Another interesting form of manifestation of the rebellion were protest songs, sung primarily by rock and folk bands about the war, political woes, and other issues of the day. Another historian writes, "Protest songs were always a part of American folk music, and showcasing them within the entire folk spectrum gave them a wholesome image. In this all-American guise, folksingers invaded the musical vacuum on college campuses during the late 1950s" (Rodnitzky 105). Music was heard by more people, and appealed to a broader audience, so it brought more people into the rebellion and made the causes the youth were fighting more sympathetic. Many of the musicians understood the power of their music. Historian Rodnitzky continues, "Indeed, in 1964 Peter Yarrow bragged that his trio could 'mobilize the youth of America in a way that nobody else could' and perhaps even sway an election by traveling with a presidential candidate. He added, however, that they were not going to use this power" (Rodnitzky 105). It is interesting to note that musicians and others recognized their power even then, but chose not to use it.
Science and technology were actually the antitheses of the 60s youth rebellion, except for the development of drugs like LSD, most science, for innovation or society's sake, was shunned by the young people. Most of the hippies wanted to live a simpler life, and the less technology they used, the better. They learned how to tie-dye, made their own candles, created macrame art, and generally attempted to live without most science and technology. Even student rebellions were often centered more on university policies and teaching procedures, rather than improving technology or science. In effect, science and technology did not exist for the 60s protesters, even if the radical groups did use some types of weapon technology in their fights and gun battles. Technology was the future, the future was what young people wanted to change, and so, it had no considered necessities.
Ultimately, the 1960s rebellion was a time of social unrest, dissatisfaction, and change. It created the "New Left," a liberal, young, and fresh way of dealing with societies woes. Historians Isserman and Kazin continue, "The events in Vietnam in the spring of 1965 proved a turning point for SDS and the New Left as a whole. As the war escalated, so did debate at home over its wisdom" (Isserman, and Kazin 170). The war was one of the defining issues of the rebellion, but there were many others. Today, many dismiss the 60s youth as baby-boomers who have sold out and joined the establishment they fought so hard against when they were young. However, society is different because of the rebellions of the 60s. People have more of a voice when it comes to protesting, and young people proved they could be passionate about things they wanted to change. Today, people are less likely to simply stand by and allow events to occur - they will stand up and do something about them - because they know they have a voice. Social mores have certainly lightened since the 60s, and so has the acceptance of difference sexual orientations. Society has become a little less "uptight" than it was in the 60s, but more than that, young people found out they could make changes in the world, in their colleges, and in their communities. Therefore, the youth rebellions of the 60s really did make changes that have lasted throughout the decades.
References
Flacks, Richard, and Jack Whalen. Beyond the Barricades: The Sixties Generation Grows Up. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1989.
Isserman, Maurice, and Michael Kazin. America Divided the Civil War of the 1960s. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Rodnitzky, Jerome L. "The Sixties between the Microgrooves: Using Folk and Protest Music to Understand American History, 1963-1973." Popular Music and…
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