The Turbulent Sixties - Sex,
Drugs, Rock n’Roll - and what else ?
Quelques repères académiques
The first aspect to focus on will be the Political, especially at the beginning of
this era, which would be the election of the president of the United States, John
F. Kennedy. John F. Kennedy, was, for most young people at this time period,
a breath of fresh air in terms of his youth and the ideas of hope. Kennedy’s
inaugural speech which included the now famous line of, “Ask not what you
country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” became deeply
imprinted on the spirits and minds of the youth of that time period, including me.
Many young people, for the first time in their lives suddenly had a new interest
in the politics of the country.
The decade started with great hope of a new beginning, but this hope was
marred by various events and circumstances. Just a short three years into his
presidency, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas,Texas. This was one of five
assassinations which happened between the years of 1963 and 1968. This “dark”
and disturbing period started with the June 12, 1963 assassination of Medgar
Evers, a civil rights advocate who is not that well known by many, but played an
important role in this movement. The assassinations which followed were: John
F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and finally Robert F. Kennedy, the
younger brother of JFK.
These assassinations left a very heavy and troubled atmosphere over the U.S.
coupled with a very unpopular war – the war in Vietnam. This war became a very
devisive issue amongst Americans – especially the young men (still boys) who
were being drafted into the military at a very high rate right out of high school
to fill the ranks of those killed in service. So, we had marches going on for the
civil rights movement, marches and demonstrations protesting the war and even
protests by young women for sexuality equality and rights over their own bodies,
for birth control, abortion, equal pay for equal work, etc. Indeed, there seemed
to be many issues for all to be unhappy about and to demonstrate against.
After Martin Luther King death in April 1968, it was felt by many that the only
person to take up the cause of minorities, as well as the poor, was Robert F.
Kennedy. If we look at film footage of RFK’s campaign in 1968, we see droves
of people, especially the young and minority groups, Blacks and Hispanics, giving
great support to this candidate. He seemed to be the last hope for many. When
he was assassinated in Los Angeles in June 1968, after winning the California
Primary as the Democratic Candidate for President, the bubble of hope had
burst. On the coattails of civil rights demonstrations were those demonstrations
related to the women’s movement or commonly known as the rise of feminism.
It is important to note that the female birth control contraceptive, “The Pill,”
was released in the United States in 1960. Also, one important reform that
emerged from this period was the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This movement then
also seemed to open the door for another group of individuals to express their
right of recognition as equals and this was the gay rights movement.
© culture&sens
The Turbulent Sixties - Sex,
Drugs, Rock n’Roll - and what else ?
La touche culture&sens
• As we look around the world we can see other nations
feeling the need to demonstrate and act for some social
and economic reforms. The May 1968 French student
and worker uprisings were significant and especially
notable in terms of their impact on trade union rights,
higher minimum wages and better working conditions.
The reports and images of the these 1968 protests in
the U.S. and France impacted Eastern Europe students,
particularly in Poland and Yugoslavia. The students there
were protesting against restrictions on free speech by
communist regimes. The upheavals were not limited to just Western countries.
• Another type of cultural revolution was happening at this time and it was born
in the city of Detroit. This was connected to the music industry following the
rock and roll era of Elvis Presley. Out of the rock of the 50s, the “acid rock of
the 60s was born, mixed with the influence of Black “soul” music. One of the
biggest recoding companies created at this time, which came to be the “King”
of many Black artists was the company “Motown”, established by Barry Gordy.
This company gave birth to a whole new sound in the recording industry with
such artists as Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder,
the Coasters, Otis Redding and later added to the list, Michael Jackson and the
Jackson Five. White artists also hooked their dreams of becoming famous to
this wagon : Bob Seger along with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels and
the ever bare-chested Iggy Pop (still bare-chested and doing TV commercials!).
Not to be forgotten was the British Invasion in the world of music. This was
represented by The Beatles in particular. Various other British groups followed
including “The Rolling Stones, “The Kinks”, “Pink Floyd”, etc. This influence and
sound will never be forgotten as it was created out of a generation whose
hopes were dashed by conflict, war and disappointment. We cannot forget also
the influence drugs had on the music industry at this time. Drugs, especially
hallucinogenic drugs, like LSD were born in this era. The increased use of these
types of drugs may be connected also to the horrors of war and the general
rejection of the younger generation to fighting in what was seen as an unjust war.
A kind of “Live for Today” attitude arose since there may not be a tomorrow for
many.Thus, this generation became known as the “Psychedelic Generation.” This
hippie generation was especially prevalent in San Francisco and their message of
“Peace and Love” spread throughout the whole country and the entire world.
Pour nous contacter et réagir :
www.culture-sens.fr
Des idées de loisirs
Books :
The Sixties: Cultural Revolution in Britain, France,
Italy and the United States, Arthur Marwick.
Brokow Explores Another Turning Point, the 60s,
Janet Maslin. On the road, Jack Kerouac.
TV series :
Mad men and Pan Am.
Films :
JFK, Oliver Stone. Bobby, Emilio Estevez. Mississippi Burning,A. Parker. Platoon,
Oliver Stone. Full Metal Jacket, Stanley Kubrick. Good Morning England,
Richard Curtis. Easy Rider, D. Hopper. Hair, Milos Forman. Forrest Gump,
Robert Zemeckis. A bout de souffle, Jean-Luc Godard. Gimme Shelter,
documentary about the Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour. © culture&sens