Source: Bruce J. Schulman. The Seventies - The Great Shift
in American Culture, Society, and Politics
in American Culture, Society, and Politics
After the debacle in Chicago, whether or not members of the New Left were politically active, they discovered that there were only two undesirable options: continue relatively meaningless protests or to submit to the Establishment. The prospect and potential for a genuine Counterculture, a real alternative to what was viewed by many as a broken and corrupt society, still held a powerful appeal, however. In 1967, there were tens of thousands of hippies, most famously showcased during the “Summer of Love” in San Francisco; but by the early-1970s, there were millions of “Flower People”.
Before 1968, there had been a line of demarcation between the “Good Time Hippies” and the “Political Hippies”, even though music was a common thread. This division was seen in such instances as the Berkeley radicals trying to shut down a draft induction center in Oakland, while the Haight-Ashbury hippies staged a “Human Be-In” at Golden Gate Park in early-1967. Another example would be the SDS at Columbia University, while the “Yippies” were throwing dollar bills onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
The appearance between the two types of hippies were different as well, in that the New Left radicals were far better dressed and groomed compared to the psychedelic fashions and the occasional showering/grooming of the “Good Time Hippies”. The line between the two basically vanished after 1968, with more-and-more “Political Hippies” embracing the Counterculture of the “Good Time Hippies”. As a result of that “fusion”, the Counterculture developed a political edge, rejecting the values, beliefs, and priorities of Mainstream American. The Counterculture appeared to promote an alternative, more liberated, honest, and authentic way to live: Counterculture sensibilities and political protest had become intertwined.
Before 1968, there had been a line of demarcation between the “Good Time Hippies” and the “Political Hippies”, even though music was a common thread. This division was seen in such instances as the Berkeley radicals trying to shut down a draft induction center in Oakland, while the Haight-Ashbury hippies staged a “Human Be-In” at Golden Gate Park in early-1967. Another example would be the SDS at Columbia University, while the “Yippies” were throwing dollar bills onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
The appearance between the two types of hippies were different as well, in that the New Left radicals were far better dressed and groomed compared to the psychedelic fashions and the occasional showering/grooming of the “Good Time Hippies”. The line between the two basically vanished after 1968, with more-and-more “Political Hippies” embracing the Counterculture of the “Good Time Hippies”. As a result of that “fusion”, the Counterculture developed a political edge, rejecting the values, beliefs, and priorities of Mainstream American. The Counterculture appeared to promote an alternative, more liberated, honest, and authentic way to live: Counterculture sensibilities and political protest had become intertwined.
In 1969, one SDS leader claimed that 75% of the SDS membership had shifted to being “Good Time Hippies”: the focus of the Counterculture had shifted to trying to bring about a Cultural Revolution. Several broad forces were at work in terms of widening and increasing the numbers of the Counterculture: frustration was one factor, in that there was a growing realization that political protests had failed, since the Vietnam War dragged on and Nixon was President. Another major factor was the general alienation from Mainstream America, which went beyond political disillusionment. Many young Americans had become flat-out disgusted with the direction of the nation as well as its values; 50% polled among college students believed that the US was a “sick society”.
While frustration and alienation played huge roles, another attracting factor was that millions believed that it was possible to drop out of the corrupt mainstream and live according to the values and beliefs of the Counterculture. So then, what to do? Country Joe (of Country Joe and the Fish) had the answer: take drugs, turn up the music, dance, and build a fantasy world where everything is beautiful. Young Americans believed they could “do it right” without the phoniness and hierarchy, without the profits and power, without processed food, evening news, and the suburban house. In effect, the Counterculture believed it could build a parallel universe that would have as little to do with Mainstream America as possible, which mirrored, perhaps unintentionally, Black Separatism.
While frustration and alienation played huge roles, another attracting factor was that millions believed that it was possible to drop out of the corrupt mainstream and live according to the values and beliefs of the Counterculture. So then, what to do? Country Joe (of Country Joe and the Fish) had the answer: take drugs, turn up the music, dance, and build a fantasy world where everything is beautiful. Young Americans believed they could “do it right” without the phoniness and hierarchy, without the profits and power, without processed food, evening news, and the suburban house. In effect, the Counterculture believed it could build a parallel universe that would have as little to do with Mainstream America as possible, which mirrored, perhaps unintentionally, Black Separatism.
The Counterculture exploded in the early-1970s, as was seen by perusing any high school or college yearbook during that era. An added bonus of sorts was that no one actually had to drop out, tune out, take drugs, live in a commune, grow long hair, or listen to rock music in order to become part of the Counterculture. That being said, the Counterculture embraced certain features, such as drugs being a gateway to expanded consciousness and heightened awareness. Also, communal experiences, freer sexual mores, and a new relationship with nature and food were all at least encouraged.
In most cities and university towns, “hippie neighborhoods” emerged with the accompanying stores, such as natural food restaurants and independent record stores. The Counterculture heavily relied on music for communication, for a “gathering of the tribes”, so to speak. After the success of the.
