Essay On The Counterculture Movement

The counterculture movement of the 1960s reflected an American society that was self-serving and un-patriotic to some, but to others, it was a reflection of a liberating and pleasure-seeking America. There were clear distinctions at this time between the “old” and the “new”. Baby boomers rejected the cultural standards of their parents because they wanted to pursue their own versions of happiness, but their parents’ generation believed that they were destroying the democratic ideals that Americans before them had worked so hard to install. To their parents, the baby boomers only promoted a destructive and rebellious assault on America’s moral order. Be it positively or negatively, the counterculture movement is known to have significantly impacted American society today. The movement did foster new insight into sexuality, progressive music, and the development of new cultures. On the other hand, an argument can be made that it led to the …show more content…
There were two main types of music that were the real driving forces of the counterculture movement: folk music and rock and roll. Rock and roll was called the voice of the youth because of its infectious vibe, beat, and lyrics. One of the many rock and roll artists that really blossomed during this period were The Beatles. They led the charge towards a new dawn with anthems like “All You Need Is Love”, “Revolution”, and “Come Together”. These songs helped to fan the flames of the counterculture movement. Also, folk music artists like Joan Baez and Bob Dylan both contributed to the movement. Baez refused to pay taxes in protest of the Vietnam War and encouraged resistance to the draft at her concerts. Dylan wrote political lyrics. For example, some of his songs were written to remember those who died in the civil rights movement. Baby boomers admired him for his style and principles. There were also groups like the Rolling Stones, Jim Morrison, and Janis