Popular Culture in Britain in the Beginning of the 1960s

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Popular Culture in Britain in the Beginning of the 1960s Popular culture is related to the interests of the youth. Before the 60s, there was no such thing as a teenager. In the beginning of the 60s wages increased and more jobs were being offered so youth had more money. In the beginning of the 1960s British youth spent an average of eight pounds a week. This gave them more chance to be independent and more freedom. This created 'the generation gap'. Never before had there been a difference between youth and adult. "In the 1950s daughters tried to look like her mothers, In the 1960s, mothers tried to look like their daughters." Many adults did not approve of new youth culture. They believed it to be too radical. Elvis.com - The Official Site[IMAGE][IMAGE] In the 1960s there was a very obvious divide between social classes. Social classes were divided by education, economics, gender and religion. Most people were of the working class and the lower middle class. Different social classes had different norms and values. British music was influenced by American music. Elvis (left) was one of the leading artists at the time and influenced many English singers such as Cliff Richard (middle) and the Beatles (right). It was the start of bands such as the Beatles who were, to some extent, an attack on establishment. Films were very different. British films showed war and history and the "ideal Britain". Public wanted to see films about real life. TV and radio were still broadcasting old-fashioned, educational programs. People wanted to watch programs about real life. The middle class male was the main target because they had the most interesting life style. Until Coronation Street in the beginning of the 1960s, there were hardly any regional accents on television. Suddenly, it was very popular to had a regional accent whereas before people were embarrassed by it. Coronation Street was the first TV program that showed things as they were. They were criticised for their effect on viewers. Models, such as Barbara golden, were mostly of upper class.

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