New Age Travellers
Cultural Research > New Age Travellers Intro > New Age Travellers Essay
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Introduction The Look: Originally a continuation of Hippy pro nature, pro ethnic, pro traditional, pro long-haired scruffy style but when juxtaposed with Punk elements goes Mad Max with Crazy colour, dreads, piercings, tattoos, Dr Martin boots. The Time: Roots in the free festivals of the ‘70s but first becomes a subcultural presence in the early ‘80s – continuing to this day. The Place: Southern England and Wales – but similar developments in New Zealand. Spreads beyond GB after mid ‘80s – especially to Ireland and Spain. Influenced: Ravers, Techno & Cyberpunks – but more importantly, 21st century Eco awareness. |
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Essay Excerpt
The New Age Travellers – or ‘Nomads’ as some now prefer to call themselves – were and still are full of surprises. The first of these is that what began in the spirit of Left-Over Hippies should flower so dramatically in the ‘80s, the age of the Yuppie. The second of these is that stylistically and ideologically they would come to merge so seamlessly with Punks who, when they first came into being in 1976, did so in complete opposition to the baby boomer Hippy generation which they had sought to topple from their perch. The third of these, and ultimately the most important and intriguing, is that this scraggly little band of (as the tabloid media would have it) layabouts and degenerates would see their concern for the environment, their enthusiasm for recycling and their distaste for the Yuppies’ greed and extravagance go mainstream in the 21st century. |