This book provides a vivid account of the major cultural forms of 1960s America -- fiction and poetry; music and performance; film and television; art and photography -- as well as influential texts, trends and figures of the decade: from the Civil Rights Movement to the rise of George Wallace and Barry Goldwater, from John F. Kennedy's speeches to Dick Gregory's stand-up comedy, from Bob Dylan to Sylvia Plath, and from pop art to protests against the Vietnam War. A focused chapter on new social movements demonstrates that a current of conservatism runs through even the most revolutionary movements of the 1960s. Key Features: Focused case studies featuring key texts, genres, writers, artists and cultural trendsDetailed chronology of 1960s American cultureBibliographies for each chapter10 black and white illustrations