Woodstock; Forty Years

So two weekends ago, I believe, marked the fortieth anniversary of the famous and legendary festival at Bethel Woods (just under 3 hours from my home.. I really should make the trek out there one of these days) and the History Channel had a special to commemorate it. Of course I taped it (if you haven't noticed by my other posts, I have an ever-growing love for the 60's) but I didn't get around to watching it until today.

It was certainly interesting, but if you'd already sat through the 3 hours of the actual Woodstock movie there is not so much new information; most of the footage is taken right from the movie, minus the full performances (the best parts!). The documentary really tried to examine the culture that surrounded 1969, focusing on individuals such as the "famous Woodstock couple" as well as interviewing a gaggle of ex-hippies (though some of these folks hadn't really outgrown the hippie stage-- I am referring to the man with flowing grey hair wearing tie-dye and John Lennon sunglasses) about the Woodstock experience. There were also many up close and personal interviews with Michael Lang, the man behind the whole festival, and it was great to hear his account of how the project actually morphed from idea to reality. I loved the story about how it was funded (basically they hooked up with two young guys who just had money they didn't know what to do with) because I'd always wondered how they must have spent at least 17 inheritances and then put the show on for free.

The most annoying part of this whole segment was the interview with a random group of kids who were attending the real life "School of Rock," as it was actually called. For whatever reason, the show opened with these kids talking about what Woodstock meant to them and ended with them performing Woodstock's hits, and included interviews with the group throughout the show. I understood that the point was trying to be made that Woodstock's music was still relevant today. However, it was a bit disheartening for me to watch a young singer wishing so badly to emulate Janis Joplin's wild vocals, then watching a copycat performance at the end. Take it from someone who's grown up in the 2000's; we have nothing to call our own. This entire decade has gone through an identity crisis, honestly. I can't remember a year where fashion or music hasn't been referred to as "retro," "vintage," et cetera, et cetera. Take a look at the trends since 2000; 70's (flares and things), 80's (spandex is back), 90's (grunge buffalo-check plaid?) and now we're experiencing peace-sign-covered graphic t-shirts and flowy hippie tops reminiscent of the Woodstock scene itself. As for music, this whole "indie music trend" is a bit laughable as well, because an indie band is now any band that sounds like they're right from the new wave period of the 80's regardless of whether they are signed or not.

The only thing we can really claim as ours is the whole digital movement; garage band, auto-tune, techno-dancy beats... though really they're only glorified versions of the synthesizers of the past. I am still holding out hope that some innovation will come in the fast-approaching decade in front of us. The Woodstock-era, that period of the late 60's-- that sweated individuality. No movement that crazy had ever happened before, as it did with the hippies. I do see similarities between today and then; for example, the past and the present are defined by controversial overseas wars (Vietnam/Iraq and Afghanistan), shaky political circumstances (death of RFK, enter Nixon/Bush and Cheney and the chaos they left for this presidency) and the fight for individual rights (gay individuals are still fighting against many right-stripping propositions). Maybe the past is repeating itself; maybe there is a link. Unfortunately, this generation seems to lack the creativity and invention that the past seemed to emit, albeit emitted in a drug-clouded haze. Are we just not as politically motivated or moved to action during trying times? Have we simply just stopped trying? Maybe Nixon really did achieve something, and the War on Drugs subdued most of the adolescents from turning wild and crazy (if you believe that it worked).

Or maybe we just really, really admire the past.




Here's my favorite video from the original film. Enjoy.