| While the generally accepted myth of American culture has been one of rugged and isolated individualism and materialist accumulation, throughout American history there has been a clear and parallel tradition which has instead defined the concept of individualism as one reflecting the dignity and empowerment of the individual within the American community, and which has been anti-materialist in its focus. The latter tradition has especially been reflected in the countless attempts at community building in the United States. The concepts of individualism, anti-materialism, and the search for community underwent significant change during the decade of the 1960s. Fueled by the Civil Rights Movement, identity politics, including the movements for black power, women's rights, gay rights, and Native-American rights, the Vietnam Anti-War Movement, and the countercultural movement generally, there was a new and different focus on those values. The communities of the 1960s reflected those changes.; In this work I have attempted to analyze the effect of the 1960s countercultural emphasis on individualism, anti-materialism, and the search for community on a contemporary community. In order to do so, I have reviewed those values in eighteenth and nineteenth century American culture, together with their presence in American historical communities, such as the Shakers, Oneida, Amana colonies, Brook Farm, New Harmony, and others. I then reviewed the history and culture of the 1960s and the ways in which those values were affected by that tumultuous decade. Following a description of the commune movement of the 1960s, I analyzed the concepts of individual dignity and empowerment, anti-materialism, and community in East Wind Community, which was founded by men and women active in the social movements of the 1960s. My analysis was based on written documents generated by East Wind Community and interviews with many of its past and present members. My research indicated that East Wind Community and its members reflected many of the values of America's historical communities, but it and its members were clearly influenced by the politics and culture of the 1960s. |
