Introduction
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 definition of a Hippy is: ‘A person of unconventional appearance, typically having long hair, wearing beads, associated with a subculture involving a rejection of conventional values and the taking of hallucinogenic drugs’ (Oxford University Press, 2014).
In this essay i am going to talk about what influences and events brought about this significant cultural change and the thoughts and beliefs of the Hippy and wether or not the ideal is socially acceptable or even still around today.
The Beginnings
The word ‘Hippy’ evolved from the word ‘Hipster’ which was used to describe beatniks who had moved to New York following the beat generation literacy movement that promoted anti-conformist ideals, alternative forms of sexuality and a rejection of materialism. (Mortal Journey, 2014).
The phenomena of ‘The Hippy’ came about in the 1960’s stemming from the youth - the teenagers of the baby boom generation. They were generally middle-class white teenagers between the ages of 16-26 who were tired of conforming and the restrictions put on them by society and their parents. Born out of an era of post-war austerity and rationing they were raised with very little b...
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...es not drop out, they work, they have responsibilities’
‘Unlike the hippies of previous generations, today’s hippies know that in order to live the lifestyle they must find the means to do so’ (Lia Armstrong, 2014).
Conclusion
In conclusion it is evident that in todays world being a true hippie is not viewed socially acceptable by the majority of people and some of the hippies ideals have not survived. However, the hippie legacy and its influence can still be seen and felt in everything from the popularity of summer music festivals to a sustained interest in organic foods, but also with regards to social and political issues such as equality – for anyone and everyone.
It is important that we take certain ideals the hippies lived by and rework them into our own lives such as always be yourself, stand up for what you believe in and live in peace and with love.
The term hipster is a difficult, and contested term with dynamic and often ambiguous connotations. According to Ferrier (2014), what was once an umbrella term for a counter-culture of young creative types morphed into a pejorative term for people who looked, lived and acted a certain way. The Urban Dictionary
Clearly the hippies have good intentions, but they do not have any concept as to how living freely can be accomplished. What it really boils down to is structure vs freedom to me. Billy and Wyatt see this firsthand. They identify more with the hippies, but the farmer was the one who really seemed to have thing figured out. If the farmer were to see what the hippies were trying to do on their commune, he would stand there, head pointed down, and either laugh quietly to himself or shake his head (maybe even both).
...e of the hippie philosophy, the many people drawn to Haight Ashbury were teenagers, college students, members of the military, and vacationers. Many were drawn to the area because of radios playing popular songs, and major media, and newspapers, interest in the hippie culture. With the rival of all those hoping to find a place with a perfect culture, the area deteriorated. Homelessness, drug problems and crime drove many away with broken lives, and shattered dreams.
The 1960’s was a happening decade. It was a time when many people came together for a common good and stood against injustice. The 60’s is often recalled as the era of the peace sign, one ridden with hippies, marijuana and pacifism. While true of much of the era, some of the movements calling for immense social change began as non-violent harbingers of change and later became radicals. The reason for this turn to radicalism, as seen in the case of the Students for a Democratic Society, and as suggested by the change between this organizations earlier Port Huron statement and the later Weatherman Manifesto, is due to the gradual escalation of the Vietnam war.
What is a Hipster? Everyone knows a hipster when they see one; the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, the kind of car they drive – they stick out like a sore thumb. They seem to be everywhere nowadays, ever evolving in their characteristics and personalities in order to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to what is cool. Regardless of your personal perception of hipsters there is no denying that they are an interesting breed of human – one that our society is obsessed with, even if it is in a “Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter” kind of way.
Norman Mailer’s 1957 essay, titled “The White Negro: Superficial Reflections on the Hipster”, traces the lineage of conformity (and, as a result, nonconformity) in American society post World War II, as well as the counter-cultural reaction of the time, the “white negro”.
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.
Following the great depression, a period of great prosperity overcame America. However, as a side result of this prosperity, many of the ideas expressed by writes of the 1940’s regarding the counter-culture began to die down. In their wake, the traditional ideas of conformity and support of capitalism increased. However, over the course of the documentary “Woodstock”, American ideas on love, profanity, and war are questioned by the Hippie counter-cultural
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.
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...
In other words, they were the counterculture, “the foundation of which consisted of great quantities of "sex, drugs, and rock 'n ' roll." Hippies were easily recognized by their long hair sported by both men and women, drug use, tie-dyed and colorful clothing, promiscuous behavior, and use of curse words. These clothing patterns, haircuts, and behavior are just a few examples of how hippies opposed the mainstream culture of the 1960s. As a result of the approval of the Pill and the sexual revolution, the hippies also opposed the mainstream ideation that sex was reserved for after marriage and for the sole purpose of procreation. The hippies opposed this idea because they believed that they should be free to practice whatever sexual activity they want. And once the pill was approved, and the sexual revolution started, they were able to pursue their desires. The “hippies’ rejection of everything that is commonly expected of the individual” is what separates hippies from the mainstream culture of
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?
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.
In every generation there are countercultures, some more prominent and influential than others that go against social norms. Jack Kerouac brought to light the counterculture known as The Beat Generation from under the veil of the conservative surface in the 1950’s, in his book On the Road. This generation was so influential that they were the driving force behind the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 60’s and 70’s. Having strong ideas and values about freedom and personal fulfillment, that they perused relentlessly, they created big changes and even inspired generations after them who feel dissatisfied with the pressures to conform to instead push against the norms of society.
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).