Today we will take a look at the 1950s & 1960s, two extremely influential decades in U.S. culture and the setting of our novel, The Outsiders.
*Use notability to take notes on this decade. You will be quizzed later.
The 1960s Background
The 1960s was the decade
that started on January 1, 1960 and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the
seventh decade of the 20th century, but people refer more to the era called the
“Sixties” from around 1963 to 1974.
During this period of time, there
was a cultural movement that developed mainly in the United States and United
Kingdom, from 1960 to 1973, but it eventually continued to spread throughout
the western world, called the counterculture. It was characterized for
involving young people who rejected or opposed to the dominant values and
hahavior of society, and wanted to change their culture and life. It all
started in a protest against the Vietnam War that later turned into a fuss to
gain sexual freedom, experimentation with drugs, women’s rights, and racial
relations.
The counterculture movement led to a
subculture movement that was distinguished for cultural values and behavioral
patterns distinctive of a particular group in a society. It was led by young
people also that emphasized change and experimentation.
Between this subculture group,
another group originated, called the Greasers. Greasers were a youth working
class that came from young northeastern and southern United States
street gangs. But although it was formed from gangs, the group became very
popular among other types of people to express rebellion.
The name Greasers came
from their greased-back hairstyle, which involved combing back hair
with wax, gel, creams, tonics or pomade. And they were characterized by
wearing white or black t-shirts with the sleeves rolled up, white
A-shirts, Italian knit shirts, black, blue or khaki work jackets,
black or brown trench-coats, Levi denim jackets, leather jackets, blue or
black Levi’s 501 jeans with rolled-up cuffs anywhere from one to four
inches, and baggy cotton twill work trousers. Their shoes were mainly
motorcycle boots, army boots, winklepickers, cowboy boots, and
Converse (All Stars). Besides this apparel they also used accessories such as
bandannas, stingy-brim hats, flat caps, and chain wallets.
Greasers liked to listen to music from the rock
and roll gender, such as Rockabilly. One of the songs that prove this is Sha Na
Na, which was played as a revival in one of their manifestations.An introduction to the 1950s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY5voiVzYt0 (5:50)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06s6tH8i5kc (3:29)
An Introduction to the 60s (5:49)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU-eOk8msA0
A Quick crash course (15:14)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkXFb1sMa38
What was happening in politics in the 1960s? (8:30)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4GtCc2Z6NI