Hoberman, J. “If You Are a Bonnie-and-Clyder…:The Birth of Radical Chic.” The Dream Life: Movies, Media and the Mythology of the Sixties. New York: The New Press, 2003.

Hoberman discusses the influx of violence in American society, and how Bonnie and Clyde simultaneously changed the depiction of violence on screen. In fact, he uses the term “pornoviolence” to explain the new cultural fascination with violence. Released in 1967, Bonnie and Clyde was preceded by a summer of extreme turbulence, ranging from race riots to the Black Panthers violent crusade. Bonnie and Clyde’s release was extremely provocative (including the slogan “They’re young, they’re in love…and they kill people”). The film endears viewers to the main characters, especially in the beginning with the outlaws’ comic slipups. Furthermore, the criminals are depicted with both symbols of power (such as guns) and freedom (such as fast cars). This heightened the controversy surrounding the film because never before had cold-blooded killers also been seen as likable and alluring. Yet, given the cultural context, the rebellious nature of the main characters was well received by a society full of upheaval and protest.
Hoberman’s analysis clearly supports the idea that Bonnie and Clyde broke taboos and glamorized forbidden lifestyles. Hoberman says that Bonnie and Clyde introduced a carefree, enchanting, yet rebellious “bonnie-and-clyder” attitude in society. More specifically, he says this movie led to “the birth of radical chic," which he defines as a trend away from convention and toward radicalism. Arthur Penn made violence entertaining and created sympathetic perpetrators, which established a new way to portray criminals and violence.