The 1960s is typically referred to as the age of “the hippie movement,” and it was the time when millions of baby boomers started college, making their experiences different from generations before them.
Through what seems to be a dress-up game to get into the minds of those who were at the same stages of their lives 50 years ago, we try to relive the experiences they had. According to shmoop.com, during the ‘60s, “American society… had been corrupted by capitalism and the materialist culture it spawned. In pursuing ‘success,’ people had lost sight of the more meaningful experiences life had to offer.” Emphasis was placed on living in the moment and embracing creativity, and not relying on simply looking the part, but playing it as well, something that seems to be absent among youth.
Schooling was stricter, not only with attire, but also on the limitation of courses and opportunities for involvement, but the passion that drove many to wear bell bottoms and burn incense has a continuous trickle- down effect into the generation of today. The many rallies that take place on college campuses, such as those on gun control, are formed by the previous era, even if the free-loving aspect isn’t always present. Though the ‘60s musical impact is one of the more appealing influences of a time when the Cuban missile crisis was also at its peak, each time period has its share of good and bad.
The influence of the decisions made by the government, had many college students participating in protests against the Vietnam War. Those protests were focused on the peace-loving aspect of life and the freedom to choose one’s own path. It doesn’t typically have a description of “fun” attached to it, but the party theme that many replicate represents the internal and external aspects of this movement and it continues to impact the way that democracy is interpreted by the youth of today.
Toni-Ann Hall,
Freshman Communication Major
