(Class & Values) The emergence of the liberal society, 1951-79 Flashcards
What are the causes of the liberal society?
5
50s/early 60s saw unprecedented increase in affluence, leisure time & consumer choice.
Attitudes to class system, deference & authority changed.
Ideas about propriety & morality questioned.
Ideas about sexuality & marriage etc challenged.
Laws & reforms helped stimulate it.
What kind of beliefs did society primarily stand on prior to the emergence of the liberal society?
Traditional, Christian beliefs.
While many enjoyed new _________, some had ______ issues with the _____ of social ______ and _________/___________.
a) liberalism
b) major
c) pace
d) change
e) materialism/consumerism
Decline in deference - which 3 things led to a decline in deference in the new liberal society?
Consumerism & affluence
Satire boom
Sex scandals
Decline in deference - explain how consumerism & affluence led to a decline in deference.
(2)
End of rationing & relaxation of consumer credit in 1954 let working-class households enjoy new levels of prosperity.
Traditional ideas about social mobility & class challenged due to the consumerism that created social mobility.
Decline in deference - explain how the satire boom led to a decline in deference.
(3)
Before 1951, satire was rare due to deference.
By late 50s, changing attitudes and the availability of radio & TV created a satire boom as it was more accessible.
It was the first time elite politicians were on TV being questioned by journalists.
Decline in deference - what was satire?
A form of popular entertainment that makes fun of the government/politicians etc.
Decline in deference - what shows are examples of the satire boom?
‘That Was The Week That Was’ interviewed politicians and made comedy sketches.
Contextually, the out of touch nature of MacMillan’s government made them easy targets for satire.
Decline in deference - how did sex scandals lead to a decline in deference?
(4)
They exposed a hypocrisy that had long existed.
Sex scandals exposed the accepted fact of upper-classes being paragons of virtue as false.
Sex was on of the front pages of tabloids; it was no longer as taboo and scandals almost led to normalisation of sex as part of discourse and discussion.
Fed into the idea of a sexual revolution in the 60s.
Decline in deference - what is the most significant example of a sex scandal?
(3)
1683 Profumo Scandal = Conservative Minister for War (John Profumo) under Macmillan government had an affair with a 19 year old model who sleeping with a Soviet Spy.
Contextually, prior to this, sexual indiscretions of politicians were ignored by the media.
This is an example of changing attitudes of the 60s being reflected in media.
Sexual liberalism - how was their evidence of society becoming more sexually liberal?
(4)
‘Swinging London’ - represented an urban lifestyle of nightlife and drugs.
Provocative musicals - ‘Hair’ showed full nudity and ‘Oh Calcutta!’ recreated sex scenes.
Homosexuality - legalised (1967 Sexual Offences Act).
Abortion - legalised (1967 Abortion Act).
Sexual liberalism - how is it argued that abortion is evidence of society becoming more sexually liberal?
Some argued it encouraged sexual promiscuity and multiple partners.
The media - during an age of ____ ___________, _________ paid to place ____________ in the _______ press, reaching a _____ _________.
a) mass consumerism
b) advertisers
c) advertisements
d) tabloid
e) large audience
The media - tabloids began discussing sex scandals and sex as a topic more openly. What did this do?
Captured a large readership and associated sex with consumerism.
The media - what is an example of tabloids featuring sex more to capture a large audience and associating sex with consumerism?
Many adverts featured sexual allure as a marketing technique to sell products.
