Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote “The great man is he who in the mist of crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” Emerson is saying the only way to truly be oneself is to not care what others think. One should be able to walk in a crowd and know that he or she is not blended into the crowd. Many people do not like to stand out because they find comfort in conforming to society. This consensus is reminiscent of the 1950s where conformity was everything. However, a revolution of social and political change known as counterculture arose and challenge era’s values. The counterculture movement was tremendously pervasive in spreading its values opposing and subsequently reversing the mainstream norms of the 1950s through the New Left, the anti-war movement, and the Hippie movement.
In order to fully realize the accomplishments and magnitude of the counterculture movement, on must first understand the era preceding it: the 1950s. This was a time of extreme conservatism and conformity based upon the overwhelming consensus. The 1950 values of anti-communism, conservatism, conformity, and consensus took root in the 1940s as American began to reject the liberalism of the 1930s. World War II brought about the change from the 1930s to the 1940s. After the war concluded American society started to morph completely. The era of the 30s was know for its extreme liberalism in all aspects of nation; it penetrated American politics, economics, and culture. However after WWII, this widespread liberalism was flipped on its head, and in the 50s, it was completely replaced by radical conservatism due to the excessive anti-communistic sentiment of America. This lead to the formation of a national consensus, which set forth what w...
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...es helped provide food, water, drug assistance, and medical assistance. In conclusion, Woodstock proved that the values of the Hippie movement could successfully reverse those of the consensus.
Ultimately, the counterculture movement spread its values opposing the mainstream norms of the 1950s through the New Left, the anti-war movement, and the Hippie movement. All these movements urged people to not conform and accept new ideas and different ways of life. Today, a sense of consensus still exists, and there are not enough people or groups willing to fight against the contemporary conformity. Everyone likes how it feels to fit in. However, copying others should be the last thing on one’s mind. Everyone should truly adhere to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: “To be yourself in a world that constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
The 1950’s have received a reputation as an age of political, social and cultural conformity. This reputation is rightfully given, as with almost every aspect of life people were encouraged to conform to society. Conforming is not necessarily a negative thing for society, and the aspects of which people were encouraged to conform in the 1950’s have both negative and positive connotations.
Counterculture (Pg. 48)- a group whose values, beliefs, norms, and related behaviors place its members in opposition to the broader culture
Many people have trouble being apart of a society. These troubles come from trying to fit in, which is also known as conforming. Another trouble is trying to express one’s own style with one’s own opinion. This is a trouble due to the fact that many people have the fear of being frowned upon when being the black sheep of the group if one’s opinion does not correspond with other opinions. This is where one’s own sense of who they are, individuality, and trying to fit in, conformity, can get confused. A nickname for conformity is “herd behavior” which is the name of an article where the author relates animals that herd with people that conform. Many people have a different philosophy of this topic which will be expressed in this essay. An important
In conclusion It has become clear to me through studying theses texts that the counterculture movement of the 1960’s was one of great importance, without it we wouldn’t live in the society we do today and yet so many of the ideals and goals of the movement were not achieved. Western society is consumed by consumerism and the entrapments of everyday working life. There is still oppression and war rampant many countries: North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Uzbekistan, have been named as having the lowest standards for both political rights and civil liberties by political watchdog organisations such as Freedom House. Although it seems that we have come a long way, I am not entirely convinced that the counterculture movement was a success.
Initially considered immoral and revolutionary, this counterculture was more concerned with philosophy than style. In seeking success and material gain, much of American society had been corrupted by capitalism and lost sight of the meaning of life. Proponents of this change challenged society to experience life more intimately and deeply, ignoring all distractions that prevented one from seeing the reality of American life. In a society where the individual had little chance, one’s only hope was to disappear into a movement where one could rediscover the fundamental truth that nature revealed, or into hallucinogenic drugs that transported the mind past its limitations, or into an entirely different lifestyle grounded on more humane and authentic values.
The 1970s was a tumultuous time in the United States. In some ways, the decade was a continuation of the 1960s. Women, African Americans, Native Americans, gays and lesbians and other marginalized people continued to fight for their freedom, while many other Americans joined in the demonstration against the ongoing war in Vietnam. Due to these movements, the 1970s saw changes in its national identity, including modifications in social values. These social changes showed up in the fashion industry as well, delivering new outlooks in the arenas of both men’s and women’s clothing.
The 1960s counterculture was a cultural sensation which first began to take shape in the United States and from there on it spread throughout the rest of the west. It spread sometime in the early sixties to early seventies. The counterculture sensation began to catch on quickly and it eventually went on to become groundbreaking. Several components contributed in making the counterculture of the 1960s a unique era from the other opposition movements of the previous eras. The post-war baby boom created an unexceptional amount of youngsters who were an integral part of making the counterculture movement. As the 1960s continued worldwide tensions began to develop in societies in which people followed the same strategies as their elders used to regarding the war in Vietnam, race relations, human sexuality, women's rights, traditional modes of authority, experimentation with psychoactive drugs, and differing interpretations of the American Dream. Several new cultural forms arose which included the Beatles and parallel to it was the growth of the hippie culture. This led to the fast development of the youth culture in which change and experimentation were mainly highlighted. Many songwriters, singers and musical groups from the US and around the world made a major impact on the counterculture movement which included the likes of the Beatles. Basically, the 1960s counterculture grew from a convergence of events and issues which served as the main substances for the remarkable speedy change during the decade.
