Johanna Isaacson

The Beach Blanket Barbarism reviews the theme of the tethered that is a representation of the

oppressed category of the community. The theme is not seen under the surface of the bourgeois

community. The film is set in Santa Cruz but Isaacson makes a deep analysis between what is

shown in the film and the actual event in Santa Cruz. The issues that are exposed include the

shutdown of community gardens and the rise in rent. There is an issue in affordable housing as

rising in rents leads to a rise in homelessness in the community. The theme of oppression is

brought by an increase in rent because it is a way of discrimination to the poor.

There is also the theme of individualist greed or the welfare of the community is also brought out

in the speech. The sharing of the economy between Uber drivers and Airbnb condo negatively

affects society. The Airbnb condo is interested in the maximization of their income but charging

the highest rent. However, the resident who ate mostly Uber drivers with low income cannot be

able to pay those rent forcing them to live in their cars. Santa Cruz appears to be a beautiful,

enlightened and relaxed city but in reality, it is a place where the American dream is lost over the

welfare of a few. It is a wolf in sheep clothing.