their crime spree. These officers likely had wives, families, and were active in their church and their local communities. These are the kinds of men who provide an often life-saving public service and will be mourned by their entire community upon their death. 

While portrayed as heroic outlaws, Bonnie and Clyde are more akin to domestic terrorists. They kill innocents and law enforcement, along with causing economic loss and destruction wherever they go. I’m am skeptical that the American public truly felt as warmly about Bonnie and Clyde as the film portrayed them to. If you agree, disagree, or have the facts to either prove or disprove me, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. 

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