Essay on The Evolution of the 1960's and 1980's: Jimi Hendrix

The 1960’s were arguably the most influential years in American music’s history. The music helped connect people of all races, whom enjoyed visiting jazz-clubs in the early to mid-60s, to listen to the music and poetry performed by African-Americans. Much of the music from the 1960s also led to the creation and popularization of new genres and subgenres, such as rock-and-roll. These new music styles influenced the lifestyles of a large majority of Americans, particularly teenagers and young-adults, who mimicked the lifestyles of many stars of the time.

Did you know that Jimi Hendrix was 15 when he picked up a guitar and by the time he was 18 he was already one of the best in the music business? First off, Jimi Hendrix was the most passionate musician of the 1960’s generation. Additionally, Jimi Hendrix top ten songs made it into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame, later on in his career. Thus, Hendrix had become a musician that symbolized the year of the 1960’s. Finally, he had the most emotional connection to his written music that one of his most important ones was inspired by a dream and was based off what he believed, was what saved him out of the Purple Haze was his faith in god. In conclusion, Jimi Hendrix is was the most passionate songwriter of the 1960’s generation.

MTV was a budding show that had just came out (Dworjan). Unlike what MTV is now, it featured uprising singers and comedians that appealed to a teenage audience. One famous singer that was featured on MTV quite often was Madonna (Leaper). Madonna then became the fashion icon as she is still known as today. Her hair scrunchies and leatherware hit the shelves in clothing stores everywhere. It seemed to be that the more hits Madonna made, the more people wanted to borrow her style (Leaper). In this period Michael Jackson hit his highest peak. Everyone was apart of the MJ craze. Of course MTV featured one of the most popular videos of all time “Thriller”. Thriller’s signature red and black leather jacket was one of the biggest copy-cat fashion fads of the time (Leaper). Every middle

Jimi Hendrix is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer who is widely considered to be the most important electric guitarist in the history of music. Although Hendrix is known for his outstanding ability to play the guitar, he is also a very famous name in Blues music. He played the acoustic guitar but is known for his outstanding ability to play the electric guitar. With songs such as Red House, Here My Train A Comin', and Born Under a Bad Sign, Hendrix is considered to be in the Chicago category and quickly made his way into the history of Blues music.

People may say that the true years of fashion began in the late nineteen forties and went on through the early nineteen sixties. If you look at fashion today, its almost repeated the look from sixty years ago. In each generation fashion trends become based on history and/or important events. in the nineteen forties fashion was being modeled by the military wear. World War II caused a drastic change in the way clothes were being made and worn. In the nineteen fifties Americans admired the fashion of movie stars and music artists. Media had a strong influence on the wordly trend. The people of the sixties expressed there personalities and emotions through

This essay will explore the effects social and political changes had on fashion in the 1980’s. This period was chosen because the new romantic fashions were so different to the punk fashions that had been before, this essay will therefore identify the changes that had taken place to influence this change. Primary evidence used to support findings will include interviews and photographs which will show a firsthand account of the period.

In Australia, the fashion of the 1960s emulated the political and cultural changes at the time. This fashion revolution was youth driven and showed their rejection of social standards. For women, the mini skirt came into trend, introduced by fashion icon Twiggy (Leslie Hornby). This above-the-knee skirt came into fashion in a revolt against people telling women how to express themselves and their bodies that came with the womens rights movement and the introduction of the pill. Men wore tunics, capes and more feminine clothing as pants became tighter and they dawned silk scarfs. This shift from masculine clothing to dabbling in the side of feminine, was because of the changing idea of gender and sexuality. Men also tried to recreate the look of the Beatles; in sharp and clean suits due the bands popularity at the time. Nearing the end of the 1960s, hippie fashion came into style. This era of fashion was dominated by bright, swirling colours, tie-dye, paisley prints, loose fitting clothing, flowers, peace signs, etc. This change in fashion was in response to the Vietnam war. People wore their clothes as a political statement, showing their embracement towards love and freedom.

Popular music is often one of the best lenses we have through which to view our own cultural orientation. Many of the artistic and experimental shifts in popular music have mirrored changes in our own society. For instance, the emergence of Elvis Presley as a public figure would signal the start of a sexual revolution and the growth in visibility of a rebellious youth culture. Similarly, the folk and psychedelic music of the 1960s was closely entangled with the Civil Rights, anti-war and social protest movements. In this regard, we can view popular music as an artifact through which to better understand the time and place in which it is produced. In light of this, the state of popular music today may suggest troubling things about our society.

Rock ‘n’ roll has played a major role in some known historical developments post World War 2. Music plays a significant part in America 's Cold War culture. Music gave us a sense of new technologies and helped the world to prosper. It also is linked with African Americans living in the South. Music was known for shaping the lives of the people during the 1950s and 1960s. Music was geared towards the youth, race, ethnicity, gender and class. “All Shook Up: How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America” by Altschuler, Glenn C, tells us the story of the birth of rock and roll during the concrete years of 1955 to 1965. Altschuler gives us a overview of how rock ‘n’ roll has an historical context. “ For two years the Times printed dozens of

Women in the early 1960's wore bouffant hairstyles, and like the 1920's, knee length dresses. However, later in the decade, mini skirts, or hot pants, with go-go boots became popular. These skirts revealed their legs as bodywear revealed their curves. Women's hairstyles even changed. Women either wore their hair very short or long and lanky. Also, peasant skirts, or granny dresses, and chunky shoes somehow came into fashion during this period of time too. By the end of the decade, unisex dressing was very popular especially with the hippies. Both sexes wore bell-bottom jeans, love beads, and embellished T-shirts. This was also the era of the Afro, which both sexes of African Americans wore.

One of the most influential figures in modern music to this day, Jimi Hendrix, was a complex and unusual man for his time. Being most well-known for his eccentric performances and style, both in fashion and in music, Jimi stood out in the western world 's very uniform Rock’n’Roll scene. Playing with his teeth, burning his guitar, rising to fame in a matter of weeks all contributed to his remarkable life. Jimi Hendrix’s life and rise to fame were exceptionally unordinary and extraordinarily influential. Filled with curiosities from the day he was born to his tragic drug-related death, Jimi was unusual. Accordingly, these curiosities are what makes Jimi Hendrix such a notable figure in history.

The emergence of Rock and Roll was one of the most pivotal moments of our nation’s history. The impact that this genre of music made is still evident in our culture. However, before this genre was able to gain momentum, it faced many cultural conflicts. The book, All Shook Up: How Rock ‘N’ Roll Changed America by Glenn C. Altschuler analyzes the impact that rock and roll music has made on American culture. It explores how the Rock and Roll culture was able to roughly integrate and later conflict with preceding cultural values. This is especially apparent in chapters regarding race and sexuality. Overall, Rock and Roll was extremely controversial amongst parents and educators. This new music genre was condemned by the previous generation as

Clothing for women was modest and aimed towards “covering-up”. Men dressed very formally, even on casual occasions and wore suits and dressed “Ivy League” style. In 2017, fashion is extremely influential and a big part of society, in fact many celebrities influence people with their fashion choices and even collaborate with famous brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Versace. Social norms do not apply on clothing anymore, any individual can wear whatever piece of clothing they desire whether it is considered “feminine” or “masculine”. Fashion in 2017 is exceptionally dissimilar from fashion in the 1950s, for example, currently high-waisted, cropped, tight clothing is the new fashion and extremely popular.

Throughout history, music have defined or depicted the culture and social events in America. Music has constantly played an important role in constituting American culture, where people have expressed themselves through music during flourishing and turbulent times. In the 1930’s, Swing music created a platform for audiences to vent their emotions in the midst of Great Depression and political unrest. Such strong relationship between music and culture can be seen throughout history, especially in the sixties.

Music: An Inspiration Music is a huge part of modern day American society. Many children and young adults listen to music on a daily basis. Bono’s famous quote, “Music can change the world because it can change people,” explains music influences people and the choices they make (“Bono Quotes”). Young people, especially women, relate to a positive female vibe now that artists are more aware of hurtful terms towards women in music. Similar changes have also happened for the LGBTQ community.