1960s(America) Design/pop art

FLOWER POWER

When people think of America in the 1960s, they often have a romanticized idea of a decade of great music, liberal idealism, and Flower Power. It was the time when the post war baby boomers were in their adolescence, embracing counter culture ideals, expanding their minds through all kinds of drugs, and truly, living life to the fullest. The Flower Power movement reached its climax at the Woodstock Festival held in upstate New York in 1969 when an estimated 500,000 people lived in peace and harmony for three unforgettable days.

The artists developed on the styles of the fifties but there was a more contemporary feel to their work. Pop art, minimalism, abstract art, assemblage art, and environmental art gained popularity during this period. The art displays the positive attitude of the artists, reflecting the affluence and technology of the period. A lot of futuristic design was introduced in architecture. With the modernist trend, tall buildings dotted the skyline and designs tended towards streamlined contemporary.

Civil rights was one of the major issues being championed in the sixties. The feminist movement gathered momentum, fighting for equal rights. An eco drive was started to reduce pollution and preserve nature. The Peace Corps were formed to improve living standards in third world countries, promoting peace and anti-war messages to all countries. Social movements were on an increase during the sixties. There was constant competition between the Russians and the Americans with regard to outer space research throughout the decade. Automobiles made the transition to a cleaner and simpler style. The computer was also invented in the sixties.

Music

The start of the sixties saw the return of Elvis Presley along with a few other popular singers. The Motown record company was set up, promoting blues and rhythm. The Beatles from England also become very popular in the United States. It was really the golden age of rock music as artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, the Who, the Beach Boys, and many others produced music which defined the era. There was a change towards psychedelic rock in the mid sixties largely due to the influence of drugs. Pop, Reggae, blues and soul were a hit with the youngsters. The mood synthesizer was developed, creating a change in the music scene with a lot of experimentation.

The sixties was also the era for a lot of musicals..Some were made into films such as My fair Lady,The Sound of Music.Radio was the main source of music.

POP ART

Pop Art was a major art movement in the mid 50s in Britain then led on to the united states in the late 50s..
the concept refers not really to the art but to the attitude towards it..
It had aspects of mass culture such as advertising and in comic books it was very popular.



This is one of the earliest works to be known as "pop art" in 1956 by Richard Hamilton.