In the clip from Easy Rider (1969), the use of the camera, lighting, editing and sound was used to reflect the era of the film's creation (The 1960s) but also was used to show the decline in the counterculture movement which I believe was the intended/preferred reading by the filmmakers.
The "Acid Trip" scene metaphorically indicates the downfall of the counterculture movement in the '60s by showing how the ideals of "doing your own thing" became a too vague of philosophy for people to follow leading to mass disillusionment which finalised in drug addictions and mental breakdowns which are both shown in this scene, as the characters experience a crisis of faith while taking acid in a graveyard.
In the start of the scene, we see the two main leads Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) and their female companions Mary (Toni Basil) and Karen (Karen Black) sitting on the steps of a cemetery.
The camera is used in a medium shot at a slightly high angle as we look down on them as they begin taking Acid, by having this shot at a high angle this imposes weakness on the characters as it is used to convey power dynamic to the audience as they look down at them with pity. This links to the preferred reading of the director and social issues at the time as we see the once-proud rebellious counterculture members (Wyatt and Billy, hippies) looked down at like lost children.
This is further proven by the use of non-diegetic sound as a metallic clang mimics church bells due to the graveyard setting, the use of this sound effect throughout the scene seems to act as a metaphor for religion which conveys the crisis of faith both these characters are having throughout the scene and many actual counterculture members in the 1960's had also begun to realize as unlike the boundaries of religion which kept order the fluid nature of this movement began to crumble.
The use of editing also conveyed this preferred reading as it rapidly cuts while mimicking the effects of acid the characters are experiencing to religious imagery such as the closeup of Billy (Dennis Hopper) hugging an angelic female statue in the graveyard. The mise en scene of Billy's performance as he cries while hugging the statue mimics that of a mother and child, the statue acting as a motherly figure while also being metaphoric for stability and structure of religion and Billy acting as the child and the members of the counterculture movement seeking a path to guide them after there downfall.
The use of high-key and natural lighting in this scene also conveys this seeking for meaning experienced by Billy and the counterculture movement of the time as the camera begins panning towards the sky revealing more natural light and eventually becoming high key as they sun acts as divine light as it shines down from the heavens (sky) as it shines over the camera creating a lens flare effect.
This lens flare effect creates disorientation in combination with the editing, from frantic jump cuts between the panning and stationary camera to the use of a fisheye lens. This scene perfectly represents the effects of the acid on the characters as you just like them feel lost and afraid in this cemetery, this, of course, links to the feeling experienced by the counterculture members during there downfall.
Overall, in my opinion, this scene uses the techniques of the camera, editing, sound and lighting to create a reading intended by the filmmakers to show the decline of counterculture through the contrast of the structure and hope that religion provides to its members to there lack of guidance following the vague code of conduct of "doing your own thing" that failed to provide fulfilment to the members of the counterculture movement.
However, this religious motif could just be the result of the setting and be a metaphor for the existential crisis most people on acid go through, but in my opinion, there are easier ways for a filmmaker to create a "mad trip" experience without the use of religious imagery.
Reference List:
Easy Rider (1969) Directed by Dennis Hopper
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