The 40th Anniversary of Woodstock

Astronomer · 08-18-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

When you're talking about the 60's, we sorta are. I'm not going to get into a culture war here, but I wouldn't look at the U.S. like you look at Euro countries because we don't operate in the same way. There is nothing that makes a person distinctly "american" and so despite our arrogance, its hard to lay claim to what makes up "better" than anyone else.

You should view U.S. culture as your culture to.

I don't get it, why should be view the U.S. culture as our culture, too? I see US culture as completely separate to the culture of my country.

Of course when it comes to Woodstock, it's the US that is the centre of all that. I wasn't referring to Woodstock or the hippie movement specifically but more broadly about the operation of the world on a larger scale in the '60s.

I can see how America was significant to other countries in the 1960s, but it was still not the only place in the world where significant things were happening - I guess that's what I was trying to say. Australia in the 1960s had a shitload of its own stuff going on - especially a huge movement of protests/ strikes trying to claim Aboriginal land back and hippie movements focusing on living peacefully with both Aborigines and other Australians.

I was responding to a statement about what it would be like to live in the 1960s, and just wanted to point out that the US wasn't the only place in the world and existed and lived through radical change during that time.

I guess I'm also just sick of the US being portrayed as the center of everything and a lot of people thinking the America is the center of the world and everything revolves around them. Not you personally, just a general frustration.

Astronomer · 08-18-2009, 06:17 PM

Oh and I just want to be really fucking anal and say to everybody that 1960s or any other date for that matter doesn't have an apostrophe before the 's'. Haha.... sorry

TheBig3 · 08-18-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I guess I'm also just sick of the US being portrayed as the center of everything and a lot of people thinking the America is the center of the world and everything revolves around them. Not you personally, just a general frustration.

This is stereotypical though. I don't know many people who think the U.S. is the center of the world.

I say you should think of it as your culture to because all cultures have influence on American culture. Its hard to imagine some nation that doesn't have a foothold here somewhere.

mr dave · 08-18-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I was responding to a statement about what it would be like to live in the 1960s, and just wanted to point out that the US wasn't the only place in the world and existed and lived through radical change during that time.

I guess I'm also just sick of the US being portrayed as the center of everything and a lot of people thinking the America is the center of the world and everything revolves around them. Not you personally, just a general frustration.

that's fair, but at the same time i have to wonder how many of the other protests and social movements from the 60s would have happened during that decade had it not been for the influence of the states and how they in turn handled their own issues.

how many protests would have really gone ahead had the attempt of the african american civil rights movement of the late 50s and early 60s failed? had the government chosen to react with force or simply ignored the demands of the people would it have really encouraged other idealists from across the globe to pick up a sign in protest? the 2nd wave of feminism?

it's hard to say really, it might have encouraged them even more, although in a time where questioning the hand that feeds was still very frowned upon and tv news were the 'be all end all' source of information for the newest news for most people, i think it would have been pretty simple to spin things in a way to keep the populace placated. it's not to say social reform would never have happened, i just don't think the 60s would have been as busy from that perspective.

instead precedents were set, new attitudes were embraced, and 'traditional values' had their validity questioned in regards to the modern world. and like it or not, that came from the states and it spread outward to any other democratic english speaking country out there for the most part.

while i abhor the mythologizing of woodstock and the hippie movement there's really no denying the social and cultural influence the states had on the world during that time. no matter how closely any other nation followed along they still weren't leading the pack.

Astronomer · 08-18-2009, 06:58 PM

Yeah of course the states had a major, major influence on the movement, and I do realise I am probably being quite stereotypical! I was just pointing out that there were other things happening around the world also

I don't deny the major influence and significance that the US held during the 1960s and the various activist movements etc.

boo boo · 08-18-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

...and where were they trying to invade? what was the target? where was the center of that matter again?...

Case in point it was a movement that didn't start in America. The british psychedelic and canterbury scenes shouldn't be ignored either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

From where I'm sat, you're the condescending ass here. Dave made a reasonable post and wasn't at all offensive. The first WORD of your post on the other hand was 'Hell' followed swiftly by a little pretentious rant about how woodstock was clearly the most awesme thing ever liek omg.

Not to mention, Dave is right. For everything it did, the hippie movement was total bull**** in the way it portrayed its ideas. It was realyl nothing more than a big excuse for people to feel superior to 'the man' and toke it up. Even the Beatles realised that sooner rather than later, and they were off their faces on drugs more than most. the vast majority of hippies who could even be bothered to HOLD ideals, did so in a half assed way and basically just whined about it without ever doing anything.

Hippiecrosy indeed.

And this is based on absolutelty nothing but stupid generalization. Tell me, how was the hippie movement any different from modern youth and musical movements? Other than you know, actually making a difference and the music not being total f*ckballs.

And how does saying "Hell no" warrant a personal insult? I expressed my opinion of disagreement, I didn't insult him at all, I disagree with someone and for that I'm an idiot who wiki's all his opinions?

Yeah, sure.

boo boo · 08-18-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Its hard to imagine why anyone would care about music that old and at this point, stale.

Says the Tom Waits fan.

And as usual you make little to no sense, I'm defending Woodstock here and you're telling me I'm anti-american culture? That's gold.

TheBig3 · 08-18-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

Says the Tom Waits fan.

And as usual you make little to no sense, I'm defending Woodstock here and you're telling me I'm anti-american culture? That's gold.

Do you ever engage in a civil argument? This isn't even logical. Whats stale and old about Tom Waits? He released 7 albums in this decade.

And tell me how I called you unamerican?

boo boo · 08-18-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Do you ever engage in a civil argument? This isn't even logical. Whats stale and old about Tom Waits? He released 7 albums in this decade.

And tell me how I called you unamerican?

Michael McDonald still puts albums out dude, let's be fair.

I'd like to know what's so old and stale about Hendrix, The Who or any other band for that matter. I would think you'd be able to appreciate the 60s since The White Stripes have based their whole career off of imitating it.

Or for that matter, you seem to be more into roots revivalism than anything else, I'm not saying Tom Waits or Elvis Costello aren't great musicians, but they were always about reviving that kinda music that a lot of people might consider "old and stale", and they're not doing anything terribly new nowadays, let's be honest.

Anyway when you said "You should view U.S. culture as your culture to." I thought it was directed at me, sorry about that.

TheBig3 · 08-18-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

Michael McDonald still puts albums out dude, let's be fair.

I'd like to know what's so old and stale about Hendrix, The Who or any other band for that matter. I would think you'd be able to appreciate the 60s since The White Stripes have based their whole career off of imitating it.

Or for that matter, you seem to be more into roots revivalism than anything else, I'm not saying Tom Waits or Elvis Costello aren't great musicians, but they're not doing anything terribly new nowadays, let's be honest.

Yet's lets be fair and honest.

Well I don't know about you, but I've had the who and their classic rock cohorts smashed over my head for far too long at this point. The Who have been playing the same songs for 40 years now. At least Hendrix has an excuse.

And Costello released an album this summer - what is "new" to you? Yesterday?

Also, where did I call you "unamerican."

08-18-2009, 06:17 PM	#32 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	Oh and I just want to be really fucking anal and say to everybody that 1960s or any other date for that matter doesn't have an apostrophe before the 's'. Haha.... sorry __________________

08-18-2009, 06:58 PM	#35 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	Yeah of course the states had a major, major influence on the movement, and I do realise I am probably being quite stereotypical! I was just pointing out that there were other things happening around the world also I don't deny the major influence and significance that the US held during the 1960s and the various activist movements etc. __________________