Theme 4 b 1 - The impact of mass popular culture (1918-79) Flashcards

1
Q

What was there a huge growth of between 1918-79?

A

Mass popular culture- particularly the impact of cinema, radio and music on peoples lives.

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2
Q

Cinema, 1918-39

  • In the 1920s, what was the far most popular medium of entertainment?
  • What did the British film industry come under pressure from in the 1920s?
A
  • Cinema!
  • Larger and more powerful American industry based in Hollywood.
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3
Q

In the nineteenth century, what would British audiences have enjoyed?

How would this have changed in the early twentieth century?

A
  • Books about the adventures of British imperial heroes by H.Rider Haggard and Rudyard Kipling.
  • American films about cowboys and gangsters!
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4
Q

In 1927, what act did the British government pass and what did it ensure?

What were also produced in the same year?

A
  • Cinematograph Films Act, ensuring that 7.5% of the films shown had to be British, rising to 20% in 1935.
  • The year that ‘talkies’ -films with spoken words- were first produced.
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5
Q

How were cinema tickets affected by the great depression?

A
  • 1930s - 18/19 million sold every week
  • Good for escapism
  • London study 1931 - unemployed people watched films on average 2.6 times a week
  • Glasgow - 80% jobless saw at least one film every week
  • Improvised cinemas created in miners institutes of south wales - only charging what out-of-work miners could pay.
  • 50% of all tax revenues on entertainment - 1937 yeilding govt. £5.6 million where football-only £470,000
  • 1938 978 million admissions.
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6
Q

What are some films that reflect life issues in 1930s?

A
  • The firstborn 1928 - adoption of an illegitimate child.
  • The great game 1930 - the centrality of football to working-class
  • Love on Wheels 1932 - bus conductor helps commuter find love
  • The pleasure garden 1925 - Alfred Hitchcock - empowered female characters looking for love

Uncommon popularity as many opted for escapism.

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7
Q

How many films did the British Film Industry create during WW2?

A
  • 500

Improve morale due to escapism and promote patriotism.

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8
Q

What are some films created during WW2 that encouraged patriotism?

A
  • In which we serve - noel cowards
  • Henry V - Shakespeare adaptation by Laurence Olivier
  • Let George Do It - comedian Geroge Formby smacked Hitler.
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9
Q

What did Ealing film studio do between 1947-57?

A

‘Ealing Comedie’

  • explore quality of life after economic struggles following the war.
  • 1947 - Hue and Cry - School boys beat a criminal gang.
  • Passport to pimlico - Area which declared itself independent from rest of London - satirised harsh economic conditions and rationing
  • Meet Mr Lucifer - cursed TV set - anxieties who how the TV will affect society.
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10
Q

Give an example of a film made after WW2 to boost morale

A
  • David Leans - Bridge on the River Kwai - Britain thwarted the Japanese.
  • The Dam Busters 1955
  • Sink the Bismarck 1960
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11
Q

When did James Bond begin?

A
  • Dr No - 1962
  • With Sean Connery
  • People relate to the economic boom as Bond had luxuries eg. Cars.
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12
Q

What did the new wave of filmmaking during the 1950s and 60s introduce?

A

Social Realism - Dramas based on everyday experiences of Britains working class.

  • John Osborne’s play to film adaptation - Look Back in Anger 1956
  • Shelagh Delaney - A taste of Honey 1961
  • Saturday Night, Sunday Morning 1960 - Tony Richardson - protagonist was materialistic.
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13
Q

Give some examples of the films based on Dark Visions within Britain.

A
  • A rise in crime and the permissive society
  • Get Carter 1971 - Ganster seeking revenge.
  • A Clockwork Orange 1971 - dystopian version of Britain - future were violent men kill and rape for enjoyment
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14
Q

When was there a decline in the popularity of the cinema?

A
  • 1970s
  • Soft porn comedy film - confessions of a window cleaner
  • On the Buses TV series spin-off
  • Few successful blockbusters (excluding James Bond)
  • Drain in funding
  • Talented personnel moving to USA or TV.
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15
Q

What music was popular beween 1918-1945?

