› 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

 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 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 hippie fashion

 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.

 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. 

 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)

 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 imagesWarhol images

 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 It was a 3 day concert that drew ½ million fans & some of best known rock performers of the day. LineupLineup  Archive performances Hendrix SSB ArchiveperformancesHendrix 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 20 th 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.

 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.temple  This is Zen.