WEEK 3:
The intersection of Haight and Ashbury stands as a crossroad in San Francisco's history. The bohemian atmosphere is seen in all aspects of the district, with the clothes the people wear, the shops and the art that engulfs the scene. Back in the 60’s the streets were filled with young people coming to the area to enjoy the hippie, drug and music movement. It was a place where people got away from the American dream and the Vietnam War, and came together to celebrate love, music, peace and so much more. Though the area began clearing out, the community still lives on. Haight- Ashbury is one of the most famous countercultures today. A counterculture is a culture where values and norms of behavior deviate from the mainstream society. The tie-dye and peace signs I saw everywhere stand as a symbol for the neighborhood I very much enjoyed visiting. 

Over forty years have passed since the “Summer of Love,” but it still lives on throughout the carefree, colorful, unique culture. Tourists come to this district to get a feel about what it was like to have been in Haight-Ashbury during the 60’s. Aspects of the peace loving, hippie feeling, pot burning, acid dropping era can be seen upon entering the streets. Many people I saw also wore old hippie styles and psychedelic clothes, which were probably purchased in the vintage thrift shops all along the roads. The people of the Haight, are living on as they did in the past; defying society, and not conforming to everyone else. So many people I saw sat on the street holding up cardboard signs, asking for a few bucks for weed or some change for some liquor. Interestingly enough, I felt that while in this district, this type of soliciting is acceptable, whereas in other places people turn their heads not even considering giving a few bucks or sharing a cigarette. The culture of Haight- Ashbury is as unique as the distinct stores that fill the district.  

Every sign is full of color and almost all have intricate designs. The signs vary in size but none I saw lack the vibrant, eye catching bright colors that surround you on the streets. I was even fortunate enough to see an artist painting a wall as we toured the area; it was neat to see the art coming alive. I saw signs in windows of houses supporting gay rights, the abolishment of the war, and remembrances of how life was in the 1960‘s. I also saw signs coming out of the walls or on the sidewalks, such as a giant orange dinosaur standing outside of a store or a seductive pair of legs sticking out of the wall. I felt the signs didn’t compete with each other as much as they did blend in together to form a very vibrant ambiance.

One of the signs that stuck out to me most was a painting of Bob Marley, along with some of his lyrics. The lyrics read “don’t gain the world and lose your soul. Wisdom is better than silver and gold,” from his song Zion Train. I enjoyed this piece of art because I liked the meaning of the words. I also felt they related to the message of the Haight-Ashbury counterculture. People came to the area to escape the American dream, where on top of many things, money was of utmost importance. Having a sign like this is a remembrance to what the people came to the area for and it also serves as a reminder of what the area symbolizes. And finally, I saw memorabilia's for deceased artists on the streets. The signs were put up around posts, which surrounded plants and covered in wrapping so they couldn’t be damaged. I saw one for Amy Winehouse, with a bunch of pictures, magazine and newspaper articles and quotes about her. This showed how music was, and still is very influential in this area. Many signs stuck out to me while I strolled along the streets, that it’s easy to say they were all very interesting. 

I found this district fascinating for the fact that it held so much history. But that’s not just it, it’s the fact that the district lives on in its history. It doesn’t stand there as so many other places do, where it’s a representation of what it was. Haight- Ashbury still represents the hippie and love era of the 1960’s, the counterculture wasn’t entirely left in the past. It is an area where culture and history meld together to form an awesome place to visit. As it is only a few blocks away from the USF campus, I look forward to being able to continue to explore the area, the shops and the restaurants.