To What Extent did Britain Experience a 'Cultural Revolution in the 1960s - Essay Example

?Britain cultural revolution in the 1960s British cultural revolution in the 1960s Introduction British cultural revolution of the 1960s is sometimes referred as the ‘swinging sixties’ since it led to significant cultural changes in Britain including new creative arts, emergency of new music genres, new dress codes, freedom of sex and cultural protests (Marwick 1998). From politicians to historians, there are conflicting opinions on what influence the cultural revolution of 1960s. Historians attribute the protests towards Cold war while politicians assert that emergency of technology such as film music, contraceptive pill, rubber condoms and Acts of parliament that were passed in 1960s (Marwick 1998). The Acts of parliament led to divorce, homosexuality and abortion thus declining the social standards. For instance, National Health Service Act of 1967 allowed for the local authorities to provide free contraceptive pills to women thus leading to secular Britain. The sixties is considered a period when the old framework of morality, authority and discipline in the society disintegrated and led to disrespect of law and order, decline in family values and tuneful music (Moore-Gilbert 1992). The Cultural Revolution was characterized by youthful culture, idealism. Protests, triumph of Afro-American models, changes in sexual behaviours such as gay liberation, and the emergence of new music. It is evident that Swinging Sixties changed British moral standards from Christian based virtues to more secular virtues due to legalisation of homosexuality and abortion (Sandbrook 2007). The technological development in music production technologies led to new music genres such as hard rock and new dressing styles that included unkempt long hair, afro hairstyle and sideburns. Premarital sex and commercialisation of pornography and nudity in television advertisements later led to emergency of sexually transmitted diseases, abortions and high divorce rates (Ferris 1993). The Cultural Revolution was evident in new dressing styles. Some fashion trends include new hairstyles like the beatle boots and mop-top haircut. The hippie movement also introduced bell-bottom jeans, paisley prints and batik fabrics that were common with the youth. In addition, mini-skirts were introduced and bikini family featured in the beach party film in 1963 (Marr 2008). Men also introduced new hairstyles that included crew cut, flattop hairstyle and longer parted hairstyles with sideburns. African women preferred the afro while other mainstream hairstyles included chignon hairstyle, twiggy and beehive hairdos (Marwick 1998). In my opinion, it is evident that the Cultural Revolution led to new fashion designs and fashion consciousness among British youth. The youthful population wanted casual wear that displayed their identity of being cool and trendy thus replicating with anti-social behaviours like drug abuse (Marr 2008). The Cultural Revolution is evident in the music industry. In the 1950s, Britain relied entirely on American music but Beatles ventured in American market in 1960s thus making Britain a centre of fashion and music. Many youths admired Beatlemania as pop music erupted with energy thus leading to cultural shifts. The Rolling stones band utilized sexy drawl and feminine pout that drew huge crowds to music concerts. Another striking aspect of the music was unkempt style and wild wear clothing. New music stars such as Cilla Black, Adam Faith and Cliff Richard emerged during the Cultural Revolution. The Zombies, the Animals and Dusty Springfield mainly used protest music that combined new fashion trends and youthful culture thus appealing to the US audience (Moore-Gilbert 1992). In addition, psychedelic music was common in order to enhance the experiences of hallucinogenic drugs while the traditional progressive folk bands shifted to rock and pop music (Sandbrook 2007). Heavy metal music started to gain audience in later 1960s and become popular in the next decade. Carnaby Street in London was filled with nightclubs and fashion designers while Liverpool was considered as the home of new pop music. Stereo also replaced mono as the recording mode while nearly all studios were equipped with multi-track tape recorders (Marwick 1998). The background noise in music was minimised after introduction of the noise reduction systems while the pre-recorded 8 track cartridge was invented (Marr 2008). The conservative music ruled the BBC music, but the British youths were keen on listening to American style music. Radio Caroline and Trad Jazz attracted high following in Britain since the new youth subculture wanted to form a unique identity of youthful music and trendy clothing. In my opinion, the Cultural Revolution of 1960s led to the emergence of popular British music such as hard rock genre and pop music dominated singles charts. Beatles and Rolling Stones helped propel British music to American