West County


  • Photographer
    Talia Herman
  • Prize
    Honorable Mention
  • Company/Studios
    International Center of Photography
  • Date of Photograph
    2009-2012
  • Technical Info
    35mm film

'West County' is an ongoing Northern Californian based project that explores the cultural outcomes of the youth movements of the 1960's. What was produced through great social agitation is now internalized and accepted by the current generation as a norm.

Story

These photographs are from Talia Herman’s ongoing project about the residual counter culture she was raised in. The images show how the forces of change in her parents’ generation continue to affect the communities they live in today and in the lives of their children.

The 1960’s – 1970’s was a time of unprecedented youth generated, highly volatile political and cultural activism in the United States. These youths challenged the conventional family ideals, rigid social structures and the political realities they inherited. This period generated intense activity in identity formation, political views, etc that put into question beliefs, lifestyles etc. Significant movements of this time include the civil rights movement, peace activism, feminism, environmental movement, queer activism, drug experimentation, communal living, loosening and redefining of gender roles and what was coined the ‘sexual revolution.’

This period of high velocity social conflict gradually gave way to less agitated and more long term social shifts as these youth activists grew older and had families of their own.

In Talia’s pictures one can see some of the effects of the counter cultural activities of her parents generation. What was produced through great social agitation is now internalized and accepted by the current generation as norm.

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