Monterey Pop Music Festival during the “Summer of Love” in 1967, which featured the first major performances of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, similar rock festivals appeared across the nation. Ironically, these concerts combined the Capitalism (the promoters) with the Counterculture (the hippie concert-goers). Over 100k gathered for the Atlanta Pop Festival, but it was Woodstock in August 1969 in which these musical events would reach their zenith and the greatest mythology.
In most cities and university towns, “hippie neighborhoods” emerged with the accompanying stores, such as natural food restaurants and independent record stores. The Counterculture heavily relied on music for communication, for a “gathering of the tribes”, so to speak. After the success of the.
Monterey Pop Music Festival during the “Summer of Love” in 1967, which featured the first major performances of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, similar rock festivals appeared across the nation. Ironically, these concerts combined the Capitalism (the promoters) with the Counterculture (the hippie concert-goers). Over 100k gathered for the Atlanta Pop Festival, but it was Woodstock in August 1969 in which these musical events would reach their zenith and the greatest mythology.
Like the rest of the music festivals, Woodstock started as a for-profit venture, with four promoters offering Max Yasgur $50k for the use of his farm near Bethel (NY). The goal was to lure 50k paying rock fans that paid $18 a day for three days of performances by 20 or so acts, including Hendrix, Joplin, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe and the Fish, and Richie Havens. Word of the upcoming concert got out among the Counterculture, and at least 300k “Concert Crashers’ swarmed the site, creating the largest traffic jam in US History. Despite the logistical challenges (e.g. feeding “Concert Crashers”) and the rain, Woodstock worked out, with even the promoters (who became deep in debt) believing that a new society had been born. To the Counterculture, Woodstock was only the beginning, fueling ecstatic hopes that were proved to be nothing more than irrational exuberance.
In December 1969, a concert billed as “Woodstock West” occurred at Altamont Race Track outside of Oakland (CA), with the Rolling Stones as headliners. Altamont proved to be an absolute disaster. About 300k paid to attend the concert, and the concert started out smoothly enough, but close to the stage were Hell’s Angels, paid $500 in beer by the Rolling Stones to provide stage security (Jefferson Airplane suggested that the Hell’s Angels be used, in that the band had used them before, and there had been no problems). In repeated and escalating scenes of violence, all instigated by the Hell’s Angels, who were drunk and on speed, four people were killed, including Meredith Hunter, a young African-American whose only crime was that he wasn’t white, and that he danced close to the stage as the Rolling Stones performed.
In December 1969, a concert billed as “Woodstock West” occurred at Altamont Race Track outside of Oakland (CA), with the Rolling Stones as headliners. Altamont proved to be an absolute disaster. About 300k paid to attend the concert, and the concert started out smoothly enough, but close to the stage were Hell’s Angels, paid $500 in beer by the Rolling Stones to provide stage security (Jefferson Airplane suggested that the Hell’s Angels be used, in that the band had used them before, and there had been no problems). In repeated and escalating scenes of violence, all instigated by the Hell’s Angels, who were drunk and on speed, four people were killed, including Meredith Hunter, a young African-American whose only crime was that he wasn’t white, and that he danced close to the stage as the Rolling Stones performed.
While Woodstock seemed to be a Counterculture Paradise, Altamont represented Counterculture Hell, the ugly side of the Cultural Revolution. The Counterculture realized after Altamont that it would have to confront, after all, the dark realities of the era. Among the harsh truths was the fierce opposition of the Establishment; the mainstream media hounded and attacked hippies, and labeled music festivals as nothing more than dope, debauchery, and destruction. When Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper filmed Easy Rider in 1969, they faced the threat of violence in the South, getting taunted and hearing horrific true stories of violence against hippies (Fonda and Hopper were actually physically accosted in a bar) The movie dramatized this resistance against the Counterculture.
Even so, the Counterculture greatly expanded in the early-1970. While the numbers increased, the real efforts at a Cultural Revolution dissipated and collapsed, in that communes fell apart, underground newspapers folded or went mainstream, and free clinics applied for federal government subsidies. The high tide of the Counterculture occurred in 1969 with Woodstock, but the fractures had already occurred in 1968. The US was divided, in an uproar, and confused. On Election Day 1968, Richard Nixon was elected as the 37th President. Part of Nixon’s campaign was a promise to try and heal a fractured nation . . . but Nixon had other plans in mind.
Even so, the Counterculture greatly expanded in the early-1970. While the numbers increased, the real efforts at a Cultural Revolution dissipated and collapsed, in that communes fell apart, underground newspapers folded or went mainstream, and free clinics applied for federal government subsidies. The high tide of the Counterculture occurred in 1969 with Woodstock, but the fractures had already occurred in 1968. The US was divided, in an uproar, and confused. On Election Day 1968, Richard Nixon was elected as the 37th President. Part of Nixon’s campaign was a promise to try and heal a fractured nation . . . but Nixon had other plans in mind.