‘60s Counterculture Revolution... It’s Groovy Baby!!!

‘60s

Counterculture

Revolution . . .

It’s Groovy

Baby!!!

Counterculture Emerges

• Evolved from Beatniks of 1950s• Young adults (Baby boomers) who

separated from mainstream society• Critical of gov. & capitalism = evil &

controlling– Against consumerism– Rebelling against ‘50s conformity & rigid

conservative morals & behavior– Disappointed w/injustices in society (racial

& social class)– Against Vietnam war

Nonconformity• Motto = “Tune In,

Turn On, Drop Out”

• Focus on peace & brotherly love

• Value nature (“flower power”) & simplified life

• Based on socialist idea of equality

Haight-Ashbury• Small area in San Francisco

= Hippie capital; 1st hippie community

• Summer of Love – Nov. ‘65 – Jan. ‘67– Pop. grows; overwhelms

urban area– Drug culture emerged to

enhance “escapism” from mainstream society•High usage; Marijuana

LSD/Acid

Hippie Culture

• Many hippies = transients• Communes = communal living;

contribute whatever you want; no social rules– Popular w/transients– Could be an urban house or farm

house

• Sexuality - VERY non-traditional; “Free Love”; Whose Your Daddy?

cont.

• “Natural” look = long hair, beards, little to no make-up, no soaps or deodarants

• Fashion – many made own clothes or thrift store– Embelish w/ tie-

dye, Nat.-Am. jewelry, peace emblems

– Patterns & colors often clashed; mismatched

Musical Notes• Lyrics = protest; challenge authority;

point out wrongs of society; encourage peace at home & abroad

• Folk music = acoustic; simple music notes– Bob Dylan– Simon & Garfunkel

• Psychedelic = heavy combination of guitar & keyboard notes; innovative; “drug effect” illusion– Jimi Hendrix– The Doors

Woodstock• Outdoor concert

• 3 days in 1969; upstate NY

• 300,000+ attended• Ultimate hippie

commune• Showed world success

of hippie lifestyle

Culture Crash

• Drug Abuse = Large % had addiction problems– Suicides; ODs

• Crime = Stealing, Prostitution & Drugs

• Communes collapse = Not practical; Can’t coexist w/mainstream society

• Large % need gov. welfare & food stamps

Lasting

Impact

• Influenced art, music, & attitudes– Andy Warhol’s

duplicated art imagery w/bright alternating colors of same image reflecting lack of individuality in mainstream culture

• “Go Green” movement• Conservative backlash

– Return to trad. values & lifestyle

– Propelled Nixon into office

’60s Mainstream Music

• Rock-n-Roll evolved = pull on hippie’s focus on lyrics– “British

Invasion” = Brit. artists copying Am. rock-n-roll•Beatles•Rolling Stones•The Who

• Surfer = reflected “West Coast” growing surf culture (plastic hippies) – The Beach Boys

• Motown = A.A. artists w/catchy lyrics, harmonious vocals & “polished” acts– The Temptations– Diana Ross & the

Supremes

’60s Mainstream TV • Sesame Street• I Dream of Jeanie –

trad. vs. mod. role of women

• Get Smart – Spies (C.W.)

• Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour – poli. satire

’60s Mainstream Toys & Games

• Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots

• Operation• Etch-a-Sketch• Easy Bake Ovens• Barrel of Monkeys• MouseTrap• Hi-Ho Cherry-O

1960s Cost of Living

• Loaf of bread = .22 ¢

• Gallon of gas = .32 ¢

• Avg. car = $2,612• Avg. salary =

$8,346

Summarize & Highlight