Woodstock

I have been trying to think of something to say about Woodstock, which is experiencing its 40th anniversary, but this is one of the rare times when I stop being so presumptuous and actually realize a 19-year-old proto-historian’s lens can’t do the event justice. I said some things earlier this week, but primary sources are better right now, I think.

If you haven’t seen the Woodstock documentary, you should watch that—I have it on DVD, and I’ve watched it many, many times. See it before you see the new Ang Lee film, about which I’m very skeptical. Or, if you’re pressed for time, put on Joni Mitchell’s song “Woodstock”, and then look at this slideshow of reader-submitted photos from the NYT. It’s awesome.