How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Almost Famous.
Quote #1
ELAINE: Yes, it's poetry. It's poetry of drugs and promiscuous sex. Honey, they're on pot.
It's clear from the beginning of the film that Elaine does not approve of rock and roll—or the culture that surrounds it. As William learns, she's not completely wrong—some of the stuff that goes on behind the rock-and-roll scenes really is kind of iffy—but why is Elaine so overprotective?
Quote #2
LESTER: These people are not your friends. These are people who want you to write sanctimonious stories about the genius of rock stars, and they will ruin rock and roll and strangle everything we love about it.
Lester urges William to remain objective and critical when writing about the musicians. Rock and roll is about the music, first and foremost, Lester explains. It's not about popularity or looking cool.
Quote #3
ELAINE: Look at this—an entire generation of Cinderellas, and there's no glass slipper.
Elaine sees the rock-and-roll lifestyle as a dead end, a vice that will ruin her son's potential. Again, she's not completely and totally wrong—sure, William does end up just fine, but it also seems like the rock-and-roll lifestyle can be a dead end up if you let it become one.