Woodstock
One didn't simply go to Woodstock: one lived through it. In August 1969, the Woodstock Festival was the largest counterculture event ever staged, attracting some 500,000 people and featuring many of the country's top acts. Two decades later, Woodstock has come to mean more than just "three days of fun and music"; it symbolizes a time of community, exuberance, and intensity since lost. Woodstock festival gave power to the youth, united people of all ages, races, and sexes, and defined a generation, making it one of the most important musical events of all time. In order to understand the impact and importance of the Woodstock Festival one must first examine the society that preceded the 1960's and set the stage so to speak for the events of the Woodstock Festival. The end of World War II brought thousands of young servicemen back to America to pick up their lives and start new families in new home and new jobs. With energy never before experienced, American industry expanded to meet peacetime needs. Americans began buying goods not available during the war, which created corporate expansion and jobs. Growth was everywhere. The baby boom was underway. Part of the what h
In the 1950's a big change happened in public education. The youth of the 1960's were not happy to be clones of the generation ahead of them. It was into this social climate that the concept of the Woodstock Festival was born. For one weekend sex, drugs, and rock and roll became a way of life. Timothy Leary, a Harvard University professor who began researching LSD as the tool of self-discovery. Live and let live the way of life for this culture. Political protesting in the form of anti-war was waged by the counterculture movement. People like Malcolm X preached black superiority, and organized non-violent and violent protests. Richie Havens, the first performer at the Woodstock Festival describes the impact the best when he says, "Woodstock was in essence a coming together, a gathering, a giant be-in. The small town believed that the event would bring in added money for local businesses. It was into this climate that the "Hippie" counterculture of the 1960's was born. The people of bethel expected 150,000 people. Havens believes that the spirit of Woodstock has saturated the world and has served the purpose of awakening minds to the fact that they too have the right to celebrate and be free. Hard rock grew popular and songs with a political or social commentary, such as those by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan became common.
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Acceptance Essays
