The Hippie Subculture of the 1960s

1352 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The hippie movement of the 60

The 1960’s was a decade to remember. Hippies, The Draft, Civil Rights, and the Vietnam War were all events that took place in this youthful generation. Drugs claimed numerous lives furthermore the birth rate for young adolescents reached sky high. There was a major turning point on the idealistic life in the sixties its effect tarnished many families. ¶

The corner of Haight and Ashbury marks the spot of where the hippie subculture began. “ Initially it was a youth movement that started during the early 1960’s and spread all over the world” (Stone, Skip). The word hippie derives from “hipster which is someone who rejects the established culture” (Web Dictionary). Hippies rejected and established institutions, criticized middle-class values, opposed nuclear weapons , despised the draft, and even took part in the civil rights movement. “ All Hippies were young, from the ages of 15 to 25” (Huber, Adam) . A bundle of hippies lived on the streets because they didn’t have jobs so they would “panhandle” for spare change. Many others would get a job when needed. Practically all hippies turned vacant houses into “cash pads” where large groups of them would live. Hippies traveled as cheaply as possible, mainly to lengthen the time away from home, so journeys were carried out by thumbing (hitchhiking), or cheap private buses that travelled the route. ¶

Many of the hippie fashions were based on traditional designs from India, while other fashions were motivated by the icons of their day, rock n’ roll stars. The elements that went into the hippie wardrobe were inspired by their psychedelic imaginations. Striped bell bottoms, to blue jeans that had patchwork done, hip huggers, leather pants were popular. Tops consisted of brightly colo...

... middle of paper ...

...icians of the day appeared singing songs of peace and antiwar in front of nearly half a million concertgoers. This event has proven to be unique and legendary. It is regarded as one of the greatest moments in popular music history and was listed on Rolling Stone's 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll. ¶

Social anthropologist Jentri Anders has observed a number of freedoms that were endorsed within a countercultural community which she lived in and studied: Additionally, Anders believed these people (Hippies) wished to modify children's education so that it didn't discourage "aesthetic sense, love of nature, passion for music, desire for reflection, or strongly marked independence. To my understanding she wanted the new generation to have love in their hearts and not hate to think peace and that is a motto I believe everyone should live by. ¶

Show More
Related

  • Analysis of The thesis of The Age of Great Dreams by David Farber and American Pastoral by Philip Roth

    2679 Words  | 6 Pages

    The 1960’s was a radical decade filled with political tensions, social strife, and overall cultural intrigue. The beginning of the decade allowed for the transition from President Eisenhower to President Kennedy, the youngest President to take office, and the first Roman Catholic. The move represented a shift from a Republican to Democratic administration in the Oval Office. Kennedy became a symbol for the young vibrancy of the American populous, as he was quickly accepted by the grand majority. After Kennedy was assassinated and Lyndon B. Johnson took office, the nation was further engulfed in the war that would come to define America for years to come. The Republican Party regained office as Richard Nixon was elected in his second attempt to run as the decade came to a close. Activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X paved the way for the civil rights movement that swept the nation and captivated the spirit of not only black Americans, but white Americans as well. The race between the United States of America and The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for domination of space escalated as Kennedy pushed for a man on the moon by the close of the decade, achieved in 1969. The possibility of nuclear war became all too real in 1962 as the launch of nuclear missiles became an abundantly clear possibility. The drug culture emerged in the 1960’s in large part due to the newfound accessibility of illegal drugs, such as marijuana and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, or LSD. American society was entrenched in the chaotic desire for new, improved highs. The profound ascent of the drug culture was truly realized when the 3-day music festival, Woodstock, took place in 1969, as “sex, drugs and rock n’ roll” symbolized America’s...

    Read More

  • The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson

    1617 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson, takes the reader on a journey through one of the most turbulent decades in American life. Beginning with the crew-cut conformity of 1950s Cold War culture and ending with the transition into the uneasy '70s, Anderson notes the rise of an idealistic generation of baby boomers, widespread social activism, and revolutionary counterculture. Anderson explores the rapidly shifting mood of the country with the optimism during the Kennedy years, the liberal advances of Johnson's "Great Society," and the growing conflict over Vietnam that nearly tore America apart. The book also navigates through different themes regarding the decade's different currents of social change; including the anti-war movement, the civil rights struggle, and the liberation movements. From the lunch counter sit-in of Greensboro, N.C. in 1960 and the rise of Martin Luther King, Jr. to the Black Power movement at the decade's end, Anderson illustrates the brutality involved in the reaction against civil rights, the radicalization of some of the movement's youth, and the eventual triumphs that would change America forever. He also discusses women's liberation and the feminist movement, as well as the students' rights, gay rights, and environmental movements.

    Read More

  • The Different Impressions of People About the 1960s

    791 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Different Impressions of People About the 1960s During the 1950s to the 1960s there were many changes in society. Many dramatic events of the twentieth century happened in the sixties, such Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space, the Cuban missile crisis, and more. John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The Vietnam War and the first men on the moon, but the sixties were blamed for many things going wrong in society For teenagers the sixties was a great time for them, they could. finally have their own lives and their own freedom of expression in their clothes, music and tastes.

