Bohemian-style clothing took centre stage during the hippie movement ( Photo: Adam Dietrich )
For some, Woodstock represented the epitome of peace, sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll — all significant aspects of the hippie mantra. For others, Woodstock signified the end of a time of excess and unbridled freedom. Taking place from Aug. 15-17, Woodstock Festival & Concert featured such amazing performers as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Who and Santana. According to Fred Goodwin, a history professor at
Carleton University, hippies saw Woodstock as an example of the new society — a free society carrying with it the message of peace, love and co-operation. Whatever it meant, Woodstock was a one-of-a-kind, epic rock festival that has reached the status of legend among modern music-loving youth, who only wish they could have been part of the magic.
With the upsurge in eco-friendly products, organic food and environmental protectionism, some people say the hippie message has recently been revived from its ashes.
LET THE SUNSHINE IN
The “swinging ’60s” are often referred to as a time of excess; a counter culture that marked a time of political and cultural change. Liberation, sexual experimentation, rebellion and rampant drug use characterized the hippie movement, replacing the conservative ’50s. The diffused and decentralized movement lasted between the mid ’60s and ’70s. It began in the United States without a specific leader and spread to Canada and Europe as young adults began to dress and act differently than the rest of society. “The whole culture of the long ’60s encouraged and refl ected removing the strict demands and behavioural roles in society,” Goodwin said. “The central doctrine of the movement was that individuals must free themselves from the barriers that society has constructed, which inhibit people from being authentic individuals. The idea was that people should liberate themselves.” And liberate they did.
According to Goodwin, drugs were seen as a means of liberation from societal views and restrictions, improving perception of self and others. LSD, marijuana and hashish were the drugs of choice. Sexual experimentation was hailed as a way to achieve greater self-awareness. In an attempt to create this alternate free society and break convention, Goodwin said die-hard hippies joined communes — a camp-like area where they all lived together and shared possessions.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
The hippie movement left quite an impact on the modern world, affecting everything from what we consider beautiful, to whom we accept in society, to the music we listen to.
“Greater acceptance of diversity, sexual behaviour and appearance!” said Goodwin. “As a result of the ’60s, we accept more diversity of what is beautiful.” The movement also encouraged autonomy, he said. “The ’60s left a legacy of suspicion of authority and of no longer accepting the offi cial versions of events and standards of behaviour.” Through the civil rights, gay and women liberation movements, the ’60s encouraged the inclusion of previously marginalized groups, which is still being refl ected today. “The election of [US President Barack] Obama is a legacy of the ’60s — it is the idea that race should not prohibit you from political advancement,” explained Goodwin. Finally, music was greatly impacted by hippies and the ’60s era, with artists such as the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan remaining relevant on the music charts today.
“The idea of the singer creating his own music is a very ’60s idea,” Goodwin said.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE?
With popular slogans like “green is the new black,” as well as the push for ecofriendly and organic everything, it may seem that some of the hippie values are once again becoming part of the mainstream consumer culture. Concern for the environment is no longer limited to fringe grassroots groups but has become a widespread concern — complete with celebrity endorsements. Moreover, tiedye, long hair and the Bohemian look have resurfaced in the fashion world. However, Goodwin said he does not think that there will be a revival. “I don’t see a revival of the hippie culture because there isn’t the demographic. The 18 to 25 demographic is not as large as it was then,” he says. “There is no core of support or interest in that like we had before. I don’t see that in the immediate future of any Western society.”
Furthermore Goodwin contended that environmentalism has been around since the 1900s and tends to ebb and flow over time, and is only in part a legacy of the ’60s. Naturally, if a revival is not in the near future, one must ask why the movement ended in the first place. Among such troubles as clueless leaders and rampant drug addictions, Goodwin said: “People realized that establishing this society would not work. People had brought too much baggage with them and it was so heavy they could not liberate themselves.” In the end, the movement that gave the promising message of peace, love, cooperation and freedom fi zzled in its ownexcess of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. Despite its end, the hippie movement and the ’60s resulted in monumental changes to our society and at the very least gave the world one of its most legendary parties — and for that, we can never complain.