The Hippie Counterculture Movement - 1751 Words

Hippie Counterculture Flower child, a name that forms in the mind an image of an innocent child, denoted the youth of the mid-1960s. These youth, otherwise called the hippies, relied not so much on innocence, but instead sought freedom to distinguish the conformity the past generations held. Before these youth, the Beats or Beatniks from the Beat Generation spread throughout the Western Worlds around the 1950s. The Beats’ philosophy paralleled that of the hippies, however, their focus centered in the literature, music, and art. These artists asserted their disappointment with the mainstream society through such art forms (Counterculture).Through the Beatniks’ art forms the roots of the hippies’ struggles and concerns seem†¦show more content†¦She never bought the rest. I remember reading it and seeing a picture of an atomic bomb and a tank going over some rubble. I think I became hysterical. I screamed and screamed† (Kenniston, 48). The fear and dread of the atomic bomb and annihilation of the world ensued in the minds of these children Post World War II. Imagine a child shown a picture of such graphics, with bloodshed and calamity everywhere; these children had their innocence taken at such a young age that they were hesitant to cross the door of adulthood. Holden Caufield struggles with his transition from adolescence to adulthood evident in the 1950s novel Catcher in the Rye. His inner tension stems from his unsuccessful approach in connecting with people condensing him into a lonesome character who fosters psychological issues. His problem, however, arises from the childhood trauma of losing his brother Andy. This trauma alienates him from the society and also causes him to lose his innocence at the age of 13. Holden faces two crises: one that persists with the feelings of loneliness, guilt, anxiety, and misery and the other from â€Å"the failure of success.† The marks from their childhood haunted them into becoming misfits in society, forming their own society of the hippies. Along with the childhood struggles, the hippies stressed being drafted into the Vietnam War. The hippie counterculture movement stressed a focus on their opposition of the Vietnam War in that theyShow MoreRelatedThe Counterculture Of The Hippie Movement1768 Words   |  8 Pageschallenging the modern society they were living in. The term â€Å"counterculture† started to appear in form of movements, mainly initiated by young people who rejected the mainstream society rules. In the following report I will be focusing on the hippie movement that started in 1960s and how the. Woodstock Music and Art Festival of 1969 became the most important music festival of the 1960s counterculture and thus a symbol of the hippie movement. Identity, body and fashion are some of the topics that willRead MoreEssay about The Counterculture899 Words   |  4 PagesThe Impact of the Hippie Counterculture of the 1960s The â€Å"hippies† of the 1960s had many effects on the American society. The visual appearance and lifestyle of the hippies were in sharp contrast to the conservative nature of the older generation, which defined them as a counterculture. The hippie lifestyle was based on free love, rock music, shared property, and drug experimentation. They introduced a new perspective on drugs, freedom of expression, appearance, music, attitudes toward workRead MoreThe Hippie Movement and the Beat Movemnt1704 Words   |  7 PagesHow the Hippies got hip with the beat of the Beat Movement Jack Kerouac once said, â€Å"the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars† (Kerouac 5). Kerouac was the symbol of the Beat Movement. He was the rebellious and adventurous man, who during his time wasRead MorePositive and Negative Impacts of the Sixties Counterculture1532 Words   |  7 Pagesprove that some Americans still had the common sense to care for one another. The young people of the sixties counterculture movement were successful at awakening awareness on many causes that are being fought in modern American discourse. If not for the Revolution that the hippies began, political or social reform and the Peoples voice would be decades behind. While the hippie movement has subsided, as it became too cool and entrenched in mainstream society, the spirit of the Hippies lives onRead MoreThe Hippie Subculture Essay1440 Words   |  6 PagesThe Hippie Movement: The Philosophy behind the Counterculture 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 comingRead MoreThe Countercultures: Once Pooh-poohed, Now Revered1275 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout American history, the countercultures have greatly influenced the societies of their respective eras. The Quakers, the Harlem Renaissance participants, and the Hippies have had an immense impact on American culture. This impact is especially apparent in the political actions and artä ¸â‚¬audio and visualä ¸â‚¬of the countercultures’ respective times. The Quakers first arrived in North America after facing constant persecution under England’s monarchical government. Led by William Penn, Jr., theRead MoreEssay The Hippie Movement of 1960s America1422 Words   |  6 Pagescreating their own counterculture. The purpose of the counterculture was to create a community where there was a commonality of ideas and convictions. The American hippie movement of the 1960s was strengthened by the drastic increase of the youth population because of the the baby boomers, a longer adolescent period due to the improved economy, and the use of media and communications, such as TVs and radical college newspapers. There were two reactions to the hippie movement: the first, an angryRead MoreFear and Loathing vs. on the Road1595 Words   |  7 Pagespublished at the outset of the counter-culture movement of the 1950s and 1960s. This novel provides a first-hand account of the beginnings of the Beat movement and acts as a harbinger for the major societal changes that would occur in the United States throughout the next two decades. On the contrary, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a Hunter S. Thompson novel written in 1971 provides a commentary on American society at the end of the counter-culture movement. Thompson reflects on the whirlwind of politicalRead MoreCounterculture - Research Paper3195 Words   |  13 PagesCounterculture of the Sixties in the USA Causes and Effects by Johanna K. Weisz Preface If the Sixties was the decade of rebellion in America, the preceding two post-WWII decades were characterized by social conformity and trust in the system. â€Å"In that era of general good will and expanding affluence, few Americans doubted the essential goodness of their society† (Haberstam 10). However, this trust in the system changed radically in the Sixties. Many of the numerous youth born duringRead MoreCounterculture - Research Paper3180 Words   |  13 PagesCounterculture of the Sixties in the USA Causes and Effects by Johanna K. Weisz Preface If the Sixties was the decade of rebellion in America, the preceding two post-WWII decades were characterized by social conformity and trust in the system. â€Å"In that era of general good will and expanding affluence, few Americans doubted the essential goodness of their society† (Haberstam 10). However, this trust in the system changed radically in the Sixties. Many of the numerous youth born during the post-WWII