Your enjoyment of Men in Black 3 is greatly augmented if you
understand the real history it references. Here are some of the primary
historical references in MIB3.
Part B: 1969
The movie's treatment of life in 1969 is actually pretty well done. Some major themes:
-Race relations: Agent J is pulled over and questioned because of his race when he first arrives in 1969. He is simply dressed too well and is driving too nice a car for an African American man in the 60s, the police officers explain. They proceed to ask him what his job is and imply that being a professional athlete is pretty much the only well-paying option for black men in the 60s. Also relevant to the issue of race, a little later on, there is an interracial couple at Coney Island. Their mixed-race relationship does not provoke any comments from any of the other characters in the film, which seems a little odd to me. How common were interracial relationships in NY in the late 60s?
-Counterculture: On the streets of NYC and at Coney Island, we see young men and women whose clothing and hairstyles mark them as part of the counterculture of the 60s. Their relaxed, flowing clothes and long, unstyled hair makes it clear that they are supposed to be "hippies," and it is truly remarkable how much they contrast with the meticulously styled men and women around them. One young woman even tells Boris to "make love, not war," a famous anti-Vietnam War slogan, while handing him a white daisy. I love how Andy Warhol and his "Factory" were featured as well.
-Space race: The huge final action sequence of the film takes place at Cape Canaveral on the day of the Apollo 11 launch in July 1969. Apollo 11, as implied in the film, carried the first people to the moon. The film builds tension as it peeks into the perfect 1960s living rooms of (white) families across the nation, huddled around their TV sets to watch the launch. However, the presence of Agent J's father, as an African American man, in a position of such great authority at the launch site seemed a little early to me.
Overall, this film reviews some of the key groups, tensions, and events of 1969. In general, it does so quite well. However, its treatment of race in 1969 may have been a bit optimistic.
Knowing history is the key that opens up your understanding of even blockbuster movies!
Part B: 1969
The movie's treatment of life in 1969 is actually pretty well done. Some major themes:
-Race relations: Agent J is pulled over and questioned because of his race when he first arrives in 1969. He is simply dressed too well and is driving too nice a car for an African American man in the 60s, the police officers explain. They proceed to ask him what his job is and imply that being a professional athlete is pretty much the only well-paying option for black men in the 60s. Also relevant to the issue of race, a little later on, there is an interracial couple at Coney Island. Their mixed-race relationship does not provoke any comments from any of the other characters in the film, which seems a little odd to me. How common were interracial relationships in NY in the late 60s?
-Counterculture: On the streets of NYC and at Coney Island, we see young men and women whose clothing and hairstyles mark them as part of the counterculture of the 60s. Their relaxed, flowing clothes and long, unstyled hair makes it clear that they are supposed to be "hippies," and it is truly remarkable how much they contrast with the meticulously styled men and women around them. One young woman even tells Boris to "make love, not war," a famous anti-Vietnam War slogan, while handing him a white daisy. I love how Andy Warhol and his "Factory" were featured as well.
-Space race: The huge final action sequence of the film takes place at Cape Canaveral on the day of the Apollo 11 launch in July 1969. Apollo 11, as implied in the film, carried the first people to the moon. The film builds tension as it peeks into the perfect 1960s living rooms of (white) families across the nation, huddled around their TV sets to watch the launch. However, the presence of Agent J's father, as an African American man, in a position of such great authority at the launch site seemed a little early to me.
Overall, this film reviews some of the key groups, tensions, and events of 1969. In general, it does so quite well. However, its treatment of race in 1969 may have been a bit optimistic.
Knowing history is the key that opens up your understanding of even blockbuster movies!
