› Definition – Counterculture was a movement
made up mostly of white, middle-class
college youths who had grown disillusioned
with the war in Vietnam & other injustices in
the US during the 1960’s. Instead of
challenging the system they turned their
back on traditional culture & tried to
establish a whole new society based on
peace & love. Members were known as
“hippies”…
› How do you think hippies got their name??
Wonderopolis
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Shared some NEW LEFT beliefs – saw
materialism, technology, & war as
hollow; were nonconformists who
followed Harvard philosopher Timothy
Leary & his “tune in, turn on, drop out”
ideology; many left school, work and
home to create the ideal community of
peace, love and harmony. Also
embraced Zen Buddhism – which
stressed meditation.
Leary on Merv Griffin
Mind expansion; self awareness; and both
of these many hippies believed could be
better achieved with the use of mind
altering drugs – in particular marijuana and
LSD.
 They rejected traditional home life & many
joined communes that renounced private
ownership of property. Their clothing was as
different as their goals & outlook on life.
 hippie fashion
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Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco was known
as the hippie capital. California didn’t
outlaw hallucinogenic drugs until 1966 so
young people from across the US poured
into the area making it “hippie central”
while the movement was at its peak.
 The “hippie speak” reflected the attitudes
of the movement with phrases/words like
“groovy; far out; right on; out of sight;
bummer; hang up; etc.
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Drugs
 Music
 “make love – not war”
 Woodstock!! Still to come…for HW
tonight read the rest of section 3 & if you
haven’t already done so complete
boxes 6 through 0 on page 17 of your
packet.
 http://viewpure.com/HA
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Eventually many urban communes
became seedy & dangerous places that
were drug infested as well. Many hippies
who were living on the streets could not
meet their basic needs & turned to violence
to get what they needed.
 By 1970 many hippies & leaders within the
hippie community had fallen victim to the
drugs they used; death from overdoses
became more common (Hendrix, Joplin)
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During the hippie counterculture
movement “POP ART” (popular art)
made its mark with artists like Andy
Warhol dominating the genre. Pop art
was characterized by bright, simple,
commercial-looking images often
depicting every day life. They were
often repeated to look mass produced &
mock the “cookie cutter” lifestyle that
was being rejected. Warhol images
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The 1960s counterculture embraced rock
n roll; while the Beatles brought rock n roll
to the US in 1964 they inspired many
other bands whose loud often out of
control music was very appealing to
hippies.
The epitome of the hippie music scene was a live music
festival in upstate NY called “WOODSTOCK” held in 1969. It
was a 3 day concert that drew ½ million fans & some of best
known rock performers of the day. Lineup
Archive
performances
Hendrix SSB
Conservatives grew agitated & angry
over the lifestyle of the hippie
counterculture & their rejection of what
they felt many had fought & died for in
the wars of the 20th century. They
worried about a decay of American
values .
 Eventually the hippie counterculture
died out but it opened the door for a
more conservative voice in American
politics that will continue to grow for the
next few decades.
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Buddhism was popular with the hippie counterculture
movement. Its nonconformist view appealed to the ideals of
the movement; it had no hierarchy, rules or requirements
other than a desire to achieve spiritual enlightenment or
awareness through the use of meditation.
“The essential element of Zen Buddhism is found in its name,
for Zen means “meditation.” Zen teaches that enlightenment
is achieved through the profound realization that one is
already an enlightened being. This awakening can happen
gradually or in a flash of insight. But in either case, it is the
result of one’s own efforts.”
In the silence of the dojo or temple,
simply sit down, stop moving, and let go
your thoughts. Focus just on your Zazen
posture and your breathing. Keep your
back straight. Let your ego and your
unconscious mind melt away, merge
with the universe.
 This is Zen.
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