The Knot Of 1968: Analyzing The Three 'Threads' In The LIFE Magazine Of January 10, 1969

Entitled "The Knot of 1968", students will commemorate the 50th anniversary of that seminal year and engage with a specific primary source a special issue of LIFE magazine (10 January 1969 available online from google-books). More specifically, grounding/footnoting their short essay  in a close analysis of this source, they will explain how such a profile of that revolutionary year helps brings together the three "threads" pulled apart by Hunt in his academic analysis of the 20th century. In other words, they will identify/explain how events reviewed in the magazine incorporate and unite the "political", "socio-economic", and "culture" dimensions of history that were isolated in Hunt's modular chapters. In composing their essays, students should note the advantages and disadvantages of such scholarly analysis; how it enhances and hinders our comprehension of History. 

Political Influence in LIFE Magazine

The LIFE magazine of January 10, 1969, reveals a history of what occurred during the year. In the discussion have tried to expound on some aspects that were recorded by the LFE magazine of 10 January 1969. The essay accounts for the issues that raised according to LIFE magazine. The issues are well analysed with supporting evidence that marks the political, socio-economic and culture during that time. The points reveal the history that was not accounted for by Hunt in his academic analysis of the 20th century. The first volume shows the issues that emerged in the year that is whole of 1969 and part of 1968.Different authors have argued on how the magazine has indicated 1969 as a year of discovery, increased shock, a number of wars and a lot of crisis that marked the history of America.Generally, the LFE magazine analyses that there was a feeling of hope and degree of optimism in the aspect of the race, gender and a number of lifestyles that began to break down later. In addition, the same era marked a critical chronology that embraced the issue of violence and marvellous sweeping in the United States. The magazine was identified as the key archive which tried to account for the entire history that happened in the 1960s. It has stories that seemed to capture the hope and aspect of cynicism which proved to be the hallmark of the tumultuous decade in the US.

In addition, the life magazine acknowledges and has a lot to cover in 1960s years. From the subject of the essay the issue of the political arena is keenly illustrated and supported. The entire time constituted the scene of race, the use of civil rights movements and the feminist movement. It comprises the anti-war movements and Cuban missile crises which forms the key area of political progress in the 1960s. The magazines also account for the assassinations of various leaders such as the president Kennedy who was a determined leader during this era. On the issue of cultural development the magazine accounts for the revolution that is –from Beatles to communes and to the Woodstock. The story indicates the scrambling which identifies the economic development and other stories that fully analyses the social influence. The importance of   LIFE magazine is that it includes stories of real history back in 1960.

One of the interesting and important stories in the magazine was the war in Vietnam. This means from the aspect of sending photographers to the stories covering the both the Dodgers and the deserters. The magazine fully utilized the aspect of history experienced not forgetting the televised conflict experienced in the US. LIFE magazine has tried much as possible to shape the entire history. There was also an interesting story in the magazine which was published in June 1969. This time marked a spread of photos showing a big number of soldiers who died in Vietnam.

Socio-Economic Effects in LIFE Magazine

In the paragraphs below, I have explained how events in LIFE magazines have articulated on aspect of culture, political and socio-cultural practices.

Each section reveals how history in LIFE magazines has analysed the issue of culture, politics and the socio-economic influences in the US. These factors were not well discussed by the Hunt in his work of academic when describing the 20th century. The discussion also includes some of the disadvantages and advantages of academic analysis to the comprehension of the history. Also, the issue of globalization and the decolonization has been clearly described.

On political influence, the entire concept is in the political environment.This means that a number of stories are more on political factors. This comprises the moments of politics that was experienced in 1960 to 1069. This somehow tricky for media to give a track but LIFE magazine reveals from the start to the end. It captures all the opinions, all the word, and clearly defines the undefined decade in different phases. Therefore the whole analogy is that LIFE magazine played a major role in describing the political arena.

First, there is the issue of wars and how to prevent wars within society. Basically war results due to the disagreement with the parties in the society. The LIFE magazine captures the whole process incurred in the Vietnam War. The death of Vietnam soldiers was remarkable in the whole history. The US resolution to stop the military involvement was a good attempt by President Kennedy. War and disagreement were characterized by the colonial movements which ruthlessly affected the 1960s era in the US. Also, there were increased conflicts within the society. The presence of wars and its effect on the political effects were not analysed by some authors.

Coups and nuclear threats also had much influence in the political sphere. The magazine acknowledges the coups which were established by the temporary military rule in different nations. For example, according to the magazine, the issue of the coup was experienced in 1963. This year led to the death of some leaders and also the introduction of the military rule on the concept of coups. A number of coups continued and were clearly recorded in the magazine.1997 was recorded as the only year that marked the military dictatorship in the society. On another hand, there was the aspect of nuclear threats that marked the political atmosphere. This means that there was increased use of missiles between the US and the Soviet Union which were recorded as the regions which were capable to use the missiles. The use of these weapons was recorded back in 1962.

