Psychedelic Chile

Youth, Counterculture, and Politics on the Road to Socialism and Dictatorship

By Patrick Barr-Melej | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

Patrick Barr-Melej here illuminates modern Chilean history with an unprecedented chronicle and reassessment of the sixties and seventies. During a period of tremendous political and social strife that saw the election of a Marxist president followed by the terror of a military coup in 1973, a youth-driven, transnationally connected counterculture smashed onto the scene. Contributing to a surging historiography of the era’s Latin American counterculture, Barr-Melej draws on media and firsthand interviews in documenting the intertwining of youth and counterculture with discourses rooted in class and party politics. Focusing on “hippismo” and an esoteric movement called Poder Joven, Barr-Melej challenges a number of prevailing assumptions about culture, politics, and the Left under Salvador Allende’s \"Chilean Road to Socialism.”

While countercultural attitudes toward recreational drug use, gender roles and sexuality, rock music, and consumerism influenced many youths on the Left, the preponderance of leftist leaders shared a more conservative cultural sensibility. This exposed, Barr-Melej argues, a degree of intergenerational dissonance within leftist ranks. And while the allure of new and heterodox cultural values and practices among young people grew, an array of constituencies from the Left to the Right berated counterculture in national media, speeches, schools, and other settings. This public discourse of contempt ultimately contributed to the fierce repression of nonconformist youth culture following the coup.

Editions of Psychedelic Chile

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469632568
Paperback
ISBN 9781469632575
EBook
ISBN 9781469632599
EBook
ISBN 9798890878625
EBook
ISBN 9781469632582
PDF
ISBN 9798890878618

Read an Excerpt

Patrick Barr-Melej here illuminates modern Chilean history with an unprecedented chronicle and reassessment of the sixties and seventies. During a period of tremendous political and social strife that saw the election of a Marxist president followed by the terror of a military coup in 1973, a youth-driven, transnationally connected counterculture smashed onto the scene. Contributing to a surging historiography of the era’s Latin American counterculture, Barr-Melej draws on media and firsthand interviews in documenting the intertwining of youth and counterculture with discourses rooted in class and party politics. Focusing on “hippismo” and an esoteric movement called Poder Joven, Barr-Melej challenges a number of prevailing assumptions about culture, politics, and the Left under Salvador Allende’s \"Chilean Road to Socialism.”

While countercultural attitudes toward recreational drug use, gender roles and sexuality, rock music, and consumerism influenced many youths on the Left, the preponderance of leftist leaders shared a more conservative cultural sensibility. This exposed, Barr-Melej argues, a degree of intergenerational dissonance within leftist ranks. And while the allure of new and heterodox cultural values and practices among young people grew, an array of constituencies from the Left to the Right berated counterculture in national media, speeches, schools, and other settings. This public discourse of contempt ultimately contributed to the fierce repression of nonconformist youth culture following the coup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Psychedelic Chile about?

Patrick Barr-Melej here illuminates modern Chilean history with an unprecedented chronicle and reassessment of the sixties and seventies. During a period of tremendous political and social strife that saw the election of a Marxist president followed by the terror of a military coup in 1973, a youth-driven, transnationally connected counterculture smashed onto the scene. Contributing to a surging historiography of the era’s Latin American counterculture, Barr-Melej draws on media and firsthand interviews in documenting the intertwining of youth and counterculture with discourses rooted in class and party politics. Focusing on “hippismo” and an esoteric movement called Poder Joven, Barr-Melej challenges a number of prevailing assumptions about culture, politics, and the Left under Salvador Allende’s \"Chilean Road to Socialism.”

While countercultural attitudes toward recreational drug use, gender roles and sexuality, rock music, and consumerism influenced many youths on the Left, the preponderance of leftist leaders shared a more conservative cultural sensibility. This exposed, Barr-Melej argues, a degree of intergenerational dissonance within leftist ranks. And while the allure of new and heterodox cultural values and practices among young people grew, an array of constituencies from the Left to the Right berated counterculture in national media, speeches, schools, and other settings. This public discourse of contempt ultimately contributed to the fierce repression of nonconformist youth culture following the coup.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Psychedelic Chile?

History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas

Where can I read a sample of Psychedelic Chile?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469632568

How long is Psychedelic Chile and how many pages does it have?

Psychedelic Chile has 362 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Psychedelic Chile?

Patrick Barr-Melej

Who is the Publisher of the book Psychedelic Chile?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Psychedelic Chile is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469632568) and paperback(ISBN 9781469632575) and ebook(ISBN 9781469632599) and ebook(ISBN 9798890878625) and ebook(ISBN 9781469632582) and pdf(ISBN 9798890878618)

Where can I buy Psychedelic Chile online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Psychedelic Chile?