Essay One
By: Samantha Mainman
Social Movements: Why The Counter Culture Movement Was Crucial In The Formation of the American Identity During the 1960s
During the 1960s, America was going through many changes and social movements. A few of these include movements centered around race, feminism, anti-war ideas, and counter culture. The most notable of these movements was the counter culture movement because it involves all the other topics within itself. The counter culture movement of the 1960s contains the concerns of race, feminism, gay rights, and war all at once. This movement changed the identity of Americans through protests and the yearn for reform. Through the impediments of political, cultural, and social transformations, America’s identity was reborn. The issues of the counter culture movement of the 1960s were the most fundamental obstacles in achieving the highest ideals for America’s identity.
Political protests during the counter culture movement caused the American ideal of politics to become refocused around equality and freedom, and nonviolence. Previously, the central political ideals of America were protection of it’s citizens and war. The terror of nuclear weapons was all-consuming and the government turned it’s complete focus towards the war. The fear of communism was also immense in the political perspective. The whole time period was one of dread and anxiety. During the 1960s, the fear was less and the government had something new to focus on. Politics were transforming through the counter culture movement. The civil rights movement was still underway and beginning to make a major impact on the government. Many new rules and norms towards the non-white race were created. Pieces of legislation such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1665 Voting Rights Act were products of the political protests during the counter culture movement. Second-wave feminism also started during the 1960s. The second-wave feminism touched on every aspect of women’s rights to equality—including family, sexuality and work. Women made the stand for equality during the counter culture movement. Gay rights were also becoming more apparent during this time. Many protests for gay rights were held, for example a gay march was held in font of Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1965. The counter culture movement marked the beginning of the homosexual rise for equality and acceptance. The government had to make changes to suit the citizens and comply to the majorities wants and needs. Freedom was another big political focus caused by the counter culture movement. In 1964 the Free Speech Movement was enabled, giving more freedom to the American citizens. Another largely protested article was nonviolence. Peace was the new fad. Civil disobedience was an enormous concept for Americans that wanted a change in the supposedly violent nature of America. It was the way to get a point across with out using violence to persuade and educate the government. These new American ideals were coming into place. Equality, freedom, and nonviolence were going strong thanks to protests and the desire for change in the American identity.
The desire for cultural revolution during the counter culture movement caused the creation of new developments of art, theater, and music, therefore altering the American ideal of culture. The preceding ideal of American culture was mostly about the war life. Artists of the 1950s painted violent scenes, scenes of fear, and scenes of chaos. The work reflected the war of the time period. Theater works were also about the war. One famous play of 1956 was The Diary Of Anne Frank, which was all about the holocaust and the tragedies of being a Jew during the time. Music during the 1950s was the emerging sound of rock n’ roll. It was just getting it’s start and was popular with the youth. The 1960s brought about a passion for cultural revolution. Artists painted to make an influence on their viewers. The paintings were deep in cultural and political meaning. The line between art and politics was beginning to blur. All forms of art grasped this concept of influencing their viewers. Writers, painters, and even actors and directors made their works incorporate, represent and help along the change of American culture. People wanted a cultural revolution so they put it into their work to further the process and ideas. The messages in the works were not spoon fed though. You had to want to understand the magic of the works to understand the cultural message. Plays were different in before in that the audience would walk away with a new outlook on life and a better understanding of the newly forming American identity of the 60s. One play for instance was called Paradise Now and the actors simply preformed while interacting with the audience. The main message was the nonviolent action was possible. Music was also a big contender in the need for cultural change. Musicians participated in rock n’ roll more than ever. Rock n’ Roll applied to all ages and was relatable for those wanting a difference. The music was the easiest of the new form of arts to understand and the audiences could relate. The line between audience and performer stared to blur because the music was just so relatable. The lyrics were blatantly understood when political or cultural messages were involved and the listeners liked the easy access. The music even helped with equality because African American soul artists were very popular. Because of the want for cultural change, artists of all kinds sent out messages through their art in order to create a new American ideal in culture of meaningful art.
The appeal of social change during the counter culture movement caused the stereotypical American lifestyle to become that of a ‘hippie’. During the counter culture movement, a new social norm was emerging. A new way of life was becoming apparent through the appeal of new social activities such as peace and drugs. Social activists decided to take their lifestyle and turn it into an American stereotype. Hippies are viewed as silly, outlandish people that do drugs for recreation and are peaceful yet unmotivated. This is not the case. Hippies began through activists that saw it was time for change. Drugs were thought of as a device to provide truth in the lives of Americans and heighten human interaction. They were thought to provide deeper insights and knowledge. This idea of the good side of drugs spread rapidly through America and the idea of a hippie lifestyle was very appealing. They led protests and were active in their community, yet they knew how to relax and have fun. The hippie was becoming the new ideal lifestyle of the stereotypical American because of the need for social change.
The issues of the counter culture movement of the 1960s were the most fundamental obstacles in achieving the highest ideals for America’s identity. The new lifestyle of a hippie, idea of power in art, and political activity were all vital to the new American identity that was formed in the 1960s. Without those issues, there would have been no reason to alter the American identity and we might not have the same identity as American’s today as we do now. Our identity today is all thanks to the counter culture movement and the changes America went through during that time.
