Watching and listening to some of the television programs last week made me realize that we should revisit some of our earlier discussions about topics like popular music/dance and also take a closer look at how important social issues like feminism, the cold War, and civil rights were projected onto national television audiences via the boob tube.
Lots of ideological movements as well as Not so Good Bad and Ugly events made the 1960s an “interesting time in which to live” (to crudely and falsely paraphrase Confucius: see attached). Two of the most prominent contenders were Feminism vs Sexism (Male Chauvinism?), and Segregationism vs Integrationism (the two heads of Racism?); not to mention the Beats vs the Hippies (even Yippies?) In tonight’s class I’d like to present few video examples of some of these skirmishes and see if we can have a discussion,. conversation, or even a debate about the merits and demerits of more and less obnoxiously opposing views. Up to now we’ve been watching, sometimes listening, and reading, so it’s time to find out what we all think about The Sixties.
Also, here is an interesting comparison between Sol Yurick’s (1965) and Walter Hills’s (1979) The Warriors.
I will add more recommended readings, but as for required ones:
Gitlin, Todd. Preface, Introduction, Chapter 1. in The Sixties: Years of Hope Days of Rage. (1987).
Connery, Robert H., and Demetrios Caraley. “Is the Large City Becoming Ungovernable?” in Governing the City; Challenges and Options for New York. (1969).
Remember readings are to be read not studied.
