HIPPY CULTURE OF THE 60’S

BY: CIARA CHUTE

TEENAGERS OF THE BABY BOOMBefore the 1950’s, there was not such a distinct stage in between childhood and adulthood. With more students staying in school longer, adolescents were given more of a stage in between childhood and adulthood to develop their own sense of belonging, thoughts, and fashion.

Teenage fashions of the 1960’s

THE START OF HIPPY CULTURE

In the early 1960’s, the counterculture of hippies began. Primarily composed of white teenagers and young adults who called themselves hippies.

The culture originated in America and spread internationally.

Hippy woman and man

CLOTHES AND FASHION OF HIPPIES

Hippies developed their own fashion. Some elements hippies liked to wear were tie-dye, colourful clothing, sometimes tattered clothes, long hair, circle glasses, fringed clothing, beads, sandals, bracelets, headbands, necklaces, and clothing that advocated peace and drugs. Some hippies owned cars or vans with painted psychedelic patterns on them.

TASTE IN MUSICHippies preferred to listen to folk music and psychedelic rock music. They liked music that advocated simplicity, free love and drugs because they felt like they could relate to it. They also liked to create their own music. Specifically popular amongst hippies were “All You Need is Love” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” because they felt relatable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-pFAFsTFTI

Hippy man at a festival The Beatles

LEGACY AND BELIEFSHippies believed in and followed spiritual lessons taught by Jesus, Buddha, Ghandi, J.R.R. Tolkien, Hillel the Elder, St. Francis of Assisi, and Henry David Thoreau.

Jesus Christ

Buddha

J.R.R. Tolkien

Hillel the Elder

St. Francis of Assisi

Ghandi

Henry David Thoreau

LEGACIES AND BELIEFS CONTINUED

Hippies were in favour of psychedelic drugs. They claimed it helped expand one’s consciousness. They used LSD, marijuana, and psilocybin, and were against hard drugs like heroin and methamphetamines.

Hippies smoking marijuana

LEGACY AND BELIEFS CONTINUEDHippies criticized middle class values and rejected established institutions. Many were vegetarian or vegan and believed in being eco-friendly.

Hippies considered themselves very peaceful people. They were against war, (the Vietnam War in particular) and opposed nuclear weapons. They were in favour of personal freedom.

Hippies often advocated for free love, whether it be heterosexual, homosexual, or any variation of.

Lastly, hippies saw the importance of eating healthy foods and taking care of yourself.

THE HIPPY MINORITY Click icon to add picture

By the late 1960’s hippies were a minority representing about 0.2% of Americans. Despite being a minority, they were a considerable force in leading peaceful protests and were not to be disregarded in anti-war demonstrations.

HIPPIES IN THE 1970’SHippy culture started to lose attention in the early 1970’s. The culture died out during the early years of the 1970’s. Although there are still hippies today, there are many fewer than there were fifty years ago.

Modern hippie woman Hippie fashions of today

Bibliography

Farlex. "Hippie culture." The Free Dictionary. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Hippie+culture (accessed July 26, 2014).

"Hippies." The Canadian Encyclopedia. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hippies/ (accessed July 23, 2014).

"The Hippie Counter Culture Movement (1960′s)." Mortal Journey. http://www.mortaljourney.com/2011/03/1960-trends/hippie-counter-culture-movement (accessed July 26, 2014).