An alternative concept

After several meetings with my tutors and pestering friends and family about my idea and how I can make it better, I sat one day and realised that I didn't need to do all of that at all. I kind of got lucky because I'm making a film and as far as I know, films are personal business. As long as I have a good justification of why and how I'm going to make the film, it really doesn't matter what the audience thinks. But that doesnt mean I just make a film without any concept or research. That would be taking the audience for granted, something that a film maker or just any creative person should never do!!

And since it is a personal thing, I thought why not make it on a subject that's been in my head for I don't know how long. It is still sort of based on my initial idea of dreams and how it is a vehicle of the sub conscience- but this time - It's MY sub conscience. I have always had a recurring dream about having a past life (pre existing) in another era. And the era (from what I see...) is the 1960's.

Now the 1960's for some reason is always associated with hippies and drugs and various escapist theories. Although this was a major part of the 60's, I always wondered what it was that these people escaped from? What was so radically different in the 60's as compared to the previous decades that made it such a vibrant, almost decadent era to be in.

There are good things and there are bad - I here have a list of things that I believe may have changed the course of the world that we live in forever. And the poor hippies, they had no clue what was hitting them when they were in the throws of blissful ignorance!

The list (in no particular order) is as follows:
- The Art
- The Music
- The Movement
- The Change (Science and Technology, Medicine and politics)

In terms of art, the Sixties was a revolutionary period of 'double consciousness' - both cultural and counter-cultural. The Beat Generation which cropped up in the 1950's paved the way for a general reaction system in the sixties. Poets like Allen Ginsberg, William Burrough and Jack Kerouac are among the best known examples of Beat literates. Central elements of Beat culture included experimentation with drugs and alternative forms of sexuality, an interest in Easter religion, a rejection to materialism and the idealizing of exuberant,unexpurgated means of expression and being. In turn, these Beat poets developed a reputation as new Bohemian hedonists, who celebrated non-conformity and spontaneous creativity.

                                                                           Beat Poets

The music in the Sixties was mostly the voice of many scattered individuals who'd been through a tumultuous 50's or jut woken up one day to find themselves bang in the centre of a changing world. Artists like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead arose from the sunny state of California or from far off England in order to raise a common concern - that the world as of that decade, was changing for the better. And although this wasn't easy, they were not going to give up. Movements like the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement etc caused massive unrest and prejudices amongst people. These musicians therefore had a common purpose to unify these massive and drive them towards peacy and harmony.

                                                                         The Doors

As aforementioned, the Sixties was a period of turbulent times - what with The Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement among others. The 60's was a sort of decade long time warp caught between the drag that was the 50's with it's violent wars and racism and the euphoric, idealistic beginnings of the late 60's Summer of Love. With the rise of more than 20 state level universities came about an influx of many revolutionary and hard headed youth - ones who were strongly against war and demanded only peace. It was a year of cultural recognition and affluence (with the birth of TV and radio) and also, a uncontrollable flow of information. The youth became more and more involved in putting an end to the existing conflict and had relevant music to back them up. Thus started a series of the biggest and often violent revolutions that America had ever seen.

And finally - the changes. There were many changes and shifts in ideas during the Sixties, which may or may not be defined as counter-culture. On the one hand, where most of America and the world were experiencing civil wars, destruction and mass violence; there was a section of people busy neck-deep in research. Where on one side, the birth control pill was invented, on the other side muscle cars came into shape. Where one branch of the country developed their space missions and sent men on the moon, there was another branch carrying out successfully, the first heart transplant ever. The Underground Press came into being during this very period, after being suppressed for the longest time under threats by commies and anti-revolutionaries. Noted politicians such as John F Kennedy came into power and although they didn't stay much long, made a positive impact on the people of the state. Activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. made tremendous efforts in making America a color blind society.

In all fairness it is right to say that America and slowly the world was moving into becoming a brave, modern society. What I have seen in several recurring dreams or just apparitions if I may, is that 1960-70 wasn't just a decade. It was a Petri dish for post-modern civilisation. For a civilisation that broke barriers of race, sex and gender. An era that gave the F to fear and made man a noble citizen with a cause. To me it's not just the hippies or the free sex and drugs that drove the decade. They existed as an escapist fantasy for most of their time there but what is it that they were escaping from?

My project will hopefully answer this question.



References:
Bizot, J. Free Press: Underground & Alternative Publications, 1965 - 1975
Krugman, P., The Conscience of a Liberal (2007)
Charters (1992) The Portable Beat Reader
Caen, H. (1997-02-06). "Pocketful of Notes. San Francisco Chronicle