Sixties nostalgia actually back in vogue (?!)

jerrywaxler · Sep 24, 2009

Red Bird said:
JerryW,
Have you noticed how young teens are trying to recapture the sixties? I think you may have an audience with them. My kids are in their twenties and often say how they wish they would have lived during that time period. They adore hippies.

Haha!! Adore hippies!! No I didn't notice this, Red Bird. Thanks for that information. That's so funny. When I was around 40 I started to realize that the generation behind me had grown so sick of hearing about the sixties they begged everyone to stop talking about it. We stopped talking and now the new generation is curious. I love it.

I know a lot of people my age would love to capture those memories, but are so accustomed to people telling us we're self-involved and to "stop thinking about the sixties, they're over" we've become a bit jaded. If it's true that there is a new curious generation, I suspect many aspiring memoir writers will be delighted to oblige.

My memoir in progress actually does cover my foray into California Dreamin' and the war protest movement, and then living in a spiritual commune. We were young and crazy, during crazy times. It makes a good story.

Jerry

Red Bird · Sep 24, 2009

Jerry,

My kids call me a hippie, tree-hugger, and peace lover. I have tried to explain that I'm forty-six and really missed out on most of the fun, but they want to believe I am part of that generation.

I can't explain what I see as a return to some of the habits of the sixties, but it is happening. Young girls are wearing clothing adorned with peace signs, fringes, and beads. I have a daughter who is twenty-eight and she doesn't seem to be into the culture much. But my boyfriend's daughter is twelve and her friends are mocking the hippies.

I was surprised when, while working and listening to old rock, an eighteen year old male employee was singing along to "Bye, Bye, Ms. American Pie" with me. I don't know if that's the songs title or not, but he knew the lyrics to that song and many others we listened to throughout the night.

I guess it could be coincidence, but fashion and music trends are influencing our youth. Maybe it has something to do with what's going on politically? It seems as if my age group was a little put off by the lack of structure shown in the parenting styles of those who raised us and we did our best with the "play-date" routines. Maybe these kids are rebelling against structure?

Maybe others will weigh in on this topic. It's interesting.

Cheers,
Red Bird

Mumut · Sep 24, 2009

I've lost a bit of weight recently and can wear my flaired trousers again. My wife is horrified. She threw out my flaired jeans years ago when she got rid of my cravats. My kids didn't mind my appearance. It's not so different to what others are wearing now. And I hate buying new clothes when my old ones still look good.

sommemi · Sep 24, 2009

Mumut said:
I've lost a bit of weight recently and can wear my flaired trousers again. My wife is horrified. She threw out my flaired jeans years ago when she got rid of my cravats. My kids didn't mind my appearance. It's not so different to what others are wearing now. And I hate buying new clothes when my old ones still look good.

I'm sorry - I only laugh because I know exactly how you feel... I wear flared out jeans a lot and sometimes I end up buying something in the miss's section (I'm very very short) and get something super trendy and get really strange looks from my 14 year old. When the looks aren't good, I take them back to the store. :Shrug:

At least I know my 14 year old is honest about how I look, so it's good that I check with him before going out of the house in the morning. lol

sommemi · Sep 24, 2009

In regards to the 60's... I think you have to consider that there are 'kids' who are getting into high school now, or just going into college, and with current war issues going on and the whole circle of life kinda stuff that just naturally occurs (um, high tops are back?!?! wha?) I think that things like memoirs are going to be getting more popular from those eras simply because schools will be having students making comparisons to current trends and what happened during previous war times. Obviously, the 60's are going to be a more controversial subject and probably researched more by students who are actually interested in having a book in front of them... know what I mean?

But I think it will also be a huge matter of reading about something that happened 50 years ago! It's totally weird to think that the 60's were that long ago... Granted, I was born in 74, so I don't remember anything about the 60's. But even the 70's don't seem that long ago to me... until I realize how many years ago that was in 'decades'. Now I look back and wonder, what did I miss during that time? What was going on while I was 5 years old that I didn't realize was happening? It's strange. Sometimes you have no clue what's going on around you because your world existed within your backyard and the bike route between your house and the playground.

sommemi · Sep 24, 2009

Red Bird said:
I was surprised when, while working and listening to old rock, an eighteen year old male employee was singing along to "Bye, Bye, Ms. American Pie" with me.d

Dude. I almost had my hearing checked when my son asked me to help him download "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones. I mean, how does he even know that song exists? It was back in 66! But then again, I used to listen to the Beatles with my sister when I was little...

the addster · Sep 24, 2009

I'd say decades tend to come and go from fashion. When I was a kid in the 70's, the 50's were in fashion. There were sock hops, letter jackets started to be worn again, people actually bought high school class rings, and everybody knew the words to Fats Domino songs. I think it had a lot to do with movies (American Graffiti), TV (Happy Days), the death of Elvis, and bad economic times.

