The Golden Age of the Sixties - Coursework Example

The Golden Age of the Sixties Order No: 182917 No: of pages: 6 Premium – 6530 Introduction: The decade of the sixties was one of the most eventful periods in History with both its good side as well as the bad. It was surely one decade that enjoyed its ups and tolerated its downs. It was this period that had the best part of life at its disposal by way of the various changes that took place during this period. As the essayist Arthur Marwick rightly puts it, “a period of exceptional cultural and social change”. The sixties saw the evolutionary changes that took place in politics, music, art, literature and culture and at the same time it was a witness to many of the world’s greatest leaders who were instrumental in bringing about these changes. Analyzing the sixties, is to indeed bring back many glorious moments which are still cherished even today. It is also a period of history which has left an indelible mark on the present society in which we live today. Political Progress: In 1960, the Civil Rights Act once again aimed at equal voting rights of all its citizens and the Government worked towards the segregation of the Blacks. It was also during this time that the first televised Presidential Campaign debate between John F. Kennedy and Nixon took place. In 1961 President Kennedy was elected to office and the Peace Corps was created to put an end to discrimination and segregation. In 1962, the Immigration Act began to take shape. As a result trade and Commerce began to flourish. Kennedy tried hard to improve the society by bringing about Social Welfare Amendments. All through the 60’s, discrimination and segregation were still rampant as black students were barred from entering colleges. Martin Luther King, one of the most significant and great leaders and voice of the Blacks led a campaign against this in Birmingham, Alabama and gave his memorable speech of “I have a Dream” during the Civil Rights March on Washington. The year 1963 was not a good year for politics as the great leader John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas and Civil rights worker Medgar Evers gets murdered in Mississippi. In 1965, the Government did away with capital punishment for 5 years and committed itself to building comprehensive schools and urban motorways. In 1966 in Italy, the League for the Institution of Divorce was established and in parts of rural Italy, intensive campaigns were started to bring electricity and build proper bathrooms. In 1967, “The Abortion Act”, “The Family Planning Act” and the Act legalizing homosexual acts between two consenting couples were passed. It was during the same time that the anti- Vietnam War march on the Pentagon took place. Reporting on the Civil disorders, the Kernel Report said, ‘our nation is moving toward two societies – one white, one black – separate and unequal’. In the April of 1968, Martin Luther King was shot dead in Memphis and great violence breaks out throughout the country. The voting age as well as the age for majority was reduced to 18 in 1969 and capital punishment was totally abolished. It was during this time, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin set their first steps on the moon. It was indeed “one step for man, but a giant leap for mankind”. Cultural Progress: Music: Music held a spectacular significance during the sixties. The major and one of the most prominent groups was the “Beatles”. They were quite famous in Liverpool but still had to spread their fame to other places. The song “Yellow Submarine” penned by George Harrison spread the feeling that the Beatles were here to stay. They created a kind of craze among the people and enjoyed such a massive fan following. But yet, the Beatles were not too good at handling fame and fortune and sought to seek something higher and more meaningful, so they made a trip to India and sat the feet of Maharishi doing meditation and learning the Vedas for inner peace. As George Harrison puts it –“The Vedic system is all about enlightenment, basically, and music is one of the vehicles to gain enlightenment”. (George Harrison, South Bank Show) Another major hit of the Beatles came in 1962 with “Love, Love me do”. Bob Dylan, singer/songwriter released his number 1 hit called “Blowin’ in the wind”, which remains a fond favorite even today. 1966 saw the flourish of drug dens, clubs and a splurge of music bands of which one of the most famous ones was “Pink Floyd” whose music is so popular even among today’s generation. It was also during this period that two great singers named Simon and Garfunkel became famous for their songs, “Sound of Silence” and “The Dangling Conversation”. In 1969, the great band “Rolling Stones”, performed at a wonderful concert at Hyde Park and the “Woodstock Pop Festival” takes place with great pomp and show. Literature: In 1964, the first International Exhibition of Concrete and Kinetic poetry was established at Cambridge. In 1965, the International Poetry Incarnation was established at the Albert Hall where ‘underground poetry was read. In 1967, Shakespeare’s Festival Public Theater was founded in New York. In Wales, the Welsh language was placed on par with English. Movies: Movie making was still in the state of development but had a steady progress. In 1960, a popular film called, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”, hit the screens with great expectations. It did pretty well and was ruled out by the court as not obscene. In 1962, the first ever Bond Film was released. It was called Dr. No in which Sean Connery was its hero. Fashion: Paris was the world’s fashion house and as such one of the greatest fashion houses called “Yves St. Laurent” was established attracting all the fashion conscious people around the world. This fashion house remains even to this day because it had thrived and flourished over the years. Art: Art flourished during the period of the sixties spreading a carpet of creativity everywhere. One great artist named Rothko was a bulky man in his fifties and a great painter. He was the first artist in his generation to have his very own one man show with all his paintings at the Museum of Modern Art. He had risen from poverty to become a rich and renowned artist of his time traveling all around the world gaining not only fame but fortune. In 1962, the Museum of Modern Art held its first symposium on “Pop Art”. In 1965, art and sculpture flourished and the New Generation Sculpture Exhibition was held at White Chapel, Art Gallery, London. The conceptual art exhibition called “When attitudes become Form” tours Europe and London. Conclusion: The period of the sixties had a far greater impact on the people in other periods for the mere fact that it was such an eventful period with so many changes for the better. No doubt, this period faced harsh wars, discrimination and segregation, yet it did not neglect its social and cultural development. In fact the sixties produced some of the best musicians like the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Simon and Garfunkel, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and many others and it is these peoples music that is still so popular and continue influencing the musicians of today. The sixties was also a bitter period in politics and it saw the end of many a great leader, but still it was through these very leaders that phenomenal changes by way of the introduction of various acts which paved the pathway to social peace and security. Therefore without doubt I would say that Arthur Marwick was right in saying that the sixties was indeed “a period of exceptional cultural and social change”. I do agree with the author because I look upon the sixties as the “Golden Period of Society” Read More