Cultural Influence in LIFE Magazine

From the analysed political aspects in the LIFE magazine, we can say it’s somehow trying to account for the negative aspect and therefore trying to lure society on the importance of promoting cohesion in society.This influence is apt for every nation and every society that need to establish cohesion. They have tried to alarm the nation that issue of war and internal conflict not good at all. They are the issues of the past and therefore a society has to learn a lot then try as much as possible root any element that can try to trace back the whole incidence experienced in the 1960s. The disadvantage of this analogy was that it failed to capture the positive effects politically experienced. The recorded factors are majorly on the backward political analogy but it does not account the progress incurred. The transformation experienced here is that the political process is acknowledged but not on productive approach.

Based on localization and decolonization, the era marked the undoing of the colonialism as indicated by the LIFE magazine. The issue is that magazines have indicated on how colonizers withdrew from utilizing potentials in different countries. The magazine has acknowledged on the self-determination for the different nations. Decolonization became popular in American history. This influenced other nations from 1969 who were also after decolonization. Different empires and colonial movements were recorded by the magazine and thus storing important artifacts that describes the effects of colonialism.

The LIFE magazine has also accounted for the socio-economic effects. The first influence which focuses on the social revolution is the counterculture .1961 has revealed the conservative norms that embraced materialism. There were counterculture aspects which embraced the social process. The magazine shows some reactions that were against the conservatism and the entire concept of social conformity. There were hippies which were developed by the popular youths in the US. The purpose of these movements was the liberation of the society from discrimination, the tough authority, and dictatorial government leaders. These movements were to liberate on the rights of women and minorities.The magazine accounts for these activities from different perspectives. The underground press published LIFE magazine in the manner that promoted socio-economic aspects.

Also, there were anti-war movements which were recorded in the magazine. The war in Vietnam led to a lot of killings and torture to the society. This facilitated the formation of socio movements that facilitated stability and economic development. There was a number of protests that heavily influenced the US communist party formation. This formed a point for the development of social amenities such as shops, churches and academic institution. This marked a critical history in 1960s age. It indicates a step in socio-development an aspect which opted to reduce chaos and unfriendly relationships within the society.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Scholarly Analysis in Understanding History

In addition, the Civil rights movements marked a history according to LIFE magazine. For example, the emergence of the black power movement which assisted in fighting racial dignity, economic influence, development of political self-sufficiency and increased anti-imperialism practices. The magazine analyses campaigns of civil resistance in the society. In 1968, civil disobedience and nonviolent protest assisted in solving the crisis. This was marked by the activists and the authorities which ruled in 1960s age. Also, there is the history of legislative achievement in the social-economic era. The legislative movements were to fight for civil rights. They banned the discrimination based on the religion, race and other economic fields where employment was offered through injustice.

There was a lot of cultural practices that were experienced in the 1960s.The most popular culture recorded by the LIFE magazine was the summer of love in 1967. The history of Woodstock festival and use of the psychedelic drugs n 1960s influenced the cultural sphere. Also, during the period the music culture developed whereby a large number of individuals participated in music activists. A number of prominent musicians also emerged thus encouraging individuals to participate in music contests. As a result of the development of civil rights in the US, the religious movements expanded. This led to the spread of spiritual virtues in the society thus enabling nation cohesiveness. Philosophers embraced on the interest of the communes and thus encouraging religious development.

Also, the LIFE magazines embraced on the fashion development. Fashion trends developed in the 1960s.This has been revealed by the photos that were recorded in the 1960s.Different styles such as men styles of trimming hair were captured in history. Beatles were marked to exert new fashions in men hairstyles. They include Beatle boots and use of the Nehru jackets which were common in the 1960s.In 1969 Mary Quant also developed the miniskirt for the women. This marked the best fashion for women and most of them loved being in skirts. Through this culture was highly embraced and thus introducing people to new methods of life. The women's mainstream hairstyles were ranged from the beehive hairdos and other chignon styles which were easy to get during this age.

Also, a culture marked the development of films as recorded by the LIFE magazines. The highest grossing film recorded was known as the "The Sound of Music" which occurred in 1969. Some of the Hollywood movies emerged in the 1960s thus influencing cultural foundation and transforming lives in the nation. The counterculture of the films was the increased cinemas. Social taboos were broken by the use of movies. Eating habits were transformed by the use of cinemas. The history tracks the cultural changes which were evident on different photos captured in the 1960s. The Cultural Revolution was experienced and it was copied later by different regions in the country. Film industry expanded with the use of televisions which were highly used in cinema halls. Films in the 1960s entirely encouraged on the change whereby the society was taught on how to conform to changing innovations in culture.They progressed the culture level and different activists emerged. Some such as the Hoppers Easy Rider encouraged more on drug use to control lives. Movements which encouraged different cultural practices emerged as indicated by the LIFE magazine. They all worked under common rule whereby everyone was to change from the formal life. People were encouraged to embrace on culture and break from traditional taboos that were binding factors for development in society.

In conclusion, the LIFE magazine of January in 1969 acknowledges a lot of history. The sixties years marked an important move in the development of history.The influence of the issues in LIFE magazines to different areas such as the political environment, socio-economic and cultural factors embraced on history development in different areas. The internal conflicts in political field mark the threats that information from the magazines has to the society. Socio-economic rights and development of movements increased society cohesiveness. The use of new fashions and development of films in society increased entertainment level. All the areas discussed above have clearly indicated the influence of LIFE magazine on historical development.

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