Counterculture I A glance at the beginnings of the l social revolution by Ryan Bogart \ The term "counterculture" developed in the 1960’s with the introduction of the new waves of popularity among American youths. These included the hippies, beatniks, and other social revolts of the time period. Although the sixties defined the movement from popular culture, it started much earlier. In the 1950’5, "counterculture" was unheard of. Although the “rebels” slicked back their hair, wore leather jackets, and smoked a cigarettes, the 1950 s essentially are defined by conformity to social standard. Anyone who staryed from the “norm” were regarded as social otucasts of the time, and the adult figures of this decade saw them as trouble makers and problems to society. A typical “sit down talk” with dad after school about what you learned during the day, followed by tea with mother who had been cooking and cleaning all day, are stereotypes constituting the average day in the 50’s. Eventually, kids grew up and went to college, where they were taught about things they hadn't been exposed to in high school and at home. In college, they had more freedom The Beatles were introduced to than their parents had experienced, society as clean cut boys with happy thus more time to ask questions, go lucky lyrics. When they were Coffee houses became a popular introduced to LSD and marijuana in hang out because these students 1966 by Bob Dylan, they discovered could be exposed to different types other things, especially music styles, of people that they were not They turned into a more accustomed to dealing with before. complicated style of writing that still With these different people came captured American society even the emerging populatiry of music, though they were a direct result of Music tended to separate the old the "counterculture", from the young lively college The older generation opposed student. It gave youths a chance to their styles, music, and ideals. The express themselves, something in reason for this is because they were which they had not been able to do never brought up on the new ideals before. and indulged in the conservative lIIIMIIIINIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIII^ Dear Amy and Cathy, The other day, I was unfortunate to find myself. Now what am I supposed to do? Dear No Longer Missing, Congratulations!!! Now you can help find us. (Hint: Just follow the dangling participles.) Dear Amy and Cathy, Earlier in the week, I was engaged in deep conversation with two of my female friends. To my dismay, I suddenly found myself distanced from this conversation when it turned to the topic of color identification. Being male, and subsequently deficient in this area, I was amazed at their authoritative use of terms such as seafoam, aqua, turquoise, and blue-green. I just sat there wondering, “What ever happened to plain old green?” Was I absent the day they Drugs also became widely used and a major factor in separating the generations. Marijuana allowed people express themselves in ways they did not see possible. LSD, founded by Harvard professor Timothy Leary was legal and widespread up until the late sixties. Leary travelled around the country to colleges and universities teaching LSD as a path to spiritual enlightenment. The San Francisco scene at Haight-Ashbury was a cult community built on the use of LSD. The "counterculture" wore their hair long and didn't care about personal grooming in most cases. Looks were based on nature, not on social standards as defined by the authority figures. To tear down the conventions that were built up in the fifties, youth attitudes reflected dancing, drugs, music and free sex. The youth felt that they had been cheated from living the good life in the 50's and were sick of "being lied to". They wanted America to see that they were in control of their own lives by living by the motto of "whatever it takes to be happy, I'll do it." Amy and Cathy The weekly advice columnists answer this week's questions with wit and wisdom No Longer Missing Amy and Cathy Opinion taught colors in high school? Or am I just stupid? Dear Color Blind, Of course, you’re stupid. You’re male. End of story. Just kidding. Actually, it would appear that we have found yet another case of ROY G. BIV gone crazy. Those dam science people. You give ’em an inch and they just walk all over you. (Incidentally, the bruises they leave are puce.) What we need to do now is give credit to those evil creators of crayons-they are the true initiators of your strife. Crayola is the enabler of the enablers. Without them, your “plain old green” would rule the world. The paint manufacturers and sweater companies would all go bankrupt, and the world, as we know it, would die. As for why your female friends have a grasp of this knowledge and you do not... Let’s just say how you know why we go into public restrooms in pairs. (That’s where they keep the color charts!) traditions of society. The "counterculture" of contemporary society has major differences than in the sixties. Up until August, "hippies" were still around traveling with the Grateful Dead as a lifestyle. Jerry Garcia died in August which ended an era of togetherness. The Grateful Dead’s music brought people together from all walks of life. There does not seem to be a cohesiveness in the “counter culture” of today. There are so many different forms of the movement today, but there is no common goal as there was in the sixties. Drugs are as widespread and as commonly used today. Some music styles have changed and others stayed the same. Youths still love their music. It can be compared to a religion because it is something that is totally free and something that no one can take away. The lack of unity in youth groups leads to a better control from authorities. With youth divided, they cannot “stand” for their rights. Apathy has devoured a strong political and social force. People seem to worry more about throwing a piece of metal through their eyebrow than the government cutting back student loans. No one has the guts to come together to work for a common goal. If the time when another social revolution takes place and I’m too old to join their movement, I will still support it. I hope that everyone will remember the feeling they had when they were young and support them too, because freedom needs all the help it can get. Color Blind Amy and Cathy Thursday, November 16, 1995 The Behrend College Collegian Published weekly by the students of The Pennsylvania State University at Erie. The Behrend College Editor in Chief Jennifer V. Colvin Business Manager Jennifer Heilman News Editor Danielle Murphy Sports Editor Nick Zulovich Assistant Sports Editor Julie Stocker Entertainment Editor Joe Mottiiio Photography Editors Sheila Bicket Joe Stiller Opinion Editor R. Carl Campbell IN Advertising Manager Jeremiah Bull Copy Editor Michelle Gruendl Advisor Mrs. Cathy Mester Artwork Brad Martin Collegian Staff: Ryan Bogart, Chad Clouse, Mike Coursey, Priya Daugherty, Eddie Edwards, Doreen Foutz, Brian Gregory, Ericha Hagenbuch, Bryan Harkins, Adria Kovaly, Steve Landon, Adam Levenstein, Matt PBzga, Colette Rethage, John Rossomando, Joe Ryan, Sean Siekkinen, Angie Yu. Photographers: Dave Boulos, Coleen Gritzen, Bob Misufich, Chris Nelson, Dan Nowicki. Postal Information: The Collegia* 1$ published weekly by the students of The Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College; First Floor, The J. Elmer Reed Union Building, Station Road, Erie, PA 16563, 814-638-6488 or 814-898-6019 fax, ISSN 1871-9268 Letter Policy; The Collegian encourages letters on news coverage, editorial content and University affairs. Letters should be typewritten, doubie-spaced and signed by no more than two persons. Letters should be no longer than 400 words. Letters should indude the semester standing and major of the writer. AH letters should provide the
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