The document summarizes the counterculture movement of the 1960s, its origins as a reaction to 1950s conservatism, and its evolution over the decade. Key events included the emergence of the New Left focusing on civil rights and opposing the Vietnam War, widespread student and labor protests in the US and Europe, and the rise of feminism and environmentalism. LSD played a large role in art and music but its popularity declined after the deaths of prominent figures. In 1968, protests escalated with Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy's assassinations and riots at the Democratic National Convention. The May 1968 student strike in France had wide impacts and signified the peak of the global protest movement. New media like independent newspapers and the

1. Counterculture, Computing and Participation in the Sixties

2. Origins of Counterculture The countercultures of the sixties arose as a reaction to the conservative standards of the 1950’s. A generation which grew up with the looming fear of nuclear war, along with the realities of the Cold War and a global repression, became united through this shared experience. Beat generation of New York and San Francisco -Jack Kerouac, Alan Ginsberg, Neal Cassidy, William S. Burroughs John F. Kennedy died in 1963

3. The Old LeftBegan in the 1930’sLeninists, Trotskyites, and StalinistsCommunism gained popularity in the US due to the class imbalances that emerged from the DepressionFirst major student protests in universitiesFocused on labor issues & social class/bridging the divide between classes.

4. Emergence of the NEW LEFTEmerged in ‘60s and ‘70s in U.S. and Britain.Came to refer to hippies, college protestors.Inspired by the Black Panther movementSDS (Students for Democratic Society) New Left changed from Old Left’s focus on labor issues-shifted towards civil rights, questioning authority, opposing the Vietnam War.“Anti-Establishment”, Don’t Trust Anyone Over 30Sought the support of young intellectuals instead of “proletariat” (industrial workers)

5. U.S. Activists: A time of social changeCivil RightsLabor RightsAnti War / Peace MovementFeminismEnvironmentalismFree SpeechStudents for a Democratic Society

6. LSD & the CountercultureAcid played a key role in 1960’s counterculture.Influenced art & music of the time-described as ‘psychedelic’.Timothy Leary was the most famous advocate of LSDBegan LSD research experiments at HarvardJoined with hippies to promote LSD“Turn on, tune in, drop out” was the slogan promoting LSD created by Timothy LearyLSD was made illegal in 1966.

7. 1968A breaking point was reached.

8. Martin Luther King’s assassination triggered violent protests in 115 U.S. cities.

9. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in the middle of his presidential campaign.

10. 1968 Democratic Nat’l Convention in Chicago turned into riots when students protested the war; the Nat’l Guard was called in.Protests worldwide led by students & workers.Campuses became battlegrounds.

11. France, May of ‘68Technocracy: Government by technicians; workers controlling their own work.Paris, May 1968 students organized a 2 week labor strike.Goals: abolish class system within the workplace, give control to workers, eliminate management, bring about more technocratic society through direct management and direct profit.This strike marked the largest collapse of an economy in post-industrialized world.

12. May 1968 GraffitiWe want structures that serve people, not people serving structuresCommute, work, commute, sleep . . .The liberation of humanity is all or nothing.No replastering, the structure is rotten.Run, comrade, the old world is behind you!Referendum: whether we vote yes or no, it turns us into suckers.Let’s not change bosses, let’s change lifeAbolish class societyStalinists, your children are with us!Alcohol kills. Take LSD

13. Media as a Revolutionary ToolPower of pamphlets in spreading of informationIndependent Newspapers, JournalsTelevision

14. Whole Earth Catalog

15. Disenchantment with the Hippy MovementThe counterculture lost its fascination with drugs after the deaths of many hippy icons.Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison all died of drug overdoses in 1970-1971.Events of the Altamont Free Concert. 1969Manson Murders took pace in 1969