The Counterculture Of The Early 1960 S - 1731 Words

The counterculture of the early 1960’s and 70’s in Western society comprised a major occurrence of people’s traditional beliefs differing. Points of view considering the rights of women, race relations (notably, the African American Civil Rights Movement), the war in Vietnam and â€Å"hippie culture† (experimenting in psychoactive drugs especially) in particular altered dramtically. The Stonewall Riots took place during the early hours of the 28th of June 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, a pub that was owned by the Mafia at the time, in New York City. These riots were in retaliation to police raids in gay bars that were considered routine back then. A number of incidents were happening simultaneously. There was no one thing that happened or one person, there was just... a flash . . . of mass anger. - Gay rights activist, Craig Rodwell They have become the defining event that marked the beginning of the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. Up until then their request were more or less blatantly dismissed. Homosexuals have known to be imprisoned, sent to psychiatric institutions and outcast because in that era homosexuality was considered a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association and had been for almost a century; this was reconsidered December 15, 1974. It was the gays’ turn to gain their rights. They were determined and weren’t going to let anything no matter how big or small get in their way. The Gay Rights Movement wasShow MoreRelatedHenry David Thoreau and the Counterculture1357 Words   |  6 Pagesand the Counterculture, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. Imagination and individuality are associated with the term. Henry David Thoreau who was a leading philosopher and poet was a leading transcendentalist. He compiled a novel titled Walden, a non-fiction depicting his stay at Walden Pond where he truly explored nature and his transcendental quality. Similar to Thoreau, the Counterculture was a non-conformistRead MoreThe Issues Of Urban Poverty1197 Words   |  5 Pagestransformed in the 1960s from the start of the decade. The 1960s consisted of new rights and new understandings of freedom. The sixties consisted of rights for racial minorities to be involved in the mainstream of the American lifestyle. However, unsolved issues of urban poverty still existed. Women in the 1960s established a conversion in women’s status, for instance, women entered the paid workforce. America experienced a growth of conservative movements, consequently, the 1960s would confront judgmentRead More The Turbulen Sixties Essay1645 Words   |  7 Pagesvalues, culture, and political ideals. The 1960s was a decade caught between euphoric, idealistic beginnings and a discordant, violent climax. The music of this time period produced a strong counterculture which sought to influence America in a way never before experienced. The songs were the backbone of this new age; they were the tunes which the generation danced to, marched to, and got high off of. This paper will discuss the ways popular music of the 1960s produced national awareness of the anti-warRead MoreFear and Loathing vs. on the Road1595 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Road by Jack Kerouac was written and published 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 movementRead MoreThe 1960s Of The 1960 S1394 Words   |  6 PagesThe 1960’s were a time of great turmoil and change; people had many different ways to express themselves. Some did this through drugs, others through assassination, while some chose music. While there were many American musicians who were influential during the 1960s such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and The Eagles, arguably none were as influential as The Beatles. Consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, helped change the face of popular culture of the 1960’s throughRead MoreSocial Changes During The 1960 S1254 Words   |  6 PagesThe 1960’s was a decade filled with change in the existing conditions of the social, political, and economic spectrums. These social changes involved challenges to the conservative status quo of the time. Parts that contributed to this social revolution were new developments in the Feminist Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and a rebellious counterculture. The political changes of this time period were embodied by the continuation and extension of the Vietnam War, new laws pertaining to civilRead MoreEssay on Woodstock1677 Words   |  7 PagesWoodstock One didn’t simply go to Woodstock: one lived through it. In August 1969, the Woodstock Festival was the largest counterculture event ever staged, attracting some 500,000 people and featuring many of the country’s top acts. Two decades later, Woodstock has come to mean more than just â€Å"three days of fun and music†; it symbolizes a time of community, exuberance, and intensity since lost. Woodstock festival gave power to the youth, united people of all ages, races, andRead MoreEssay on Drugs and Rock and Roll653 Words   |  3 PagesDrugs and Rock and Roll Beginning with the late 1960’s counterculture in San Francisco, music and drugs will forever be inter-linked. Hippie bands such as the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, and Phish are associated with marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD. Modern electronic â€Å"rave† , or club music is associated with MDMA or Ecstasy. When one thinks of rock and roll, sex and drugs immediately come to mind. While the use of drugs is not essential for the creation or performance of all new musicRead MoreRelfection of the American Environmental Movement Counterculture765 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican Counterculture Reflection The modern Environment Movement began with the passing of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The act established a National Wilderness System and created 9 millions acres. The main influence and writer of the act Howard Zahniser, who felt that we needed wilderness as it takes us away from technology that gives us perspective of mastering the environment rather than being a part of it (Nash, 2001). With the passing of the act Americans questioned both preservation andRead MoreThe Concert Of Zac Brown Band922 Words   |  4 Pagesthe 1960’s. This revolution in music was a time dedicated to free love, psychedelic drug use, and rejection of the mainstream popular music industry. The Beatles were one of the leading bands of the counterculture movement. Andrew Sarris believed that the Beatles â€Å"established the emotional unity of the performers and their audience.† (Sarris, p.wer206) Before the Beatles there had not been a band that had so much global influence that they could influence political movements. During the 1960’s, â€Å"Beatlemania†