During the 1960’s a revolution and change in lifestyle occurred for the youths of america which rapidly spread around the world. It was situated around the ideals of freedom, peace, love, living your life happily and in the way you want to rather than conforming to the ideals of others. Some might say that this significant cultural change has shaped the way in which some generations think and feel about life today, however, it could also be argued that the beliefs, and life style of hippies are not realistic, neither acceptable in the world we live in today.
The movement that began during the counterculture era in the 1960s, also known as the youth movement, rebelled against the conformity of American life. The main goal the hippie movement was trying to accomplish was being able change views and ideas politically, socially, and culturally. However, they mainly aimed at changing cultural points and everyday values. The movement started after the assassination of President Kennedy, led into protesting against the Vietnam War, civil rights movement, usage of psychoactive drugs, sexual liberation, a new taste in music, such as the rock genre from bands like The Beatles, and more.
...vision industry as a gold mine for money. Advertising catered directly towards the hostile youths and hippies in order to appeal to the people. The counterculture deeply influenced society today by erasing the blatant disregard of the views of youth in earlier times. The counterculture became a presence in society that could not be ignored.
During the sixties Americans saw the rise of the counterculture. The counterculture, which was a group of movements focused on achieving personal and cultural liberation, was embraced by the decade’s young Americans. Because many Americans were members of the different movements in the counterculture, the counterculture influenced American society. As a result of the achievements the counterculture movements made, the United States in the 1960s became a more open, more tolerant, and freer country.
Unlike the society before this movement, the hippie did not try to change America through violence, the hippie tried to change things through peace and love. The Hippie Movement was a moment during the mid 1960s through the early 1070s where sex, drugs and Rock-n-Roll, was at the forefront of mainstream society. No one really knows the true definition of a Hippie, but a formal definition describes the hippie as one who does not conform to social standards, advocating a liberal attitude and lifestyle. Phoebe Thompson wrote, “Being a hippie is a choice of philosophy. Hippies are generally antithetical to structured hierarchies, such as church, government, and social castes. The ultimate goal of the hippie movement is peace, attainable only through love and toleration of the earth and each other. Finally, a hippie needs freedom, both physical freedom to experience life and mental freeness to remain open-minded” (Thompson12-13). Many questions are asked when trying to figure out how this movement reached so many of America’s youth, and what qualities defined a hippie as a hippie?
American society and culture experienced an awakening during the 1960s as a result of the diverse civil rights, economic, and political issues it was faced with. At the center of this revolution was the American hippie, the most peculiar and highly influential figure of the time period. Hippies were vital to the American counterculture, fueling a movement to expand awareness and stretch accepted values. The hippies’ solutions to the problems of institutionalized American society were to either participate in mass protests with their alternative lifestyles and radical beliefs or drop out of society completely.
During the summer of love, the diggers helped out and spread the trend of being a hippie. Hippies are always so recognizable then and now with their “long flowing hair, bright clothes, and flowy dresses.” (The Sixties Chronicles 2004) With their noticeable look the hippies believed strongly in individualism. Again shown with their clothes, but also something else. “...where the hippie cry, "Do your own thing!" served to incubate a new cornucopia of causes…” (Stein pg.1) There are all sorts of causes that they fought for then that we have now that is better than what it was before. Some of the causes they fought for were gay rights, the environment, women's liberation, saving the whales, saving the forests and so much more. It had a, “...widespread impact in fashion, art, in the use of illicit drugs…” (Ventre pg.1) They also helped out creating a counterculture movement. During the summer of love there was also bad things happening during this time, Vietnam war was going on. The Summer of Love was a backlash to the war. Most of the people there wanted progress and there were tons of anti-war protests. Although there were still some who resisted and didn’t care that thousands of people were being drafted into the war. “Some methods of change proved healthy, others were damaging, depending on which social observers are to be believed.” (Summer of Love That Changed Music and Culture 2007) While the hippies were out and trying to change the world, some did it while doing
When people hear the term hippie, they think of men and woman in loose clothing with flowers weaved in their hair. Although these men and women did in fact wear these things, they left a significant impact on society. Hippies were a part of the Counterculture movement, which basic ideals were to reject the ideas of mainstream society. The movement itself began with the protesting of the Vietnam War. Eventually, the movement was more than just protesting the war. Hippies promoted the use of recreational drugs, religious tolerance; they also changed society’s views and attitudes about lifestyle and social behavior. The Counterculture movement was the most influential era in the 20th century because the people of this time changed society’s outlook, and broached the topics of drugs, fashion, and sexual freedom.