To break down the walls: The politics and culture of Greenwich Village, 1955--1965
Item
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Title
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To break down the walls: The politics and culture of Greenwich Village, 1955--1965
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:a763d970cfb1:10419
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identifier
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10573
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Creator
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Petrus, Stephen,
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Contributor
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Thomas Kessner
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Date
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2010
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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American history | Urban planning | Theater history | Film | Performance Art | Politics | Public Space | Reform Movements
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Abstract
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More than simply a bohemian sanctuary during an age of conformity, Greenwich Village was a locus of resistance to the dominant political and cultural order in the 1950s. Probably the most famous neighborhood in the nation, the Village possessed abundant resources to advance fresh agendas of reformers, radicals, and artists. Community engagement in politics and the arts distinguished the lower Manhattan neighborhood. The period from 1955 to 1965 in particular witnessed an outburst of activism and creativity. This study analyzes the local institutions that nourished alternative or oppositional ideas, ways, and practices, focusing on the Village Voice, Judson Memorial Church, the Village Independent Democrats, and the Living Theatre.;Skepticism of authority, both political and cultural, pervaded Greenwich Village. In an era when the principles and practices of modern urban planning and bossism shaped New York life, Villagers expressed resentment toward powerful individuals who were dismissive of community opinion. Neighborhood residents questioned the notion of a "professional" dictating policy from above and maintained that efficient municipal politics and urban redevelopment depended upon citizen involvement at the local level. In the cultural realm, Village artists were similarly dubious of the idea of professionalism. Theatermakers and filmmakers, respectively, disavowed established methods on Broadway and in Hollywood. Though neighborhood artists differed widely in views and methods, several trends characterized the area scene. Village artists demolished hierarchies, leveling differences between highbrow and lowbrow entertainment, between the serious and the playful. They borrowed copiously from a range of sources, from classical art to popular culture, finding value not only in the sublime but also in camp. Eclectic in outlook, they developed pastiches from literary, musical, and theatrical texts.;The results of the civic participation and artistic innovation were remarkable. Village reformers led movements that restructured urban planning, Democratic Party politics, and narcotics policy. Village artists and their allies redefined the use of public space. They transformed performance art and visual art. The developments influenced national politics and culture. In the 1950s and 1960s, Villagers fueled an age of idealism, laid the groundwork for the counterculture, and contributed to the formation of the New Left.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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History
