POP ART IN AMERICA IN THE 1960’s The 1960’s in America was a time of rapid change, both socially and politically, initiated by the voice of a mass group of teenagers growing up from the post World War II baby boom years. American’s began to be concerned with their lifestyle and their quality of life and much conflict arose over big issues such as abortion, drugs and homosexuality. Despite firstly appearing in England in 1953, Pop Art began independently in New York between 1961 and 1965. Its intention: to be an ‘art for the people’. How does Pop Art relate to the history of America in the 1960’s?
Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell were part of the folk music scene when it came to protesting against or for social issues. Folk music from the 1960's influenced the politics of the era more than any other mainstream media. Singers such as Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan sang about hard-hitting issues like Civil Rights and the Vietnam War. Rock music started gathering followers at this time with some of the most talented artists starting the movement. The sixties were when many artists started experimenting with different sound techniques such as distortion and playback.
A People’s History of the United States: Reflection Chapter 22 The Unreported Resistance This chapter gives details on the years of the presidencies of Carter, Reagan, and Bush. In particular, it gives examples of political action followed by public revolt, which then sets in motion more political action. Specific movements and acts of resistance are noted, such as the movement against nuclear arms, which escalated to involve several thousands of peace groups and which prompted national response. In the decade after 1980, a national movement against nuclear weapons developed, “from a small number of men and women willing to go to jail to make others stop and think to millions of Americans frightened at the thought of nuclear holocaust, indignant at the billions of dollars spent on weaponry while people were in need of life’s necessities,” (Zinn 602). And this movement was not the only one.
This compelled a sense of unity, which in turn helped groups organize to change how the nation viewed the war. Country Joe McDonald’s song emphasizes a misunderstanding between the young radicals of society and their leaders, “And it’s 1,2,3, what’re we fighting for? / Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn” (14-15). An increasingly noticeable ‘generation gap’ started to widen as U.S. News & World Report “assured its readers that Vietnam was a “local war... Big war is not threatened” (Lynskey 89). However, when President Johnson and other military advisors mixed-up events, possibly deliberately, to claim that North Vietnam had just attacked the US naval force in the Gulf of Tonkin- an incident which later proved to be a minor naval clash (Prados 1) and used this conflict as a premise to launch a full scale invasion of the communist state, the antiwar movement consolidated with great speed.
3 Aug. 2014. The articles author Donna Alvah provides great insight into many of the historical events during the civil rights movement taking place before, during and after the Vietnam War, the article explains many of the social issues taking place and how people stood up and together against the government fighting for fundamental rights every citizen should have. It also lists many dates and locations of the events that took place including Martin Luther King Jr’s speeches prior to his death and the assassination of a sitting US President. Heineman, Kenneth. "The Silent Majority Speaks: Antiwar Protest and Backlash, 1965-1972," Peace & Change 17 (1992): 402-433.
People began desiring tighter clothing in the 1970’s and polyester was able to be not only tight, but also stretchy. Polyester also shone under the lights seen at discos. The style truly was very flashy, gaudy, and at some times was seen as pompous. During the late 1970’s however, punk fashion became popular, almost in reaction to the “Saturday night fever,” attire. Punk fashion was seen as “anti-fashion.” In the 1980’s the economy was great.
The 60s inspired a generation of youth to embrace the concepts of free love, peace, feminism and equality for all. Along with this was the psychedelic music and socially accepted drug use mostly amongst youth which served as a sort of retaliation against the conservative older generations. Throughout this essay I will discuss examples of modern film, music and design which draw heavily from social issues andi musical and design ideas from the 60s. The social revolution of the 60s has continued on in the decades since and is still apparent today but the 1960s will always be viewed as the decade that epitomised the ideals of freedom, equality and peace, even if they weren't all neccesarily achieved. The 60s is obviously a popular era for film makers both from a stylistic point of view and also as a narrative setting.
Every decade throughout history develops its own set of fads, fashions, and culture. The 90’s was a period commonly thought of as the generation of baggy clothes and great music. “90’s kids”, as most people refer to them, know that there was a lot more to the mix- matched clothing and simplistic thinking. The spreading of technology, including the invention of the World Wide Web, problems involving gun violence and sexual harassment, the third-wave feminism movement, the acceptance of homosexuality, and of course the crazy clothes are all a part of the 90’s culture that effects society today. In the satirical movie, Clueless, written and directed by Amy Heckerling, she expertly intertwines the most important parts of the 90’s culture.
The word "rap" was derived in the sixties, from a slang word that meant conversation. Hip-hop has two main historical eras, the old school hip-hop era from 1970-1985 and the golden age hip-hop era from 1985-1993. The golden age of hip-hop began only when it entered the mainstream of music and it consolidated the sounds of the West Coast and the East Coast. The origin of hip-hop music is from African American and West African music. Contributions of griots like The Last Poets, Jalal Mansur Nurriddin, and Gil Scott-Heron were significant in a big way for the advent of hip-hop in
"Peace Train" by: Cat Stevens "Peace Train" is the title of a 1971 hit song by Cat Stevens, taken from his album Teaser and the Firecat. This was a chaotic time in history. The U.S. was still grinding through the Vietnam War, McGovern was running against Nixon for the presidency, and the draft was extended even though it was supposed to end that June. Also, the controversy issues of civil rights and women's rights also demanded attention. As the ’60s came and went, war protesters were still looking to the politicians to right wrongs, fix social issues, and bring the boys home.