Woodstock film response - Marc Dunham
The documentary we watched about the Woodstock music festival showed the stark cultural divide between the youth of the 1960s and their parents. Although some of the locals were open-minded and helpful when it came to the visitors, several of the older residents interviewed exemplified the typical “stuffy�, conservative attitude regarding the free spirited youth invading their quiet town. It’s understandable to see the different degrees of response, as the small rural town of Bethel, New York became a very literal crossroads between the conservative 1940s white picket fence American dream and the free, liberal, experimental, and rebellious attitude of the time’s youth. Some simply viewed the intruders as simply that, reckless and inconsiderate punks with no regard or respect for their elders. Others were impartial or just recognized the severity of the situation and the necessity to help by providing food and other forms of assistance. However, a few like Max Yasgur whose farm the festival was hosted on, appreciated the spirit of the event and the peaceful, although unavoidably disruptive, gathering. Despite some of the locals’ objections, there’s no denying that the Woodstock music festival of 1969 represented a crossing of generational ideals in a time of some of the strongest political and cultural upheaval since the American Civil War.