Nobody was really embracing the values of the 1950's. Us 70's kids would have been horrified by the real moral and social standards of the time. We were just imitating a time before we were born, without really understanding it. We listened to Elvis, we didn't duck and cover, we thought 55 Chevy's were the coolest cars ever, but didn't worry about the Ruskies winning the space race.

While the reason kids may be looking back to the 60's may be a reaction to too many play dates, too much early emphasis on achievement, and the by the book style of parenting that has been in vogue in the last few years, it's not the real 60's they yearn for. It's the fashion and the idealized picture of it that has been being made of the decade since forever.

Those kids will find their own way, they always do. You never know you are part of something until it's over.

sommemi · Sep 24, 2009

Holy cow - I just looked up "Paint it Black" on http://www.songmeanings.net/ and there were 171 comments about that song! Sheesh.

Totally irrelevant, but just interesting I thought.

sommemi · Sep 24, 2009

the addster said:
It's the fashion and the idealized picture of it that has been being made of the decade since forever.

Excatly - I think that's it in a nutshell. Kids learn about stuff through pictures and images, but maybe don't get into the real nitty gritty about the ideals and standards of that time. Then they take on the fashion sense and use it to create their own 'statement' that they THINK the fashion means.

~*Kate*~ · Sep 24, 2009

Mumut said:
I've lost a bit of weight recently and can wear my flaired trousers again. My wife is horrified. She threw out my flaired jeans years ago when she got rid of my cravats. My kids didn't mind my appearance. It's not so different to what others are wearing now. And I hate buying new clothes when my old ones still look good.

<-- is praying that skinny jeans die a violent horrible death and pants with a little flare come back. Seriously. Just a boot cut. For the love of all that is holy and NOT LEGGINGS.

/rant.

sommemi said:
Dude. I almost had my hearing checked when my son asked me to help him download "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones. I mean, how does he even know that song exists? It was back in 66! But then again, I used to listen to the Beatles with my sister when I was little...

I wrote a paper my senior year tying Crime and Punishment to the lyrics of "Sympathy for the Devil." Got an A, too. True story.

thornhill · Sep 24, 2009

Well, it is the 40th anniversary of a lot of stuff, like Woodstock, so that might help with the popularity. They never run special TV documentaries celebrating the 36th anniversary of events. It's all because we use base ten, people like round numbers, and 40 is a good one. In base sixteen it's the 28th anniversary of Woodstock. Who cares? Let me know when it's the F0 anniversary.

That's the one I'm waiting for.

Another selling point for the 60s - it was pretty much the first decade that was in color. I don't know how people walked around all day prior to the invention of color. Can you imagine heading off to work every morning back then? Gray skies - every damn day.

People are weird. Are the kids also nostalgic for race riots, Pol Pot, the Vietnam war, and gout? I'll admit - I was only alive for the last couple years of the 60s so I have to rely on TV for my information, and I'm not that nostalgic of a person anyway. Actually, I'm kinda nostalgic for the season finale of Big Brother a couple weeks ago.

Nevermind.

BenPanced · Sep 24, 2009

Are kids nostalgic for only being able to get five TV channels (NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, and a local indie)? Are kids nostalgic for TV networks having to tell you the show coming up was being broadcast in color?

Adelaide · Sep 30, 2009

At nineteen, I also am guilty of being swept up in the whole sixties nostalgia, prompted by the anniversary of Woodstock. And yes, I am silly and so are my peers. But I do I know life wasn't some dreamlike existence. I know life was exactly like it is now: some of it wonderful, some of it terrible. Some of it horribly dull.

blade · Oct 1, 2009

Check out the link.

http://www.sharpe-as-a-blade.piczo.com/closeInterstitial();?cr=6

sommemi · Oct 7, 2009

Adelaide said:
I know life was exactly like it is now: some of it wonderful, some of it terrible. Some of it horribly dull.

That's awesome. You put it wonderfully.

Yeah - I admit I love to fall back into a different era every now and then. Mostly in a romantic kind of way though, because the past is SUPPOSED to be romantic. You're supposed to forget the bad stuff, right? Or at least not dwell on it...

But books aren't about that. Fashion, yes. Books, no.

And Kate - no leggings. I agree.

popmuze · Oct 7, 2009

jerrywaxler said:
When I was around 40 I started to realize that the generation behind me had grown so sick of hearing about the sixties they begged everyone to stop talking about it. We stopped talking and now the new generation is curious. I love it.

I know a lot of people my age would love to capture those memories, but are so accustomed to people telling us we're self-involved and to "stop thinking about the sixties, they're over" we've become a bit jaded. If it's true that there is a new curious generation, I suspect many aspiring memoir writers will be delighted to oblige.

My memoir in progress actually does cover my foray into California Dreamin' and the war protest movement, and then living in a spiritual commune. We were young and crazy, during crazy times. It makes a good story.

