Analyzing Woodstock as a Time of Peace, Love, Music, and Equality

Abstract

This major research project deals with a single weekend in United States history—the Woodstock festival—August 15-17, 1969. I question whether or not the Woodstock festival truly was the time of peace, love, music, and equality that it is often portrayed to be. By analyzing primary documents (mainly newspaper articles from the era) as well as secondary sources, I explore the experiences of different groups at the festival and, when viewed through the lenses of race and gender, note that there were numerous social problems. Negative reactions to the event by political conservatives and local people are notable as well. I suggest that, seen from a contemporary perspective, the Woodstock festival was not entirely the idyllic event it is often depicted as.