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How Did Forrest Gump Influence Pop Culture

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Forrest Gump: Influencing pop culture “Run Forrest, run!” Forrest Gump is a classic American film filled with drama, humor, and romance. Forrest Gump, released in 1994, is directed by Robert Zemeckis. Winston Groom, the original author of Forrest Gump, and Eric Roth, wrote this adventurous tale of a man who does not realize the history he has been present for. Since Forrest Gump was originally a novel, many new ideas transformed the plot into what has become an Academy Award winning movie and an American classic. Forrest Gump recounts the birth of pop culture in America through the use of historical events, issues of human rights, romance, and advances in film technology.
Referencing to Historical Events Forrest Gump takes place between the 1950s and early 1990s when it was released in theatres. In this time period, many important events in history took place, influencing today’s …show more content…

Americans relied on slavery to maintain plantations and boost the economy. Although the issue of slavery was abolished, obstacles still remained for African Americans. Within the era Forrest Gump takes place, the civil rights movement flourished. However, this issue was not touched on in the film except for some racist and stereotypical depictions. For example, Forrest explains how he got his name. He was named after a “civil war hero” Nathan Bedford Forrest who founded the Ku Klux Klan. When mentioning this detail, the film cuts to scenes from Birth of a Nation, creating the presence of racism within the film. Not only is the KKK mentioned, but the lack of civil rights activists encourages the racist tone. One scene included the Black Panther Party, who believed blacks and whites should be treated equally. This scene included pictures of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, however the scene regarding racism soon turned violent as Jenny was hit by her

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