Edwards’ transition back into American life at age seventeen was not difficult for him due to the inclusivity of “the whole hippie movement” and the lack of a language barrier. [Author of American youth in Changing Culture]’s definition of a “hippie” may explain why the group was so inclusive. In addition to stereotypical cultural characteristics assigned to hippies (as examples: “peace and love,” drug culture, non-violence), [author] claims that revolutions lead people to realize that they have become a tool for society, and
The hippies are characterized by a particularly vivid awareness of that loss of self-identity and of the perversion of the meaning of life. A competitive society, for instance, or a spirit of rivalry, is a source of …show more content…
The significance may result from both the prominence of global movements and youth propelled change, and the fact that teenagers of the Sixties are now at the peak of their careers, in the position to direct the content of media and scholarship. But even then, Edwards felt that the Sixties were important. Perhaps this is due to his continual mantra of “changing the world,” or perhaps, as he suggests, because he was a teenager. According to Edwards, “all teenagers feel that they are very important.” In contrast, he insists that the Sixties “felt more global. It was like a world thing, as opposed to the mall.” Though his meaning in this statement is clear, it should also be mentioned that the Sixties were when consumer culture exploded. The students protesting both in the US and in Europe were “privileged men and women who had unprecedented access to consumer goods, education, and leisure time. … This was a revolt, in many cases, of the privileged against the leaders who conferred privileges.” Edwards inadvertently highlights the phenomenon of many young people during this time who protested consumerism while accepting the benefits that come with higher GDP and luxury …show more content…
In an email following up to the interview, he wrote about Black Lives Matter, “While I appreciate its importance, it seems a little exclusive or selfish as opposed to the 60 's when it was more of a group effort to elevate everyone equally.” [American Youth in Changing society author] also notices the same phenomenon: “One of the most striking characteristics of the revolutionary movement in America is that it is the first such movement in which all demands are a part of a single front, and are advanced simultaneously on the same program.” Perhaps this sense of group advancement was not merely a unique factor in the Sixties movements, but rather a product of many simultaneous – and global – movements that provided many young people the opportunity to have a voice. Despite further globalization, as a result of 24-hour news cycles and social media, today’s movements seem to have become more niche. The media has more opportunities and time to discuss the idiosyncrasies of movements instead of focusing on a common thread connecting them. The Sixties movements could be defined by groups seeking to elevate themselves in spite of an societally assigned identity, while today, groups try to elevate themselves on the basis of a chosen identity. Both methods are perfectly valid, though the continued need for civil rights activism may indicate that the group
The hippies are characterized by a particularly vivid awareness of that loss of self-identity and of the perversion of the meaning of life. A competitive society, for instance, or a spirit of rivalry, is a source of …show more content…
The significance may result from both the prominence of global movements and youth propelled change, and the fact that teenagers of the Sixties are now at the peak of their careers, in the position to direct the content of media and scholarship. But even then, Edwards felt that the Sixties were important. Perhaps this is due to his continual mantra of “changing the world,” or perhaps, as he suggests, because he was a teenager. According to Edwards, “all teenagers feel that they are very important.” In contrast, he insists that the Sixties “felt more global. It was like a world thing, as opposed to the mall.” Though his meaning in this statement is clear, it should also be mentioned that the Sixties were when consumer culture exploded. The students protesting both in the US and in Europe were “privileged men and women who had unprecedented access to consumer goods, education, and leisure time. … This was a revolt, in many cases, of the privileged against the leaders who conferred privileges.” Edwards inadvertently highlights the phenomenon of many young people during this time who protested consumerism while accepting the benefits that come with higher GDP and luxury …show more content…
In an email following up to the interview, he wrote about Black Lives Matter, “While I appreciate its importance, it seems a little exclusive or selfish as opposed to the 60 's when it was more of a group effort to elevate everyone equally.” [American Youth in Changing society author] also notices the same phenomenon: “One of the most striking characteristics of the revolutionary movement in America is that it is the first such movement in which all demands are a part of a single front, and are advanced simultaneously on the same program.” Perhaps this sense of group advancement was not merely a unique factor in the Sixties movements, but rather a product of many simultaneous – and global – movements that provided many young people the opportunity to have a voice. Despite further globalization, as a result of 24-hour news cycles and social media, today’s movements seem to have become more niche. The media has more opportunities and time to discuss the idiosyncrasies of movements instead of focusing on a common thread connecting them. The Sixties movements could be defined by groups seeking to elevate themselves in spite of an societally assigned identity, while today, groups try to elevate themselves on the basis of a chosen identity. Both methods are perfectly valid, though the continued need for civil rights activism may indicate that the group