Love Together:
Affiliation Rhetoric in the Underground Publications and Music from the Haight-Ashbury Countercultural Community
This research examines the cultural identity of San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district between 1966 and 1968, emphasizing the role of psychedelic rock as a form of communication that both shaped and reflected the community's ideals. Through a musical analysis of Jefferson Airplane's "3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds" and a critical examination of articles from the underground newspaper, The San Francisco Oracle, the study demonstrates how musical innovations within this countercultural hub intersected with socio-political movements.
By applying James Spates's framework on expressive rhetoric, the research analyzes how music and publications fostered unity and solidarity within the Haight-Ashbury community. By focusing on these musical and literary outputs, the study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how countercultural ideals were communicated and reinforced through musical and literary content, offering insights into the cultural and social dynamics of this transformative era in American history.
Presented at the Society for Ethnomusicology, Southern California and Hawai'i Chapter 66th Annual Meeting
(March 1st, 2025)
