Preview

Counter Culture Movement

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1113 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Counter Culture Movement
Essay

During the 1960s their were many changes and social movements. A few of these include movements centred around race, feminism, anti-war protests and counter culture. The most notable of these movements was the counter culture revolution because it involved all the other topics within itself. The counter culture movement of the 1960s contains the concerns of race, feminism, status quo’s & war. This movement changed the identity of the newest generations and has changed the way our modern world is perceived today. One of the strongest influences that motivated this change and that still induces today, was the pop culture of that time, including, fashion, media and music.

Television tends to reflect the social trends of the time, most
…show more content…
The counter - Culture decade was a decade of huge change in the fashion industry, and every item produced was intended to challenge the social dress norms of the conservative previous decade. The youth of the time also would wear these unusual pieces to encourage leading issues like sexual liberality and often hippies would dress in colour and mixed gender clothing in support of peace and freedom. The 1960s was an important decade for fashion because it was the first time in history that clothing was geared towards the youth market; and by evaluating the trends of today, it is evident that they are popular with or aimed at a similar market. An example of a leading piece that was released was the iconic mini skirt, with a hem line of 6-7 inches above the knee.The fashion trend took off and just about all teenage girls were wearing them. This fashion statements mirrored how society was changing. Mini fashion items reflected these changes, a skirt had been developed from the mid-calved length of the 1950’s to mid-thigh length in the 60’s, as each adaptation was made to skirts, the fashion item became more and more daring. The mini fashion, and less reactionary fashion of the 60’s has influenced modern society hugely. Crop tops, Body suits, denim short etc. which more extensively would have challenged the 50’s have …show more content…
It was often associated with rebellion and a rebellious period, particularly among the youth population. Rock n Roll, first attempted by artists like Elvis Presley and Jimmie Hendrix in the early 1960’s, was unusual and was one of the first influences of the rebellious life style teenagers were seeking. The introduction of drugs and swearing in music, alike TV shows, In the modern era has changed the face of our music, and just about every song nowadays would be rejected in the 50’s and previous decades, including styles just like, rap. The music of that time explored the concerns and interests of the ongoing social changes and a number of social influences changed what popular music was and gave birth to the diversity that we experience with music today. Musicians experimented with what was considered “black music” which made more and more black musicians popular throughout the decade, reflecting the social issue of civil rights. That has had an effect in our era because, most popular artist are of an african-american culture. R&B, Rock n Roll were two popular genres in the mid 60’s, they promoted freedom which helped form the hippie movement, promoting freedom, sexual liberation and drug use as well as the rebel against previous norms. Although the style of music is different to the 60’s today, their are still a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    After the Great Depression and WWII, people turned to music for joy. A simplistic style of happy, feel-good music that was innocent and meant to be non-offending to it’s listeners. People were not expressing their true feelings and they had to fit a ‘role’ in American society. By the time the baby boomer generation was growing up, they had different experiences in their lives and had different ideals than their parents in the Great Generation. They expressed themselves through Rock and Roll. Elvis was a major icon for this type of music. He was loved by his adoring fans, mainly teenage girls. Although, he appeared vulgar and unappealing to the parents of said fans because of the way he moved his hips. Another group of people expressing themselves, were the Hippies.…

    • 284 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The article “When America Was Rocked” tells about how the American culture was changed and shaped throughout the 1940s and 1960s. One of the biggest changes was the amount of young people in America and the music they listened to. Young people at this time were being called reckless or rebellious. However most teenagers found out that they could express themselves better through music. Music at this time was sang only by white people, but a new genre called “race music” was becoming very popular. Race music, or as we know now as rock and roll, was a mix of blues, country and white gospel. Although Race music was very popular, it was hard to find a white person who sang this type of music. Until one day Elvis Presley walked into Sun Records to record two songs. Elvis became an…

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A few famous clothes trends were paper dresses, cutouts, and mini skirts. These trends really defined the 60’s and when you see it often makes you think of this decade. As research shows “By the spring of 1967 paper dresses were a full flung fad” (“Trends of the mid 1960s”). Also one major producer of clothes Hallmark introduced paper dresses, and also made plates, gift wrap, napkins,and placemats with the same pattern as the dress for a complete party theme”(“Trends of the mid-1960’s”). Mini skirts also became very popular and many saw them as a sign of justice because they were cut 8 or 9 inches above the knee (Connikie 41). Many people wore these new clothes to fit in and feel free and rebellious. They also wore them to show who they were and what their personality was like. The 1960’s were a decade of very interesting and funky clothes that almost everyone had hanging in their closet at some point during this time…

    • 987 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1960's

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Popular music of the United States in the 1960s became innately tied up into causes, opposing certain ideas, influenced by the sexual revolution, feminism, Black Power and…

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The story of the birth of rock ‘n' roll has a mythical quality to it. It speaks of racial barriers bridged through the fusion of Afro-American musical styles with white popular music in 1950s America. Not only did white record producers and radio disc jockeys market Afro-American artists, but white artists began to cover their songs, as well as incorporate Afro-American style into their own song writing. The musical style was so powerful that the white audience was infected by it, despite the social stigma that listening to "race music" possessed. The common view of teenagers' participation in the creation of rock ‘n' roll as an act of rebellion runs parallel with the music's legendary origins. Through rock ‘n' roll, the teenagers of the United States created a generational gap that angered their parents' generation. Teenagers rejected kitchy Tin Pan Alley, "Sing Along with Mitch," and the sleepy crooning of Perry Como in favour of sexually charged race music. Historians have taken different approaches to the question of teen rebellion. While some consider their love of rock ‘n' roll revolutionary, others argue that the music cemented teenagers within the…

