Researcher(s)
- Jenna Kaufman, Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Aaron Terry, Art, University of Delaware
Abstract
New York City has long been a center for cultural expression and social transformation. During the 1960s, the city played a pivotal role in the counterculture movement, where music became more than just entertainment. With the help of writers, artists, musicians, and activists, it became a powerful form of protest, communication, and connection. This project explores how music and musicians in New York helped challenge the political and cultural norms of their time, bringing people together around shared values and amplifying movements for change.
In a nod to the self-published books that allowed artists, writers, and activists to bypass mainstream platforms and build community through uncensored expression throughout the 20th century, this project follows a ‘zine format and draws upon the history of underground culture. ‘Zines were, and are, ways for groups to create art and community through the physical sharing of small, self-published booklets where people share stories, writings, and art, without censorship from larger corporations. This ‘zine combines documentary photography, layout design, and historical research to create a visual and narrative exploration of how music intersected with countercultural values in the 1960s.
The research focuses on relevant venues, studio spaces, monuments, and places of historical significance across the city that contributed to or witnessed the counterculture movement in full force. The ‘zine features personal photography from locations that contributed to or memorialized these histories, engaging directly with the physical spaces where cultural change began and grew.
By blending visual storytelling with historical context, the ‘zine illustrates how music helped shape identity, community, and rebellion during a transformative period in New York’s history. It also brings to light how music can continue to serve as a force for community and progressive change today.