--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I grew up in the '60s, we were…" description: "\"When I grew up in the '60s, we were actually dominated by this, you know, sort of conforming '50s culture, even though we were like trying to express o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/gus-van-sant-5023_conform_when-i-grew-up-in-the-60s-we-were-actual_812783.jpg" --- # When I grew up in the '60s, we were actually dominated by… ![“When I grew up in the '60s, we were actually dominated by this, you know, sort of conforming '50s culture, even though we were like trying to express our own culture, like, the dominant culture was the thing that was forming us. And I think that that's true today.” quote by Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/gus-van-sant-5023_conform_when-i-grew-up-in-the-60s-we-were-actual_812783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/gus-van-sant-5023_conform_when-i-grew-up-in-the-60s-we-were-actual_812783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/gus-van-sant-5023_conform_when-i-grew-up-in-the-60s-we-were-actual_812783.jpg) > “When I grew up in the '60s, we were actually dominated by this, you know, sort of conforming '50s culture, even though we were like trying to express our own culture, like, the dominant culture was the thing that was forming us. And I think that that's true today.” [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultural norms shape identity; even attempts at rebellion are molded by prevailing values. **In simple terms:** Culture shapes us. Key Takeaway Question your influences. Themes culture identity conformity rebellion Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - artistic expression - social movements - personal development Key Concepts social dynamics generational influence Questions to Reflect On - What unseen forces guide your choices? - Can true originality exist? A Different Perspective Rebellion can reinforce the same norms it opposes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Dominant culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominant-culture/) [Sixties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sixties/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [People say, oh it's a shame, you're not nostalgic about the '60s. Well actually, it's quite good, when you think of it. Wouldn't it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/people-say-oh-it-s-a-shame-you-re-not-nostalgic-about-the-60s-well/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [I am not a violent person. I am a product of the Flower Power '60s. I have actually worn bell-bottomed jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-am-not-a-violent-person-i-am-a-product-of-the-flower-power-60s-i/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Many teachers of the Sixties generation said "We will steal your children", and they did. A significant part of America has converted to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/many-teachers-of-the-sixties-generation-said-we-will-steal-your/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [ I expect \[Donald\] Trump to do what he's done very successfully, which is, whether you like him or not, he will be the dominant… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-expect-donald-trump-to-do-what-he-s-done-very-successfully-which-is/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [In my mind, I think Lacey Evans and I work great together. She always pushes me to the best of my abilities. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-brooke/in-my-mind-i-think-lacey-evans-and-i-work-great-together-she-always/) [Dana Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-brooke/) > [I feel like I'm a very dominant fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-covington/i-feel-like-i-m-a-very-dominant-fighter/) [Colby Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-covington/) > [The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in our history... Two primary objectives of the residential schools system were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/the-treatment-of-children-in-indian-residential-schools-is-a-sad/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [“The dominant culture eats entire biomes. No, that is too generous, because eating implies a natural biological relationship. This culture doesn't just consume ecosystems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aric-mcbay/the-dominant-culture-eats-entire-biomes-no-that-is-too-generous/) [Aric McBay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aric-mcbay/) > [The percentage of Indian kids doing some sort of artistic work is much higher than in the general population - painting, drawing, dancing, singing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/the-percentage-of-indian-kids-doing-some-sort-of-artistic-work-is/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Mainstream Canadians, what some might call the dominant culture, like to think this racism doesn't happen. It's important to remind people that it does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-iveson/mainstream-canadians-what-some-might-call-the-dominant-culture-like/) [Don Iveson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-iveson/) > [“It wasn’t a matter of conscious choice, necessarily, just a matter of gravitational pull, the way integration always worked, a one-way street. The minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-wasn-t-a-matter-of-conscious-choice-necessarily-just-a-matter-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Use what is dominant in a culture to change it quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-holzer/use-what-is-dominant-in-a-culture-to-change-it-quickly/) [Jenny Holzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-holzer/) > [We live in a dominant culture of ceaseless Departure and Progress that has so far lasted two or three centuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/we-live-in-a-dominant-culture-of-ceaseless-departure-and-progress/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [“pluralism today—at least in America—exists without a dominant culture,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-davison-hunter/pluralism-today-at-least-in-america-exists-without-a-dominant-culture/) [James Davison Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-davison-hunter/) > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) ## More by Gus Van Sant > [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I mean, I think I'm pretty sentimental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-mean-i-think-i-m-pretty-sentimental/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [Usually people just hire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/usually-people-just-hire-me/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [My