FREE ESSAY ON COMPARE AND CONTRAST

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Bridging the Generation Gap Between Teens in the '60s and Teens in the '90s
Throughout history many generations have been named after something that describes them
in every way. The decade from 1960 to 1970 is definitely one of those eras and it became
known as the Counter Culture Era (The Hippie Generation). It was known as the Counter
Culture Era because the young people involved in it rejected the old-fashioned American
values and lifestyles. The youth was no longer satisfied with being replicas of the
generation that preceded them. Instead, young people longed for change. The changes
affected lifestyles, values, laws, education, and entertainment. The dream of love,
peace, happiness, and freedom was what many young Americans longed for. Although a few of
the Counter Culture's ideas still live on today, the '90s teen generation has adopted
what the hippies started and evolved their ideas to match their needs. Though the
generations represent two totally different aspects of American culture and history,
their revolutions with sex, clothes, and music will serve as foundations for future
generations to come.
As the years go by between generation and generation, one facet has remained a
controversial topic, sex. The invention of the birth control pill allowed women in the
'60s to feel a sense of sexual freedom and allowed them the opportunity to be with anyone
they pleased. With this new found freedom, women and men were able to enjoy each others
company and not have to worry about the risks of child birth as well as the spread of
diseases. This helped the '60s to become known as the sexual revolution. In those times
it was the thing to do, and with the newly added birth control pill, there was hardly any
worry of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and babies. Whether it's on TV
shows, movies, or even music videos, sex has become commercialized in the '90s
generation. Unlike the hippie generation, who only had access to the birth control pill,
the '90s generation has access to tons of contraceptives for the prevention of childbirth
and the spread of diseases. I feel that in regards to sex and sexual freedom, the '90s
generation is just like the Hippies. In fact, the '90s generation has the Hippies to
thank for paving the road for them to where it is now. Because without the ideas of the
'60s, sex would not be on TV everyday, sex would not be in movies, and sex would
definitely not be discussed as openly as it can be now.
To some Hippies, music was the most important aspect of their life. Hippies were
notorious for there out of the ordinary music. Many Hippies were actually musicians
themselves. Hippies used music as a way to get their thoughts and ideas out. One of the
most influential musicians of the time was Bob Dylan. The lyrics of the song Like Rolling
Stone express the thoughts of many Hippies. "Once upon a time you dressed so fine, threw
the bums a dime, in your prime, didn't you? You used to talk about everybody that was
hanging out. But now you don't talk so loud, and now you don't look so proud 
about having to be scrounging for your next meal...How does it feel, to be without a
home, a complete unknown? With no direction home, just like a Rolling Stone..." Dylan's
lyrics expressed his personal thoughts to what was happening to him and what was
happening around him. His simple but meaningful lyrics are what made him so popular and
successful. Many Hippies considered Dylan as a spokesman for their beliefs. Two of the
most significant singers of the sixties were Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, whom one of
the New York Times critics labeled "the king and queen of gloriously self-expressive
music". Just as the Hippies had their musical icons, the '90s generation has musical
icons such as: Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A, Tupac, and The Notorious B.I.G. The only difference
between these groups and the ones of the '60s is the type of music. The '60s was all
about rock and roll, whereas the '90s is about hip-hop and rap. The two controversial
types of music define the generations and represent them for what they stood for. 
The way Hippies dressed was a distinctive characteristic of how they rejected traditional
lifestyles. For the Hippie look, young Americans wore patched and torn blue jeans, funky
dresses, beaded headbands, fringed jackets, ragged T-shirts, shirts made of scrap
material, and mod boots or sandals. Some just went barefoot. The basis of the hippie
wardrobe was faded and dusty bell-bottom jeans. Unlike the Hippies, the '90s generation
enjoys fashion and does not wear clothing to go against traditional lifestyles. The teens
in the '90s wear clothes that they think look good and feel comfortable. They really do
care about how they look. Although the '90s teens will wear anything from Gap to Kenneth
Cole, the tradition rejecting hippie style has started to make a come back among the
youth. This goes to show that no matter how old or ugly the style, it will eventually
resurface and become popular amongst the youth.
During the 1960's a radical crowd called the hippies stunned America with their unusual
lifestyle and radical beliefs. They were young people who enjoyed life and lived it to
its fullest. They used illegal drugs and listened to rock and roll music. With their
different beliefs and practices they bewildered America's traditional middle class.
Concerned primarily in protesting the Vietnam War and civil rights they made a huge
impact on America and the world. Even today the effects of the Hippie movement are still
felt. They made huge advantages and set examples for the youth of today for years to
come.