the hippies

ORIGINS

CONTEXT

CHARACTERISTICS

THE ORIGINS OF THE MOVEMENT The hippie subculture began its development in the United States during the early 1960’s and then developed around the world. Its origins may be traced to European social movements in the 19th and early 20th century such as Bohemians, the influence of Eastern religion and spirituality. It is directly influenced and inspired by the American involvement in the Vietnam War.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CONTEXT They changed their era, because more than a fashion or a simple decoration, this libertarian movement, supposedly apolitical, has left deep marks in Western societies, even in Brittany... From this period, a certain fashion effect remains, especially in urban areas, favouring the organisation of events, meals, outings and parties with, for example, a hippie theme decoration.

PHILOSOPHY/LIFESTYLE/POPULATION/SYMBOL The hippies were largely a white, middle-class group of teenagers who demographers call « the baby-boom generation ». The philosophy of the hippies is the harmony with the nature, adhering communal living, having free sex and being addicted to drugs. They often adopted vegetarian diets. Their symbol is peace and love .

DRESS CODE Their dress code is having long hair, wearing conspicuous colored clothes, and both men and women wear unconventional clothes, dresses and sandals.

MUSIC The songs were all released at the same time, i.e. in the 60s and 70s, at the height of the Woodstocko period, when most of the bands shown here were invited to perform at the festival of the same name. We find Jimi Hendrix and his hit Purple haze, which refers to a variety of cannabis, or Hey Joe by the same artist. The Beatles were also very much involved, despite their refusal to participate in the hippie festival.

FAMOUS PEOPLE James Marshall Hendrix was born Johnny Allen Hendrix, born in Seattle, USA on November 27, 1942 and died on September 18, 1970 in London, England. Known as Jimi Hendrix, he was an American guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer and singer. He was the founder of the Anglo-American band The Jimi Hendrix Experience which was active between 1966 and 1970. Despite an international career that lasted only 4 years, he was one of the greatest electric guitar players.