1970s Youth Culture

Question 1

1970s Punk Bands

Answer 1

• Influenced by bands from the US, e.g. ‘New York Dolls’
• British bands - ‘The Sex Pistols’, ‘The Clash’, ‘The Damned’
• Much of the punk philosophy was nihilistic
• Lyrics reflected the social alienation that many young people felt
• ‘The Sex Pistols’ released a controversial single, ‘God Save the Queen’ during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year, reached number 2 in the music charts

Question 2

Punk Culture

Answer 2

• Image of punks was designed to be shocking
• Wore bondage gear, ripped t-shirts, piercings and had spiky hair
• Vivienne Westwood sold extremely influential items for the punk image
• Trend was simply a rebellious phase
• Punk concerts both performers and audience spat at each other, often violent scuffles
• Punks created moral panic

Question 3

Skinheads

Answer 3

• From 60s youth culture
• Shaven heads, red braces, white t-shirts, bomber jackets, doc marten boots
• Many skinheads weren’t interested in politics, some were becoming increasingly linked to the National Front and football hooliganism

Question 4

Football Hooliganism (‘The English Disease’)

Answer 4

• Rise of racism at football matches, e.g. making money noises and throwing bananas at black football players
• Organised hooligan groups, called ‘firms’, were set up linked to particular football clubs
• Scenes became so violent that football hooliganism became known as ‘The English Disease’