Counterculture Of The 1960s Research Paper
During the 1950s, movies and TV were both a force for conformity and rebellion, depending on the specific content and audience. On one hand, the dominant narrative of movies and TV during this era tended to reinforce mainstream values and promote social conformity. Many films and TV shows portrayed idealized versions of American life, featuring characters who conformed to traditional gender roles and family structures. These narratives often emphasized the importance of conformity and adherence to societal norms, portraying those who deviated from these expectations as outcasts or villains. On the other hand, some films and TV shows challenged these mainstream values and promoted rebellion against the status quo.
The sixties was a decade unlike any other. Baby boomers came of age and entered colleges in huge numbers. The Civil Rights movement was gaining speed and many became involved in political activism. By the mid 1960s, some of American youth took a turn in a “far out” direction. It would be the most influential youth movement of any decade - a decade striking a dramatic gap between the youth and the generation before them.
There was rock, folk music, and many more. But, in the late sixties Rock n Roll, commonly reckoned as the golden age of rock and roll when it attained a maturity unimaginable for the delinquent rebellion of the fifties, there are numerous references to the Vietnam War. The criticism of the war is submerged in or displaced by the politics of sexuality, lifestyle, and drugs. Rock music of that time period celebrated anti-materialism, spiritual awakening and social disengagement (James pg 133). Like the social movement it made possible, hippie music was ideologically and economically assimilable.
The Beat Generation, according to Wikipedia, was a group of authors whose literature explored and influenced American culture in the post-World War II era. Wikipedia also states, central elements of the Beat culture were rejection of standard narrative values, the spiritual quest, exploration of American and Eastern religions, rejection of materialism, explicit portrayals of the human condition, experimentation with psychedelic drugs, and sexual liberation and exploration.
First, it sought the expansion of civil rights and liberties, including the fight against racial and gender discrimination. Consequently, American society reacted well to these demands and adapted policies and laws to pursue equal rights and opportunities. Secondly, the counterculture movement emphasized the importance of cultivating tolerance towards different forms of sexuality. By and large, this goal was achieved through the sexual revolution that eliminated societal taboos surrounding unconventional sex. Thirdly, the hippie movement considered it vital to build a peaceful and nonviolent society.
American counterculture was a reaction against United States government which oppressed domestic minorities and committed atrocities abroad. The emergence of a counterculture coincided with the dissatisfaction of many Americans with the actions of their government. Angry with capitalism, racism, and war, young people especially defied the American power structure, instead pushing for greater personal freedom, which included drug use, sexual freedom, freedom of speech, and peace. American counterculture was on display in Woodstock, the 1970 documentary film released a year after the festival. The film shows young adults flocking to a music concert in Bethel, New York, where they hear music performed by artists and groups including Richie Havens,
We as a nation, world, or just humans have a tendency to label everything around us. The word “Zeitgeist”, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is the “defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time. (OED, n.). Moreover, the zeitgeists of the 1960s in the United States included the hippie movement and the British invasion. Not only is the zeitgeist constantly changing, but also there is no telling what the zeitgeist is heading to next.
A subculture is a smaller cultural group within a larger cultural group that shares a set of values that differentiates from the larger group. A subculture is able to live and function peacefully within the larger group. An example of a subculture is heavy metal fans. They all share a love for heavy metal music, but they coexist within the larger society.
The counter-culture era was beginning in the 1960’s. It was never more than a “minority movement” which introduced new ideas about sex, communal lifestyles, and new ideas with food, clothes, and music. The sexual aspect of the movement was in full swing as college students were taking more casual approaches to sex and birth control made their appearances. People were also starting to do drugs, such a marijuana, and LSD.
(Hair 1:17:08-1:17:10 min). According to Rorabaugh, the hippie counterculture was responsible for “a cultural revolution over the long
Counterculture meaning against what was right or what was the norm during the 60s. The actions of Counterculture movement began to disintegrate as soon as Woodstock came to an end. “Counterculture reached its peak and hippies finally had the chance to be a part of the Utopian Society” (Freccia). Woodstock gave the hippies a place to come together as a group with other hippies from around to share their thoughts and express their opinions against the war.
The Music Revolution The Sixties were an exciting period with the beginning of a social, economic and Cultural Revolution, influenced by the music industry that was deeply involved into causes. This propensity took place in a turbulent period where some folks called it the "decade of discontent" because of the race riots and the demonstrations against the Vietnam War. However, other individuals called it the decade of "peace, love, and harmony", because of the peace movements and the emergence of Hippies, called “flower children.” This decade was about assassinations, unforgettable fashion, new styles of music, civil rights, gay and women 's liberation, Vietnam, peace marches, sexual freedom, drug usage, Summer of Love and Woodstock Festival. All of these factors caused a revolutionary transformation in the world of well-liked music, establishing melodies as a form of raise voices and express feelings.
US History Essay 4 During the 1960s and 1970s, television played a major role in revealing the hard truths about American wars and civil rights. During this time period, many civil rights movements arose while the controversial Vietnam War raged. Events, such as the civil rights demonstration in Birmingham as well the televised Tet offensive in Vietnam, were nationally televised and revealed the many deficiencies of the American government. During the 1960s, civil rights were a major issue across America. Led by influential people such as Martin Luther King Jr., many of these movements were highly publicized.
The fashion of the 1960s had so many popular trends that many of them are still being used today. In the 1930s many women wore heels, puffy sleeves, and long skirts. Many people already know the style of the 1950s because that was the era of the popular movie “West Side Story”, such as poofy skirts, dresses, leather jackets, and converse. The 1970s was a time of high waisted pants, knee high boots, and many different patterns. Fashion has changed significantly throughout the years but there has been no bigger jump than from the conservative clothing of the 50s to the more flashy style of the late 60s and 70s.
Most Americans considered the Beat generation to be nonconformist due to their art, literature, lifestyles, and beliefs that placed them at the margins of social norms. The Beat Movement’s rejection of traditional values and acceptance of homosexuality, drug use, feminism, environmentalism, and new religions put these members outside of the mainstream of society. Although they comprised a minute part of the population, hippies represented the essence of the counter culture, and were regarded as nonconformists for the way in which they cast off typical middle class standards. Hippies pursued free love, used drugs like marijuana and LSD, wore colorful clothing and unkempt hair styles, often did not have jobs, and lacked a structured life,
More about Counterculture Of The 1960s Research Paper
Conformity And Rebellion During The 1950's
233 Words | 1 PagesSixties: Years Of Hope Days Of Rage By Todd Gitlin
1689 Words | 7 PagesThe Vietnam War Rhetoric Analysis
1524 Words | 7 PagesAmerican Culture In The Dharma Bums By Jack Kerouac
1957 Words | 8 PagesThe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test Analysis
1209 Words | 5 PagesEssay On American Counterculture
1094 Words | 5 PagesZeitgeists Of The 1960s
312 Words | 2 PagesThe 1960s: A Popular Example Of A Subculture
142 Words | 1 PagesCounter Culture In The 1960's
163 Words | 1 PagesHippie Counterculture Research Paper
352 Words | 2 PagesWoodstock: A Rock N Roll Phenomenon
1160 Words | 5 PagesThe Music Revolution In The 1960's
991 Words | 4 Pages1960s And 1970s Essay
626 Words | 3 PagesFashion Of The 1960s Research Paper
623 Words | 3 PagesThe Beat Generation: Nonconformists
194 Words | 1 Pages