Social Movements: Why The Counter Culture Movement Was Crucial In The Formation of the American Identity During the 1960s
During the 1960s, America was going through many changes and social movements. A few of these include movements centered around race, feminism, anti-war ideas, and counter culture. The most notable of these movements was the counter culture movement because it involves all the other topics within itself. The counter culture movement of the 1960s contains the concerns of race, feminism, gay rights, and war all at once. This movement changed the identity of Americans through protests and the yearn for reform. Through the impediments of political, cultural, and social transformations, America’s identity was reborn. The issues of the counter culture movement of the 1960s were the most fundamental obstacles in achieving the highest ideals for America’s identity.
Political protests during the counter culture movement caused the American ideal of politics to become refocused around equality and freedom, and nonviolence. Previously, the central political ideals of America were protection of it’s citizens and war. The terror of nuclear weapons was all-consuming and the government turned it’s complete focus towards the war. The fear of communism was also immense in the political perspective. The whole time period was one of dread and anxiety. During the 1960s, the fear was less and the government had something new to focus on. Politics were transforming through the counter culture movement. The civil rights movement was still underway and beginning to make a major impact on the government. Many new rules and norms towards the non-white race were created. Pieces of legislation such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1665 Voting Rights Act were products of the political protests during the counter culture movement. Second-wave feminism also started during the 1960s. The second-wave feminism touched on every aspect of women’s rights to equality—including family, sexuality and work. Women made the stand for equality during the counter culture movement. Gay rights were also becoming more apparent during this time. Many protests for gay rights were held, for example a gay march was held in font of Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1965. The counter culture movement marked the beginning of the homosexual rise for equality and acceptance. The government had to make changes to suit the citizens and comply to the majorities wants and needs. Freedom was another big political focus caused by the counter culture movement. In 1964 the Free Speech Movement was enabled, giving more freedom to the American citizens. Another largely protested article was nonviolence. Peace was the new fad. Civil disobedience was an enormous concept for Americans that wanted a change in the supposedly violent nature of America. It was the way to get a point across with out using violence to persuade and educate the government. These new American ideals were coming into place. Equality, freedom, and nonviolence were going strong thanks to protests and the desire for change in the American identity.
The desire for cultural revolution during the counter culture movement caused the creation of new developments of art, theater, and music, therefore altering the American ideal of culture. The preceding ideal of American culture was mostly about the war life. Artists of the 1950s painted violent scenes, scenes of fear, and scenes of chaos. The work reflected the war of the time period. Theater works were also about the war. One famous play of 1956 was The Diary Of Anne Frank, which was all about the holocaust and the tragedies of being a Jew during the time. Music during the 1950s was the emerging sound of rock n’ roll. It was just getting it’s start and was popular with the youth. The 1960s brought about a passion for cultural revolution. Artists painted to make an influence on their viewers. The paintings were deep in cultural and political meaning. The line between art and politics was beginning to blur. All forms of art grasped this concept of influencing their viewers. Writers, painters, and even actors and directors made their works incorporate, represent and help along the change of American culture. People wanted a cultural revolution so they put it into their work to further the process and ideas. The messages in the works were not spoon fed though. You had to want to understand the magic of the works to understand the cultural message. Plays were different in before in that the audience would walk away with a new outlook on life and a better understanding of the newly forming American identity of the 60s. One play for instance was called Paradise Now and the actors simply preformed while interacting with the audience. The main message was the nonviolent action was possible. Music was also a big contender in the need for cultural change. Musicians participated in rock n’ roll more than ever. Rock n’ Roll applied to all ages and was relatable for those wanting a difference. The music was the easiest of the new form of arts to understand and the audiences could relate. The line between audience and performer stared to blur because the music was just so relatable. The lyrics were blatantly understood when political or cultural messages were involved and the listeners liked the easy access. The music even helped with equality because African American soul artists were very popular. Because of the want for cultural change, artists of all kinds sent out messages through their art in order to create a new American ideal in culture of meaningful art.
The appeal of social change during the counter culture movement caused the stereotypical American lifestyle to become that of a ‘hippie’. During the counter culture movement, a new social norm was emerging. A new way of life was becoming apparent through the appeal of new social activities such as peace and drugs. Social activists decided to take their lifestyle and turn it into an American stereotype. Hippies are viewed as silly, outlandish people that do drugs for recreation and are peaceful yet unmotivated. This is not the case. Hippies began through activists that saw it was time for change. Drugs were thought of as a device to provide truth in the lives of Americans and heighten human interaction. They were thought to provide deeper insights and knowledge. This idea of the good side of drugs spread rapidly through America and the idea of a hippie lifestyle was very appealing. They led protests and were active in their community, yet they knew how to relax and have fun. The hippie was becoming the new ideal lifestyle of the stereotypical American because of the need for social change.
The issues of the counter culture movement of the 1960s were the most fundamental obstacles in achieving the highest ideals for America’s identity. The new lifestyle of a hippie, idea of power in art, and political activity were all vital to the new American identity that was formed in the 1960s. Without those issues, there would have been no reason to alter the American identity and we might not have the same identity as American’s today as we do now. Our identity today is all thanks to the counter culture movement and the changes America went through during that time.