The 1960’s Hippie counterculture movement involved a different variety of social beliefs and concerns. The Hippies’ central belief was that life was about being carefree, and not about what others people thought about them. Their “if it feels good, do it” perspective included little planning nor concern for the effects of their actions. Hippies rejected established institutions. describe them as “The Establishment”, “The Man”, and “Big Brother” Hippies believed the superior mainstream culture was corrupt and flawed and sought to replace it with a Utopian Society. Hippies disliked middle class values, opposed nuclear weapons and the Vietnam War. They embraced aspects of eastern philosophy and sought to find new meaning in life.
During the late 1950s and 1960s the southern states in America were segregated. Black and white people were separated from bathrooms to schools and therefore, blacks had to use their installments or they would be punished by whites. While this was happening, two African American men, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, wanted segregation to come to an end. So they proclaimed their ideas and started to form groups to protest against segregation in America. Consequently, Martin Luther King Jr’s civil rights philosophy made the most sense during the 1960s because integrated schools was the goal, nonviolence could have a huge impact on the enemy and nonviolence was the only practical strategy.
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.
In the 1960s the Americans were looking for a President who could fix the issues that Eisenhower had caused. The people of the United States wanted a President that would bring the country together and unite them through an active but productive leadership position. The Democrats introduced a candidate to the United States that they hoped would bring the country the united nation that they had been longing for. John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s campaign promised the American people the “New Frontier.” Kennedy was able to get approval for tariff reductions and wanted to cut taxes so within time he could create prosperity through economic growth.
The Right Side of the Sixties: Reexamining Conservatism’s Decade of Transformation. Edited by Laura Jane Gifford and Daniel K. Williams. (New York: Palgrave MacMillan. 2013. vi.
In the 1960s the world record for points per game was broken by Wilt Chamberlain making 100 points in one game. This massive scoring game led the way for many new records or high-scoring games to follow. 1960s basketball is the true start of one of the most watched sports in the United States. Basketball got more appealing to watch and has interested young players for many years. The aspects of 1960s basketball include overall basketball in the 1960s, teams, clothing, rule changes, and the top players of the age.
Others just “dropped out” and separated themselves from the mainstream culture through their appearance and lifestyle. Women began to protest about the traditional roles of housewife roles that society had put on them and viewpoints toward sexuality appeared to loosen as they protested. Members of the counterculture were usually known as hippies, shared some beliefs about materialism, technology, and war with the New Left Movement. Hippies would protest against wars such as the Vietnamese War, or they would choose to protest against society by completely leaving it. Many would drop out of school or college to create their idealistic community of peace, love, and harmony.
The 1960’s was one of the most tempestuous decades in American history, remembered for its nationwide protests against the vietnam war and strive for political change. During this decade, a group of people called hippies, emerged and created their own liberal counterculture by refusing to participate in mainstream society. Hippies were white, well-educated, middle class adolescents who were products of the “baby boom” generation. As Hippies entered their early twenties in the late 1960’s, they began to advocate for individual freedom and highly promoted people to “do their own thing”. At the same time, they rejected any ideas of conformity and materialism that their parents had constructed and abided by the decade before them.
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.
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.
What We Really Miss About The 1950s In her essay, “What We Really Miss About the 1950s”, Stephany Coontz talks about the myth of the 1950s. She begins her argument by stating some reasons why the nostalgia for the 1950s exists. The main thing Americans miss about the those days is the stability. She acknowledges that this fallacy is not insane.
With every new generation of teenagers or young adults, there always seems to be this negative look towards the youth culture. What really strikes me is that it happens with every new generation. It seems like once a person hits their teenage years they suddenly become “rebels” of society, and for what reason? How do most adults see the younger generation? They are young people who have bad manners, no respect for the elderly, they are real tyrants, they do not stand up when elders walk in, they do not listen to their parents or teachers, they talk in the presence of adults, and they eat gluttonously (Socrates).
In the years following the Civil War, many people had formulas for how to revive the South. The land below the Mason-Dixon line had suffered greatly, from the physical destruction of the plantations and fertile farmland to the more abstract collapse of the plantation system and the relationships of servitude. After the unification of the country, there was divide in the government. The Radicals in the Congress had a far different plan than President Johnson. With the executive and legislative branches struggling for power and getting little done, the South unfortunately decomposed from the proud, wealthy land it once was before the war to a land not only wounded from battle but scarred from weak politicians as well.
The Vietnam war was the leading cause of the split between all major groups of individuals. From this time derived those that fled, those that protested, and those that kept their opinions to themselves. This period featured freedom and the viewpoints of different civilians. The unorthodox group of individuals that stood out from society came to be known as hippies. These beings went against all previous norms of society and alienated themselves from societal rules.
Film is a story of people and a story made by the people. Since society is a world of community where people creates atmospheres and interact with one another, through films we can look into the mirror of the society at that time. The French society from the mid 1950s to the mid 1960s was the time when the postwar modernization for France had begun. During this time period there were many values that the society reflected and various cultures that were embedded into the people’s lives.
Youth subculture is often defined or distinguishable by elements such as fashion, beliefs, behaviours or interests. Many subcultures are related with specific music genres, a telling example is that Mods like Soul&Jazz and Rockers prefer Rock&Roll. Also, vehicles have played an essetial role in youth subcultures. During the 1960’s in the UK, mods were associated with scooters while rockers were associated with motorcycles. What are mods?