1960s
The 1960's were a time of major political and social change. These changes were primarily fuelled by the youth of the time. Their parents had come from life in both the great depression of the 1930's as well as World War II, and were on a whole more conservative than their children, a fact the younger generation did not like. In the early 60's the electronic media (Television and radio) became an important communication tool, as opposed to the largely print based media of previous decades. With change came a profound increase in the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and information, which in turn influenced a generation to become much more active in politics and other affairs which affected them, than what the previous generations would have been. The youth culture aimed to change all of the contradictions that remained unchanged from their parent's culture. Examples of this move for change and progress included politics, religion, class struggle, racial issues, and the Vietnam war, but the area in which this change was most visible was in the arena of popular music, which too had become a tool for the communication of ideas. James Douglas (Jim) Morrison was born in Melbourne, Florida on December 8th, 1943. He was the son of a R
At this time, "rock acted as a kind of 'counter culture', challenging the boundaries of the dominant culture where it had become hyprocritical and even unjust... The main thrust of rock music was a force for change, both on a personal level [ie. sexual morality, drug use, etc.]... and on a societal level, in opposition to the Vietnam War, [and] racial injustice... Rock and roll provided much of the communicative power of the 'counter culture,' and, as such, was a force for change." (Macken, 1980: p23) One of the major things that the Doors, along with many young people (American and Australian), were strongly opposed to was the Vietnamese war. Young Americans and Australians and were being forced to go off to Vietnam and fight a war that many believed was none of our buisness. Public protests against America's involvement in the war were common. Several of the Doors songs were written to raise social awarness about the war; they included 'When the music's over', and 'The end', which featured in the Oliver Stone film about Vietnam, 'Apocalypse Now'. This is an example of how rock music analysed and dealt with issues of the day.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Paris July, Jim Morrison, Vietnam War, Inch Nails, Rights Act, War II, Luther King, Ray Manzarek, Blake Morrison's, China Chinese, civil rights, rock music, martin luther king, martin luther, luther king, previous decades, freedom riders, jim morrison, youth culture, voter registration, vietnam war, civil rights movement, political social change, world war ii, lives world choices,
Approximate Word count = 8047
Approximate Pages = 32 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
