In 1969, the idea
of Woodstock came from two business men, and a festival organizer with the idea
to plan a three day festival with the best Rock n Roll n bands of the
time.(Woodstock, bibliography.) The purpose of the festival was to collect
enough money to open a record studio. By the beginning of the festival,
organizers had sold 180,000 tickets and expected no more than 200,000 people.
As the festival was promoted by the media, more than 400,000 people arrived at
the festival gates creating chaos. Organizers afraid of not controlling the
crowd had no option to make the festival free of charge.
Woodstock is best
known for its support for social justice and opposition to the Vietnam
War. The festival was a place to
overcome obstacles, freedom, expression, peace and love. Illegal drugs took a
big role in the festival. For example, many musicians used them for inspiration
and expressing opposition. Although the hippie era ended, the Woodstock spirit
has not disappeared. New festivals as the Coachella music and arts festival
keeps the Woodstock spirit with new Rock n Roll bands, technology, widespread
of illegal drugs and political opposition.
As today, the Woodstock spirit still continues and would keep spreading
in new generations.
By Sunday of
August 17, 1969, Woodstock had reached his maximal capacity and young hippies
full of life and ready to express their emotions through music. On the other
hand, people outside the festival didn’t agree with it. They saw hippies as
bunch of criminals. Max Yasgur who provided his land for the festival saw
Woodstock in a different way. As Yasgur was invited to stage, he stated, “I
didn’t know how to speak to 20 people, much less all of you… you are the
largest group of people ever assembled in one place at one time….we had no idea
there would be this many…and you have proven something to the world… that half
a million kids can get together for fun and music and have nothing but fun and
music.” I believe Max Yasgur illustrate the true nature of the festival. He gives a new prospective from someone who
was not part of the hippie culture. Yasgur saw only happiness and was able to
understand what the festival was all about.
The article
“Woodstock” describes how the festival became important in the hippie culture.
Author Jan Hodenfield states hippies saw the festival as an opportunity of
expression, and opposition against what society fails to understand. By the end
of the festival, Woodstock was seen as big success for the hippie culture.
Hodenfield believes hippies came to the festival looking for a lifestyle that
nobody seems to understand. Hodenfield said, “They came, it seems, to enjoy
their own society to exult in a life style that is its own declaration of
independence.” I believe Woodstock was a festival for hippie expression, and
lifestyle that nobody seemed to comprehend. Hippies were not seen as good
citizens; therefore, they didn’t have a place for expression. Woodstock was a
big opportunity to gather in one place with other people who shared the same
thoughts. The festival was not only for their music, but for their freedom.
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