    Read More

  • Students and the Civil Rights Movement During the 1960's

    1033 Words  | 3 Pages

    The 1960's was a decade of tremendous social and political upheaval. In the United States, many movements occurred by groups of people seeking to make positive changes in society.

    Read More

  • The Hippie and Other Movements in The 1970s

    1962 Words  | 4 Pages

    Towards the end of the decade the Hippie movement had a huge impact on the way people started to view clothing. This group rebelled against war, encouraged peace and love. Their presence had a major influence on fashion. They opted for clothing that was natural and comfortable. Accessories w...

    Read More

  • The American Culture of the 1950s

    1884 Words  | 4 Pages

    As World War Two came to a close, a new American culture was developing all across the United States. Families were moving away from crowded cities into spacious suburban towns to help create a better life for them during and after the baby boom of the post-war era. Teenagers were starting to become independent by listing to their own music and not wearing the same style of clothing as their parents. Aside from the progress of society that was made during this time period, many people still did not discuss controversial issues such as divorce and sexual relations between young people. While many historians regard the 1950s as a time of true conservatism at its finest, it could really be considered a time of true progression in the American way of life.

    Read More

  • The Hippie Movement

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    Zeinab Atwa Senior English/ Pd. 3 Ms. Ruiz Dec. 5/ 2017. History of the hippie movement 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 to change views and ideas politically, socially, and culturally. However, they mainly aimed at changing cultural and everyday values.

    Read More

  • Counterculture During the Vietnam Era

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    The largest anti-war demonstration in history was held when 25,000 people marched from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, once again, showing the unity of youth. More than any other countercultural group, hippies reflected a deep discontent with technocracy- society’s reliance on scientific experts who ruled coldly and dispassionately and who wielded enormous power. Hippies said good-bye to that and hello to the mystical spirit, oneness with the universe- life as passion, passion as life, harmony, and understanding. The hippies believed they could develop their vision in the communes in which they congregated.... ...

    Read More

  • The Counterculture

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the sixties were a decade in which the United States became a more open, more tolerant, and a freer country, in some ways it became less of these things. During the sixties, America intervened in other nations and efforts were made to stop the progress of the civil rights movement. Because of America’s foreign policy and Americans fight against the civil rights movement, it is clear that the sixties in America were not purely a decade of openness, tolerance, and freedom in the United States.

    Read More

  • Summer Of Love: The Hippie Movement

    984 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Hippie Counterculture

    2095 Words  | 5 Pages

    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?

    Read More

  • The Impact of the Hippie on American Society

    2364 Words  | 5 Pages

    The government and the older generations could not understand their way of life. Hippies were often portrayed as criminals, subversive to the morals and best interest of the public. Although misunderstood, the hippie had a great impact throughout the country, still surviving today in American culture. The term “hippie” itself became a universal term in the late sixties. It originated in a 1967 article in Ramparts, entitled “The Social History of the Hippies.” Afterward, the name was captured by the mass media as a label for the people of the new movement. (Yablonsky 28) Even before this, the word “hip” described someone who was “in” and “down”, wise to what was going on around him. By the 1960s, some of America’s youth created a gap between themselves and their parents. They grew their hair long because it was natural and therefore considered beautiful.

    Read More

  • The Hippie Movement

    1545 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Hippie Subculture

    1428 Words  | 3 Pages

    The sixties was a decade of liberation and revolution, a time of great change and exciting exploration for the generations to come. It was a time of anti-war protests, free love, sit-ins, naked hippie chicks and mind-altering drugs. In big cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Paris, there was a passionate exchange of ideas, fiery protests against the Vietnam War, and a time for love, peace and equality. The coming together of like-minded people from around the world was spontaneous and unstoppable. This group of people, which included writers, musicians, thinkers and tokers, came to be known as the popular counterculture, better known as hippies. The dawning of the Age of Aquarius in the late sixties was more than just a musical orgy. It was a time of spiritual missions to fight for change and everything they believed in. Freedom, love, justice, equality and peace were at the very forefront of this movement (West, 2008). Some wore beads. Some had long hair. Some wore tie-dye and others wore turtle-neck sweaters. The Hippie generation was a wild bunch, to say the least, that opened the cookie jar of possibilities politically, sexually, spiritually and socially to forever be known as one of the most memorable social movements of all time (Hippie Generation, 2003).

    Read More

  • Grooves Business Description

    1857 Words  | 4 Pages

    challenged the social norms and political attention of many. The term “hippie” was coined from “hip” and slapped on any person who was rising against the machine and protesting the mainstream culture. These people dressed, and had very different walks of life. There culture became extremely popular later in the mid early 2000’s especially to modern times. “Trading posts” offer the clothing worn years ago. These pop up shops, such as Grooves, began gaining front race in urban, liberal areas such as Asheville, NC and north western states, (CA, NV).

    Read More

More about The Hippie Subculture of the 1960s

Open Document