    • 3346 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rock And Roll In The 50's

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The 1950s was one of the most exciting decades for music because that is when the term rock music came in place with different types of genres including; soul, punk, rap, disco, and one of the most important rock ‘n’ roll. Frank Sinatra called rock and roll, ugly, degenerate, dirty and many other brutal terms. But that is not the true meaning of rock and roll. Music has and always will be a very important aspect in the development of society, with the release of the first Gibson guitar to many fights in the war music has always been by people’s side.…

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Clothing In The 1700s

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages

    1 B.C. and Before In the ancient times, clothing wasn’t just for looking good, it was to protect you and keep you warm during the harsh winters. Most babies didn’t even wear anything. Sometimes they wore cloth diapers. If it was cold of course, they would be more wrapped up.…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This was a time of change in music and even lifestyle. The rise of rock and roll developed through this time. Who would not want to live during this era. As the late fifties gave way to the early sixties, the famous rock stars such as The Everlys, Elvis, Roy Orbison, were still making historical hits, but the older music stars were losing popularity as they struggled to find musical material that would connect with this new and energetic generation of kids. Rock music became controlled by new young groups, taking their power from a combination of the performer's charisma along with the songwriting talents of the production team, who worked behind the scenes( "A BRIEF HISTORY OF POP AND ROCK MUSIC IN THE 1960'S."). The music we have today can be reflected off the music during this time. The music during WWII was old and boring, but the sixties gave rise to rock and roll which became very popular for a few decades. You cannot even deny that The Beatles are a bad band, do you wish you grew up with…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Despite their antithetical behavior and beliefs, 1960s countercultural movements and fundamentalist Christianity can both attribute their success in the 60s to the same generational disconnect brought about by postwar suburbanization and the cultural standards that were expected of suburban life. Suburbanization was, in its early phases, seen as an island of stability that “highlighted the values that made some Americans more desirable than others” (Cheng, 59), which, in the eyes of most postwar suburbanites, ignoring any racial biases which were undoubtedly present, were “those who conformed to the archetype of middle-class heterosexual nuclear families were seen as more fit for residence in the suburbs than those who deviated from that norm.”…

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Counterculture Movement

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Life in the United States has not always been as tolerant as people know it as today. The 1960’s was a period of time which brought about radical changes for the country. Counterculture movements, such as the Civil Rights movement, the gay liberation movement and the feminist movement flooded the United States. These movements were intended to defy societal norms and create new perspectives on pre-established conventions. One of these movements, known as the Psychedelic Movement, was especially important in shaping the culture of the country, as well as that of the world. In 1965-1969, the exploration of psychedelics and hallucinogenic drugs positively affected the development of the United States by generating new perspectives on religion,…

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1960s was a time of hard fought change in society and music. Social music was one of the most popular music styles in that decade; many people were satisfied and others were not with this issue because they were hearing lyrics that were very unpleasant for them. Today many people are still facing many social issues that were addressed during that time. Americans heard the lyrics of their 1960s music speak out in protest about racism, and equal rights on men and women.…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fashion in the 60's

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The swinging 60's were at their height. Women's hemlines were very short. Fashion in the 60's tended to encourage exhibitionism. Miniskirts, bold colors, and see through dresses were all geared to showing off women's bodies, and on rare occasion men's bodies. Gaudy accessories such as perspex rings and earrings and fold chain belts.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    White people inherited the music in the 1960’ and seventies, also known as the Golden Age as during this time, the most popular and influential bands of all time were formed. Elvis, Bob Dylan and Cream were akin to household names during this time. Rock bands sold out concerts, albums and in many cases, idolized as Gods. By this time Rock music had evolved, and began breaking away into different genres within it. They formed their own identities with explicit socio-political messages and inculcated these ideologies into their music. Most of these sentiments were influenced by the woes of the middle class, war, religion and other issues, which bore great importance to the artistes’ hearts. By doing so, Rock music impacted society negatively in three major ways – It gave rise to the ‘Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll’…

    • 1449 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Rock and roll has developed a long way throughout the years from a dance craze in the 1950's to a political and cultural landscape that is recognized worldwide. Rock and roll has come to define the roots of teenage rebellion, people who don't follow the norms, and have disrespect for authority. The style of rock and roll itself is a melting pot of music, a combination of sounds that include jazz, country, blues, ragtime, gospel, swing, classical, and ethnic music. It can be a simple variation of three chords to a complex chromatic scale combination. It can convey emotions such as love, hate, fear, lust, sadness, joy, disillusion, or a strong sense of reality. Many things can be said about rock but the fact is that it is the most widely diverse of all music genres.…

    • 2139 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Counter Culture

    • 1910 Words
    • 7 Pages

    From a moral standpoint, social problems harm people and from a democratic standpoint, social problems harm the well-being of citizens. In addition to that, from a societal standpoint, social problems threaten the productive functioning of society.…

    • 1910 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays