After applying to five colleges and writing a number of essays to increase my chance of getting in, I decided to share one of my essays with my viewers. This one in particular was sent to St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the question read ‘We have all heard older generations talk about the “good ol’ days.” If you could bring back a lost tradition, technology, culture, or a simple characteristic from people of the past, what would it be and why? How do you think this would affect society today? Why do you think that aspect of society was lost in the first place?’.
The Village Voice-Woodstock 1969
Living in the times we do today, it is not easy to try to imagine how life was during the ‘good ole days’. During the 1960’s, society was a lot less complicated and less negative. Today we have many influences of violence and negativity especially in the media. But what we also have now is the passion for music and what a role it plays in some people’s lives. The 60’s introduced many new movements of which I would bring back.
A major movement during the 1960’s was the quality of music. The difference in music then and now is that it used to have a feeling of relaxation and a smooth kind of structure. Music today, at least hip-hop, discusses all of the poor aspects in which the artists preach: degrading women, the dramatic use of drugs and fame. This music sends the wrong message to its listeners by saying everything they rap or sing is okay to do, including drugs and violence. Music and art became very interesting in the sixty’s because it was a creative way for an individual to express themselves. This expression has changed very much so because there are so few positives influences on society. Artists of the counterculture movement spoke the truth and actual stories that people could relate to. This is where music has changed because lyrics have turned into nonsense phrases that do not serve a purpose.
The multiple uprisings of the sixty’s would also be known as the Counterculture movement. I would not want to restore all features of this movement because some were in fact controversial, but bringing back the taste and respect for music would definitely be beneficial to society. During this period, the popular British band emerged, The Beatles, along with the concurrent rise of the hippie culture. Many people were attempting to make sense of the American Dream at this time as well as demanding change for their country. The respect and passion for music has changed over time because artists became lazy and careless about the lyrics they produced. I think this part of society was lost in the first place because listeners interpreted songs the wrong way. They perceived it how they should behave and speak toward one another. With the negative influence came the lack of respect toward the listeners’ peers and adults. Today, a lot of society has changed to where motivation is missing, respect is no longer found and people do not appreciate the little things in life. As a whole, society has changed and I believe music could be a slight contribution to that change.
As a teenager I couldn’t imagine living in the 1960’s but I can say that I am a little envious. Music consisted of quality while people held respect, self dignity and had morals. The ‘good ol’ days’ are hard to compare with modern day but if I were to bring back anything from that time period, it would be the music and its artists’ lyrical value. The current generation(s) has lost many wonderful aspects of the simple life and has continued to make it a challenge.
thanks for share!