Psychedelics and the Advertising Man: The 1960s ‘Countercultural Creative’ on Madison Avenue

Journal article

Cynthia B. Meyers
Columbia Journal of American Studies, vol. 4(1), 2000, pp. 114-127

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APA Click to copy
Meyers, C. B. (2000). Psychedelics and the Advertising Man: The 1960s ‘Countercultural Creative’ on Madison Avenue. Columbia Journal of American Studies, 4(1), 114–127.

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Meyers, Cynthia B. “Psychedelics and the Advertising Man: The 1960s ‘Countercultural Creative’ on Madison Avenue.” Columbia Journal of American Studies 4, no. 1 (2000): 114–127.

MLA Click to copy
Meyers, Cynthia B. “Psychedelics and the Advertising Man: The 1960s ‘Countercultural Creative’ on Madison Avenue.” Columbia Journal of American Studies, vol. 4, no. 1, 2000, pp. 114–27.

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@article{cynthia2000a,
  title = {Psychedelics and the Advertising Man: The 1960s ‘Countercultural Creative’ on Madison Avenue},
  year = {2000},
  issue = {1},
  journal = {Columbia Journal of American Studies},
  pages = {114-127},
  volume = {4},
  author = {Meyers, Cynthia B.}
}

In the mid to late 1960s, a new figure appeared on Madison Avenue: the countercultural advertising man. Usually employed in the copywriting and art departments of advertising agencies,' these countercultural "creatives" affected the mannerisms and dress of the youth culture as they served their agencies' corporate clients. Their hip appearance helped convince certain clients that the advertising agency was tapping into the cultural zeitgeist. Likewise, some ad men' hoped that participating in countercultural practices, such as smoking marijuana and taking LSD, would expand their abilities to produce the so-called creative and concept-driven advertising that was thought to appeal to the youth market.