family moved a lot as a kid. We started in Colorado, where I lived for five years. We moved to Chicago for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/my-family-moved-a-lot-as-a-kid-we-started-in-colorado-where-i-lived/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [No construction stiff working overtime takes more stress and straining than we did just to stay high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/no-construction-stiff-working-overtime-takes-more-stress-and/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I've told people who have just started to make a film that the one thing you might experience is this feeling that everybody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-ve-told-people-who-have-just-started-to-make-a-film-that-the-one/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [A lot of times, I relied on connections through my agency, just for financing and things like that. Even when I'm looking for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/a-lot-of-times-i-relied-on-connections-through-my-agency-just-for/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I'm a junkie. I like drugs, I like the whole lifestyle, but it just didn't pay off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-m-a-junkie-i-like-drugs-i-like-the-whole-lifestyle-but-it-just-didn/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [There are all kinds of ways that people present their films, but that's kind of a good feeling, if you can make it seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/there-are-all-kinds-of-ways-that-people-present-their-films-but-that/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I find it interesting, the different rules that apply to journalism and drama, even though journalism has become more and more about entertainment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-find-it-interesting-the-different-rules-that-apply-to-journalism/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [As I do with most films, I try and find some music that you could use throughout, not just a sampling of lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/as-i-do-with-most-films-i-try-and-find-some-music-that-you-could-use/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [When you're on a film and you're doubting something, it's usually because you don't think the audience is going to like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/when-you-re-on-a-film-and-you-re-doubting-something-it-s-usually/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I don't usually direct actors in the classic sense of that word. Instead, I try to remind the characters before the shoot what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-don-t-usually-direct-actors-in-the-classic-sense-of-that-word/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [When you get to be 23, 24 or 25, you start to freeze up and become an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/when-you-get-to-be-23-24-or-25-you-start-to-freeze-up-and-become-an/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [The artist himself is actually the subject in everything after, say, 1900. Eventually, art becomes so removed from the community that you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-artist-himself-is-actually-the-subject-in-everything-after-say/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) [Explore all 102 Gus Van Sant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) ## More Conform quotes > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [What draws friends together does not conform to the laws of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/what-draws-friends-together-does-not-conform-to-the-laws-of-nature/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-smalley/the-survival-of-the-fittest-is-the-ageless-law-of-nature-but-the/) [Dave Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-smalley/) > [Public and private funds have been thrown around like confetti at a country fair, to close up and destroy clinics, hospitals, and scientific research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-fitzgerald/public-and-private-funds-have-been-thrown-around-like-confetti-at-a/) Benedict Fitzgerald > [ \[An engineer's\] invention causes things to come into existence from ideas, makes world conform to thought; whereas science, by deriving ideas from observation, makes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-mitcham/an-engineer-s-invention-causes-things-to-come-into-existence-from/) Carl Mitcham > [You know the question: 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?' Answer: 'Practise?' Well, in my case, I got there by not practising. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/you-know-the-question-how-do-you-get-to-carnegie-hall-answer-practise/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. That means we are governed by the terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-importantly-the-court-forgets-that-ours-is-a-government-of-laws/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [No one familiar with the common law of England can read the Constitution of the United States without observing the great desire of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/no-one-familiar-with-the-common-law-of-england-can-read-the/) [Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/) > [A classic is classic not because it conforms to certain structural rules, or fits certain definitions (of which its author had quite probably never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/a-classic-is-classic-not-because-it-conforms-to-certain-structural/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Fathers never have exactly the daughters they want because they invent a notion a them that the daughters have to conform to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/fathers-never-have-exactly-the-daughters-they-want-because-they/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we've turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/extroversion-is-an-enormously-appealing-personality-style-but-we-ve/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ's image. Not to make you a smarter sinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/the-bible-was-written-not-to-satisfy-your-curiosity-but-to-help-you/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) Browse all 640 Conform quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I grew up in the '60s, we were actually dominated by this, you know, sort of conforming '50s culture, even though we were like trying to express our own culture, like, the dominant culture was the thing that was forming us. 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