Why was there a counter-culture movement in the 1960s? What were its major elements? What did it achieve?

Question

i have no idea...i searched online but it seems the answer is pretty weird...hope someone would help...

Answer 1

Several things were going on at the time--John F. Kennedy was elected as the new "King Arthur" and Camelot, but then he was assasinated. There was building anti-Vietnam War sentiment building in the country. Blacks were gaining political power; Martin Luther King was preaching non0violence in the South but was imprisoned numerous times. "Free love" was a mantra and there was campus unrest beginning in the latter part of the 60's. The country went from "Ozzie and Harriet" (Google for that explanation) to seemingly total chaos in one decade. It was an exhiliarating time for some, while others thought the US was going down in flames.

Answer 2

In the 1940's you had the "Hells Angels" in the 1950's you had the "Beatnicks" in the 1920's you had the "Flappers" and in the 1890's they were called the "Gay 90's"

Essentially, every generation is in rebellion of the previous generation.

The 1960's were unique in that A)the use of recreational drugs became in vouge, and B)the dislike of the Viet Nam war solidified a dislike and distrust of the US Government.

Its major elements were in this order: the "Beatnicks" were turning into "Hippies", the use of the drug culture growing, the anti-viet name protests solidifed dislike of the government.

By the time of 1967 the "Summer of Love" had turned into the "Winter of disillusionment" as lack of money, lack of work encouraged crime, including prostitution

It achieved rock music, drug use, and the sexual promiscuity of young people thanks to effective birth control- the downside is they managed to produce Cheech and Chong

Answer 3

I was born in 1950, and experience the revolution in my "rebellious" teen "hippie" long-hair" years (I was not a "greaser")....did you see the movie GREASE...those were the 60's!!!

Culture is largely dictated by society, including parents, schools. and the communications industry (i.e. Hollywood).

Counter Culture aimed to "break away" from the opinions of their parents' generation, to find a better way.

They were knee-jerk opposites of the older generation.

Told to avoid "sex and substance abuse", but to support the "militaristic and economic imperialism" ... they did the opposite on each point...for better ... or sometimes for worse!!!!

They were right, as time would tell, to...
(1) oppose the war in Viet Nam (called the "Peace Movement"), and protest against the nuclear arms race with Russia!!
PLUS...
(2) giving up materiality & greed to "save the world" (the "Peace Corps" was created then, etc), supported aid to the 3rd world, and embraced the budding new environmental movement...there by changing history for the better.

The rebellious teenagers were NOT right to experiment with society's "taboos" like ...
(1) promiscuous sex (social diseases proliferated, and unwed mothers, and the need of abortion clinics) and public nudity & porn,
PLUS...
(2) substance abuse (which lead to crime, early death, and other tragic conscequences like DUI's and suicide) as time would tell.

Answer 4

Listen to John Lennon's 'Imagine', read Jack Keroauc's 'On the Road' and watch Mike Nichols' 'The Graduate'.