懷舊指對過去的憧憬，通常是理想化而不現實的，經常和一個溫暖的童年回憶、某種遊戲或者珍貴的私人物品聯繫在一起。研究表示，許多人相信，過去的歲月比現在美好，他們也相信過去他們過的是較佳的生活，甚至當實際上並非如此的時候。這種感覺就是鄉愁的特質：美好的舊時光。流行文化經常撩撥鄉愁情緒。諸如Lost In Space和Moon Pies的電視節目總可以引起對太空時代的懷念。   

60年代被很多人，特別是嬰兒潮世代，認為是20世紀最棒的10年。不過，現在被視為60年代（The Sixties）的實際上是從1963年底晚至1974年，其他和50年代很類似。60年代的主題有：嘻皮、搖滾、披頭四和Woodstock音樂節。60年代常被稱為「Swingin' Sixties」，一方面因為那十年的巨大文化變遷，另一方面也因為swinging的普遍流行。60年代從1980年代開始成為懷舊的對象。

在美國，70年代，從懷舊的角度看，不是指1970年到1979年，而是指這10年的後半段，因為前半段被視為60年代的一部份。70年代常被成為迪斯可時代，因為這種音樂在那10年間非常流行。在英國，70年代的懷舊包含整個十年。龐克搖滾和迪斯可（後者沒有像在美國那樣全面被接受）和70年代後半段最有關係。然而，華麗搖滾（glam rock）被認為是英國70年代的典型。被認為屬於70年代的物品有笑臉、迪斯可、放克（funk）和爆炸頭。

LONDON.- The Idea Generation Gallery invites you to take a trip…down Memory Lane, through Haight-Ashbury and across Golden Gate Park to turn on, tune in, drop out at the naked love-ins and anti-war sit-ins; at the psychedelic be-ins and the politicized happenings and meditate upon the spirit, body and soul of The Sixties - the first UK exhibition from Robert Altman, chief staff photographer of Rolling Stone, at Idea Generation Gallery (on view through 29th August.)

The exhibition brings together 60 of the most powerful images from Altman’s extensive portfolio. As one of the lead Rolling Stone photographers in the magazine’s heyday of the late sixties and early seventies, Altman’s exquisitely candid shots capture the luminaries of every sphere of influence – from politics and music through to the everyday revolutionaries and children of free love – and creates an extraordinary photographic journey through the historic moments of political; social and cultural revolution that have come to define ‘The Sixties’.

Altman’s images provide the ultimate visual narrative to the era; when the contradictory forces & emotions of nascent hippy idealism and free love ran parallel to revolution, radicalism and civil unrest, all of it underscored by an unerring optimism, and a belief - born out of frustration at the status quo, the government and The Man - that change was both necessary and within their grasp.

Altman takes us on a journey through his Sixties - from the very epicenter of the scene as a Rolling Stone photographer - introducing us to the key players on the way. Whether getting us a front row seat at some of the best gigs (including many iconic Rolling Stone front covers); or rallying us to march alongside the protesters; or letting it all hang out with the flower children indulging in some free-love to boot, Altman’s Sixties is the one we all wish we had lived through.