An A-Z Of British Culture

IntroductionSociety, Politics, Culture 1945-60

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

Introduction: What is ‘culture’?

• From Latin colere [to inhabit, to cultivate, to honour]

• UNESCO definition: • Culture is “a set of distinctive spiritual, material,

intellectual and emotional features of a society or group.”

• It encompasses “in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs”.

• Opposition: ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

Snapshots of Britain

Westminster Abbey Tower Bridge Houses of Parliament

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

Snapshots of Britain

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

‘High’ and ‘low’ culture

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

An A-Z of British Culture1. 21/10/04 Introduction; History, Politics,

Culture 1945-602. 28/10/04 History, Politics, Culture 1960-20043. 04/11/04 Cultures and Contexts4. 11/11/04 Cultures and Sub-Cultures5. 18/11/04 The Novel and Poetry6. 25/11/04 Theatre7. 02/12/04 TV and Radio8. 09/12/04 Cinema9. 16/12/04 Popular Music and Fashion

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

1. 23/12/04 The Press2. 30/12/04 Christmas Vacation3. 06/01/05 Art and Sculpture4. 13/01/04 Architecture and Interiors5. 20/01/05 London: The Cultural Melting Pot6. 27/01/05 No Lecture7. 03/02/04 End of Course Test8. 10/02/04 Course Evaluation, Distribution of

Scheine

An A-Z of British Culture

Society, Society, Politics, CulturePolitics, Culture

1945-601945-60

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

Society and Politics (1945-60)

• 1945-51: Labour in power• ‘Brave new post-war world’

• Welfare state and nationalisation of industries• Ideal of meritocratic, open society• Beginning of end of Empire

• 1951-64: Conservatives in power• Increase in average earnings• Immigration and racial tensions• Nuclear arms and protest movements

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

Clement Atlee (Labour)1945-51

Harold Macmillan (Conservative) 1957-63

Winston Churchill (Conservative) 1940-45, 1951-55

Anthony Eden (Conservative) 1955-57

British Prime Ministers 1945-63

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

1945-60 - Events

21st June, 1948: Arrival of SS Empire Windrush at

Tilbury Docks

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

1945-60 - Events

1951: Festival of Britain 1953: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

1945-60 - Events

1958: Protest march to Aldermaston

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

Society and Culture (1945-60)

• Female emancipation?• Conservative gender roles• Domestic unhappiness• Cinematic role models

• Sexual emancipation• 1953: second Kinsey Report• Relaxation of censorship laws

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

• Youth culture• Rock’n’roll• Juvenile crime• ‘Teddy Boys’

• Mass Culture/Consumerism• Television and radio• Realism: literature, drama, film, art

• Debate on popular culture• 1957: Richard Hoggart, The Art of Literacy• 1961: Raymond Williams, The Long Revolution

Society and Culture (1945-60)

Dewhurst: WS 2004/05An A-Z of British Culture

Next week Society,

Politics,

Culture 1960-2004