Author: John Mosley, C’14
Being a freshman at Penn is an exciting experience in many ways. I live on my own, I meet new people ll the time, and I am exposed to new ideas on a daily basis. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this college experience for me has been the opportunity to take classes that high school never offered. From my German course to my Introduction to Acting seminar, I have been given the opportunity to explore new interests and receive new perspectives on life. Perhaps the most interesting and exciting of these courses is the course titled “America in the 1960s,” which I am currently enrolled in for this Spring 2011 semester.
Taught by Professor Thomas Sugrue, this course is a comprehensive look at the decade which can be classified (arguably) as the most controversial and influential of the 20th century. Personally, I elected to take this course because of my fascination with the music of the 1960s. My favorite bands are The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles. However, I quickly discovered that there was more to the 1960s than rock and roll and the Civil Rights movement. Many revolutions were occurring simultaneously throughout the decade, from the rise of the “New Right” (led by Conservative Barry Goldwater) to the headline-making rise of the “New Left” (led by college students across the country who belonged to the group known as the Students for a Democratic Society).
On October 22, 1967, Bernie Boston photographed his iconic, “Flower Power” photograph, which featured Vietnam War protester George Harris inserting flowers into a National Guardsmen’s rifle barrel.
“America in the 1960s” recounts the “long” 1960s (specifically the period from 1954-1974). No account of the 1960s can be complete without inclusion of the influence of the 1950s, a decade of affluence and growing discontent in the youth of the country. Professor Sugrue skillfully weaves in the 1950s as a precursor to the 1960s; the preceding decade fostered the roots of the women’s liberation movement, rock and roll music and the civil rights movement to name a few.
As the semester winds down, I look forward to the exciting conclusion of the story told by Professor Sugrue and his foray into the 1970s. However, at the same time I am saddened to see this infinitely intriguing narrative course come to an end. Every Monday and Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM, I am nearly hypnotized by Professor Sugrue’s skillful storytelling and insight into the decade that forever changed the discourse of American politics, media, fashion, music and literature. Nearly every facet of American life today can be traced back to the “long” 1960s, and by studying the decade, I am effectively enhancing my understanding of modern times.
For more information on Penn’s history department, the “America in the 1960s” course and Professor Thomas Sugrue, check out Penn’s history department website here.
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