As a cultural historian with a focus on the 20th-century United States, I can provide insight into the purpose of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair, which took place in 1969. The event, commonly known as Woodstock, was organized with several key objectives in mind:


1. Profit: The organizers, four men who were initially looking to make a profit, saw an opportunity to capitalize on the growing popularity of rock music and the desire for large-scale music festivals.

2. Community: Woodstock aimed to create a sense of community among the youth, who were largely disenchanted with the status quo and seeking a sense of belonging and connection with like-minded individuals.

3. Peace and Anti-War Sentiment: The festival was held during a time of significant social and political unrest, including the Vietnam War. It was intended to be a peaceful gathering that would stand in contrast to the violence and conflict of the era.

4. Music as a Medium: Music was seen as a powerful tool for expressing the ideals of the counterculture, including freedom, love, and harmony, which were central themes of the festival.

5. Cultural Shift: The event was also a reflection of the broader cultural shift happening at the time, with the youth seeking new ways to express themselves and challenge traditional norms.

The festival ended up being a significant moment in history, attracting an audience far larger than what was planned, and it has since become a symbol of the 1960s counterculture movement.

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Conceived as "Three Days of Peace and Music," Woodstock was a product of a partnership between John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang. Their idea was to make enough money from the event to build a recording studio near the arty New York town of Woodstock.read more >>