audience thus leading to the emergence of many artists and recording studios throughout British cities (Moore-Gilbert 1992). The Sixties were also characterised by a sexual revolution and freedom of sex. This entailed sexual liberation and acceptance of social relationships outside the traditional heterosexual, public nudity and acceptance of premarital sex (Marr 2008). There was also legalisation of homosexuality that was finally followed by abortion in the society. Freedom of sex was occasioned by the numerous researches on sex, increasing youth culture and use of sexual imagery in advertisements (). Big businesses looked for opportunities to make profits from the acceptance of pornography and premarital sex in the British society. The sexual encounters between unmarried men and women increased thus ultimately leading to an incline in the number of abortions and divorces during the 1960s (Marwick 1998). The growth of mass media such as magazines and televisions facilitated the spread of sexual images and sexual freedoms (Ferris 1993). In my opinion, the Sixties led to freedom of sex since birth control measures, abortion and premarital sex shifted the cultural attitudes and behaviours of the society and ushered gay and lesbian movements, reforms in the medical regulation of sexuality and increased commercialisation of pornography in the mass media (Ferris 1993). The Church of England tried to oppose the birth controls as this would finally lead to erosion of the moral authority. By the end of World War II, many British women had secured employment in the factories and started demanding for equal pay and opportunities in the workplace. Black women also considered themselves as national models due to their role of promoting youthful music and dressing styles (Marwick 1998). Radical feminists acted as if they were the oppressed minority in the society. Women learned self-reliance and joined public protests in demanding for equal employment opportunities (Moore-Gilbert 1992). The Cultural Revolution is evident in the current family structures. The feminist movements led to education and labor rights for women. The revolution left the family structures weaker and stripped off authority over the children (Marwick 1998). For instance, the extended family importance declined, and many families started living in a nuclear family set up. In addition, inheritance patterns shifted and parents could not exercise much authority over their grown up children. The family relations were characterised with stressful relationships, suicide incidents and high divorce rates (Marr 2008). Men and women started sharing responsibilities in terms of household chores and taking care of the siblings (Marr 2008). Another aspect of cultural was a refinement of art and architecture. Tall buildings and skyscrapers created a distinct British culture. The influence of design and space was apparent in the new buildings which has modern furnishings (Marr 2008). Conclusion The Cultural Revolution of 1960s completely changed the moral virtues, sexual relationships, dressing code and music in Britain. The Cultural Revolution was occasioned by youth countercultural movements that rebelled against the older generation. British youths sought to imitate American glamour in terms of new dressing, music styles and freedom of sex. The booming postwar British economy allowed the youths to purchase luxury items such as latest clothing fashions and record players. Youths also engaged in political activism in response to political anxieties such as Cuban missile crisis and Cold War tensions. About 62 percent of the British youths polled in 1965 asserted that they supported campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) which indicated the growing political radicalisation of British youths. In addition, Cultural Revolution of the 1960s was marked with premarital sexual experimentation and marijuana abuse among the youths. Left-wing liberal ideologies inspired the youths to engage in an alternative lifestyle that was characterised with drug abuse, sex and new music genres. In my opinion, Cultural Revolution in Britain had a great impact since it led to the liberalization of abortion laws and homosexuality which was against the older traditional virtues and beliefs in the society. There were also new radical ideas of drug abuse, rock music and new dressing styles that portrayed the emerging youth pop and rock culture. The Swinging Sixties later led to high drug abuse addicts, numerous cases of divorce and abortion in British society. References: Ferris, P. 1993. Sex and the British: a twentieth-century history. London: Pengium Books. Marr, A. 2008. A history of modern Britain. London: Pan Books. Marwick, A. 1998. The sixties. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Moore-Gilbert, B.J. 1992. Cultural revolution: the challenge of the arts in the 1960s. London: Routledge. Sandbrook, D. 2007. White heat: a history of Britain during Swinging Sixties. London: Abacus. Read More