Hippie

Hippie (or sometimes "hippy") is a term originally used to describe some of the rebellious youth of the 1960s and 1970s. The word, "hippie" was coined by the late San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1970s - San Francisco Chronicle - Herb Caen - Beatnik - Yuppie

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Though not a cohesive cultural movement with manifestos and leaders, some hippies expressed their desire for change with communal or nomadic lifestyles, by renouncing corporate nationalism and the Vietnam War, by embracing aspects of non-traditional religious cultures, and with criticism of Western middle class values.

Related Topics:
Cultural movement - Corporate - Vietnam War - Religious - Middle class

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Such criticism included the views that the government was paternalistic, corporate industry was greedy and domineering, traditional morals were askew, and war was inhumane. The structures and institutions they rejected came to be called The Establishment.

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The term "hippie" has also been used in a derogatory sense, to describe long-haired unkempt drug users, who by Beat standards was someone that was not "Hip" or "aware" or "clever" enough to really be "hip". Conservatives of the time and today used the term "hippie" as an insult towards young liberals and progressives.

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"Hippies" of the time were interested in "tuning in to their inner minds" (with or without drugs, mystic meditation) and improving mainstream society. This influence was sometimes from far eastern metaphysical and religious practices that were done mostly by monks and aboriginal shaman in the past. The inclusion of far eastern religious practice in religious circles of the 1970s became a New Age movement for Mystics and "Spiritual Seekers," as well as a joke for hipster comedians.

Related Topics:
Drugs - Mystic meditation - Metaphysical - Religious - Monks - Shaman - 1970 - New Age - Mystics - Hipster comedians

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