Hippie Counter Culture

Every society contains numerous kinds of subcultures and countercultures that shape the larger picture of the population. Many of these counter cultures and subcultures evolved from each other, including the hippie counterculture and the hipster subculture. These two different cultures have similar values, however the hippie culture had far more extreme norms and values than that of the hipsters. The hippie culture was born in the 1960’s as the African American rights grew and the United State’s involvement in the Vietnam War increased. Groups of people came together and formed similar beliefs, values, and ideas about how the world should change. On the other hand, hipsters share a more moderate version of the hippie’s beliefs and customs.
Mark Greif, an author in the New York Magazine, implies they had no individualistic mindset, rather there was a strong sense of community. Hippies did not believe in a class system and wanted everyone to be treated equally. Their main values stemmed from the opposition of societal standards and materialism and the compliance to liberalism. Hippies were determined to change the world to a nonviolent and free-loving Utopia. Margaret Mead, an American cultural anthropologist in the 1960’s, said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world, indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” Hippies during the 1960’s were so focused on rejecting the American culture that they often lived together, outside of cities in communes. No one payed taxes or contributed to society’s economy, which was their way of avoiding “The Man”, or society. Instead, hippies prided themselves on living life full of love and drugs to “clear the
They are strong advocates for saving the environment and encourage all to improve production techniques. They often use sanctions when those outside of their subculture scoff at their style. However, their culture is very much diverse and open to everyone. Peter Furia, the founder of Seedwell Digital Creative Studio in San Francisco, said, "It dominates fashion, music and lifestyle. It crosses borders of ethnicity, socio-economic status and sexual preference — something that we haven't seen since the boom of hip-hop culture." Hipsters are a large subculture that want nothing to do with the mainstream culture, however they still live harmoniously with society. Ironically, today’s society copies how hipsters act, so their interests soon become the mainstream interests. This calls for them to be discreet with their interests and