The Counterculture
Evan Wood, Dylan Colaneri, Zach Barrish,
Tommy Perini, Timmy Lambert
Causes of the Counterculture
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Many Americans, primarily young, lost faith in the sanctity of the American
system
The youth and the public at large were looking for new ways to “assert their
individuality and independence.”
“There was a general feeling that the platitudes of Americanism were
horseshit.”
– Joseph Heller
Sexual norms changed as “the pill” alleviated the fear of pregnancy.
William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson published Human Sexual
Response, which describes the responses that men and women could
experience.
Art by artists such as Andy Warhol reflected the urge to innovate.
Drug use of LSD and other hallucinogenic drugs at universities spread
(Timothy Leary), and veterans of Vietnam were experienced with drugs.
Cultural Influences in the Counterculture
Drug Influences
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Drug Influences
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• LSD
– Tim Leary did experiments on undergrads
• “Tune in, turn on, drop out.”
– Merry Pranksters
• Converted school bus painted in psychedelic Day-Glo paints,
filled is Orange Juice and Acid
– Middle-Class College Students took “tabs”
• Cocaine
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– Young professionals began experimenting.
• Marijuana --> MOST POPULAR
– “joints” of “grass” were passed around at High
Schools
– Compared to Beer of past generations
Goals of the Counterculture
A common goal of the counterculture in America was to
separate themselves from the typical suburban culture. They
wanted to break way from the status quo that was set after the
War had ended.
By questioning authority figures and the federal government,
they tried to find a greater truth and meaning in life.
The culture's “spiritual” quest was for inner peace, through
raised consciousness, and unity with everyone.
Global harmony
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Achievements
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• Literature such as D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley’s Lover,
once considered to be obscene, could not longer be banned.
• Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
• Nudity became more common on screen and stage. (Hair)
• “Op” painting
– Sharply defined geometric figures in clear vibrant colors.
• “Pop” painting
– Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jasper Johns
• Made ironic comments on American Materialism and
taste with their representation of everyday objects
• Used spray guns and fluorescent paints to gain effect
• Some seemed like giant newspaper photographs
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“Op”
“Pop”
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Counterculture
Strategies for Achieving
Counterculture Goals
•“Hippies” wanted to affirmed their individuality and independence from
traditional American norms by men letting their hair grow and sprouting beards;
both men and women wore jeans, muslin shirts, and other untraditional clothing
•Stressing spontaneity, some members of the Counterculture movement
rejected traditional marriage customs and gravitated to communal living
•Women took oral contraceptives which opened the door to free sexual
experimentation
•To free the mind many used hallucinogenic drugs
•New music preached the same ideals as these cultural changes
The Development of the
Counterculture
• Although the hippie movement died out by the
late 1970s, many aspects of their culture and
goals continued.
• -The music of the counterculture has a large fan
base, even today, and the style of music has
influenced many popular genres of music.
• -Their hope for peace was represented in antiwar demonstrations
• -Their deviation from societal norms and
unusual dress is also affluent in the British punk
movement during the 70s and 80s