Jerry

I, for one, certainly hope you're right.

popmuze · Oct 7, 2009

Red Bird said:
I can't explain what I see as a return to some of the habits of the sixties, but it is happening. Young girls are wearing clothing adorned with peace signs, fringes, and beads. I guess it could be coincidence, but fashion and music trends are influencing our youth. Maybe it has something to do with what's going on politically? It seems as if my age group was a little put off by the lack of structure shown in the parenting styles of those who raised us and we did our best with the "play-date" routines. Maybe these kids are rebelling against structure?

Maybe others will weigh in on this topic. It's interesting.

Cheers,
Red Bird

I, for one, have already weighed in on this topic.

popmuze · Oct 7, 2009

thornhill said:
Well, it is the 40th anniversary of a lot of stuff, like Woodstock, so that might help with the popularity.

Certainly, that was my way of thinking.

Bluegate · Oct 7, 2009

I think this is just another element of the Vulture Culture. Before this there was a grab at the 70s and the 50s. I think it says something about today's younger generation that they are scavenging the past for a sense of roots and belonging, perhaps even purpose and meaning. There is a lot less focus on a brave new future and lot more looking backward.

aruna · Feb 5, 2010

jerrywaxler said:
I know a lot of people my age would love to capture those memories, but are so accustomed to people telling us we're self-involved and to "stop thinking about the sixties, they're over" we've become a bit jaded. If it's true that there is a new curious generation, I suspect many aspiring memoir writers will be delighted to oblige.

Jerry

I would be so happy if this is true! See my new thread!
My daughter, aged 19, also thinks her generation is not nearly as interesting as mine. She wrote an essay on hippies for her college and she really got into it -- I of course was her primary source of research!
She says that in my time, people seemed to be reaching out beyond themselves, to have ideals and dreams and higher goals. Now all the seem to want to do is get drunk!

aruna · Feb 5, 2010

I'm wondering, though, if it's just kids? I'm thinking that my own generation (I was born in 1951) might like to read books about our own crazy youth, but seen from a more mature perspective.

Newport2Newport · Feb 6, 2010

aruna said:
I'm wondering, though, if it's just kids? I'm thinking that my own generation (I was born in 191) might like to read books about our own crazy youth, but seen from a more mature perspective.

I do think people are feeling nostalgic about the past, whatever time frame that represents. Don't know that we can draw any broad-strokes conclusions about how it might relate to memoir, but if the Grammys are any indication, even pop musicians are kickin' it old school. Frx: Lady Gaga sang with Elton John; Taylor Swift did a number with Stevie Nicks.

DWSTXS · Feb 6, 2010

heck, I went and wrote a novel about the 60's and 70's, (Blue-Eyed Son, on Amazon.com ) because it was fun, when I grew up back then.

I see all these kids nowadays wearing peace signs, and just nod at them. Of course, they think I'm an idiot, an OLD idiot. LOL

tying Crime and Punishment to the lyrics of "Sympathy for the Devil?

Then I guess you probably already know all about Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon and The Wizard of Oz. . . right?

aruna · Feb 6, 2010

Newport2Newport said:
I do think people are feeling nostalgic about the past, whatever time frame that represents. Don't know that we can draw any broad-strokes conclusions about how it might relate to memoir, but if the Grammys are any indication, even pop musicians are kickin' it old school. Frx: Lady Gaga sang with Elton John; Taylor Swift did a number with Stevie Nicks.

Oh dear, did I say I was born in 191? That makes me older than Methuselah! Let me correct that here to 1951!

jerrywaxler · Feb 7, 2010

Boomers rule again!

Well, for a development that I just found out about, it seems like evidence is popping up all over. In addition to speculating about the reasons for it, (I speculate about everything, why not this?) I also see some important implications for giving us oldtimers a little sense of dignity. It's fun having young people curious about our lives.

This is wonderful news because until recently, the only thing I knew about the sixties was that no one wanted to hear about it.

So here are a couple more speculations about what's going on. First, for anyone who was between 15 and 25 during the late sixties and early seventies, the times were so intense many of us were psychologically traumatized. The music, the drugs, the morality of sexuality changing at a dizzying speed, the divisiveness between adults and kids, the anti-war movement and the anger against the anti-war movement, and the descent into hippie/ant-productivity mentality were traumatizing as hell for me and I think many people. After any trauma, people need to talk about what they experienced, and also as in any trauma, the listeners become saturated and want us to shut up and stop talking.

I think that happened in the late 70's through the 80's, when people were practically ordering us to stop talking. Anyway, we had to get on with our lives and so, as happens so frequently after trauma, the time was forgotten.

Now what do teens love more than anything in the universe? Well, when I was a teen I LOVED discovering secrets about the past that my parents didn't know anything about. Jack Kerouac's "on the road" and Henry Miller's Nexus trilogy were these stunning revelations about a time when people really knew how to LIVE. I could sit by myself, away from adults and make these secret discoveries.

That's what is going to happen now. Instead of hearing their parents yammering at them about the sixties, these are the grandkids, and when they read a good story about the sixties, it's going to be their private discovery.

That's my prediction and I'm sticking with it. Now I have to hurry up and finish my story.

Jerry

Sixties nostalgia actually back in vogue (?!)

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