@KNOWITALL Great point about the optimism, but it was a hard time in many other ways. Vietnam, Civil Rights, I think some parts of the country were much more carefree than others. These hard times probably fed creativity. More introspection, more pain, more wanting to feel good during good times. Extremes bring on other extremes.
I think part of the idealization of the 60’s is because our current older generation were children to young adults at the time, so they are simply remembering being young.
The 60’s was when the suburbs were growing, and people felt proud of their homes and felt part of a neighborhood. Certain sections of America anyway. Cruising in cars and starting families. It was a continuation of the 50’s post war baby boom and the American middle class was beginning to grow. Life was affordable, people maybe had more leisure time, I’m not sure about that. That’s my perception. Time to be creative.
Women were working more too, more than the 50’s anyway. My guess is they were starting to feel more and more empowered. I think that fed creativity.
Maybe there were more hallucinogenic drugs too. Lol.