A
  • Jazz and Swing - from USA - Duke Ellington and Count Basie
  • US Army and Air Force and American Forces Radio - Broadcast jazz and swing across the UK.
  • Ivor Novello - most pop - ‘Keep the home fires burning’ - appealing to people with soilers posted away during WW1. - Paid £15,000
  • 20,000 dance bands in Britain by 1930.
  • BBC created Light Programme in 1945 for entertainment and music. Replaced by Radio 2 in 1967.
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16
Q

What music was popular during 1950s-1960s?

A
  • Americas rock n roll - Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. - reinvented black blues music and popularised it for youth.
  • New style Skiffle - Lonnie Donegan - 31 Top 30 singles and three number ones by 1962.
  • The Beatles, The Kinks, Rolling Stones and The Who - Own rock sound - British Pop became world Famous.
  • Beatlemania - ‘She Loves You’ sold 750,000 copies in under a month. - Merch eg. Wigs made huge profits for companies like Seltaeb
17
Q

What is mod music?

A
  • pop music with a close relationship with consumerism and fashion
  • the Who, Kinks and Small Faces attracted mainly working-class fans spending their wages on the mod look
18
Q

How did Glam Rocks identify themselves?

A
  • Expressing and challenging ideas of gender identity
  • Marc Bolan and David Bowie ‘Space Oddity’ - alter ego based on moon landings in 1969 - crossdressing
  • Appeared androgynous.
  • Shock the older generation and fascinate the younger.
19
Q

How did the Reggae scene emerge in Britain?

A
  • Immigrants from Caribbean bringing sounds of Trinidad and Jamaica.
  • Traditional calypso music developed to Reggae.
  • Record Labels - Island and Trojan imported reggae records and selling to both black and white audiences
  • Desmond Dekker ‘The Israelites in 1969
  • Emphasises changing ethnic makeup of Britain
  • Two alternative variants - Roots Reggae - associated with Rastafarianism and Ska music
20
Q

What is roots reggae?

A
  • Reggae that is associated with Rastafarianism
  • Linton Kwesi Johnson - Dreas Beat an Blood 1978 - one song ‘All Wi Doin is defendin’ - reflected widespread anger.
  • To articulate experiences of black immigrants dealing with racism, police violence and inequalities in work and housing.
21
Q

What is Ska music?

A
  • Variant of Raggae
  • Harder and more aggressive - called two-tone - drew from punk
  • Coventry group - The specials - identifying the lack of opportunities for both black and white young people in the 1970s.
22
Q

When and what was Punk music in Britain?

A
  • 1970s
  • Originated in New York - angry music
  • sex pistols, the clash and the Buzzcocks
  • Punk fans tore their jeans, wore piercings and spiked their hair to appear shocking and offensive
  • New Musical Express - link punk and declining living standards - youth unemployment
23
Q

Who was the most popular recording artist of the 1970s?

A
  1. Elton John - 16 top 50 albums - 4 number 1s
  2. Queen - 19 million records sold
  3. Also popular was the disco music of the Bee Dees
24
Q

Why was the BBC Radio created?

A
  • 1922
  • Govt. fear public radio services - believe it may lead to a revolution or general strike
  • Radio programs could closely reflect the values of govt. - didn’t report on the reality of life.
  • Stopping inventor Guglielmo Marconi set up a station.
  • 1927 - Given royal charter
  • John Reith first director general.
25
Q

What is pirate radio?

A
  • Three programs during WW2 - Home, Light and Third programme. (Later becoming Radio 2,3 and 4) These declined in 50s and 60s. - 1967 - Radio 1 launched for youth.
  • BBC only legalise station in GBR
  • others based on ships moored just outside British territorial water broadcast immensely popular programmes.
  • Radio Caroline - 10 million audience by 1964
26
Q

When and why did the BBC lose its monopoly on broadcasting?

A
  • 1975
  • Licenses for commercial radio stations were granted
  • These stations could appeal to more niche audiences and sell airtime to advertisers.