(Pop & Entertainment) The growth of youth culture, 1955-79

Question 1

Causes - ‘baby boomers’ after the war were starting to become teenagers. Give an example of there being a baby boom after WW2.

Answer 1

1 million births a year vs 0.8 early 1930s.

Question 2

Causes - what are the 4 causes to the growth of youth culture?

Answer 2

Social, political, economic & cultural.

Question 3

Causes - what are the social causes?

3

Answer 3

People were more supported by the govt.

Less deferential attitudes helped by dip in religious values & Butler Act of 1944.

Baby boom after WW2.

Question 4

Causes - what are the political causes?

2

Answer 4

Govt’s reluctance to protect BAME community aided racial youth violence.

Govt inaction over inflation & economic problems in 70s increased youth dissatisfaction.

Question 5

Context - what are the economic causes?

3

Answer 5

More money due to full employment & Hire-Purchase Act of 1955.

Economy grew 40% in Macmillan years - it easier for young people to get casual work.

Businesses keen to market themselves & take advantage of youth appetites for purchasing.

Question 6

Context - what are the cultural causes?

2

Answer 6

TV/satire boom modelled creativity & less deferential attitudes.

Influence from film, tv & music glamourised cultures & groups, spreading the ‘look’.

Question 7

Types of subcultures - what were the 3 main types of subcultures?

Answer 7

Teddy boys, mods & rockers.

Question 8

Types of subcultures - who were teddy boys?

3

Answer 8

Slicked back hair, rock n roll.

Associated with high lack of deference & violence.

Linked to racial violence, evidenced by numbers at Notting Hill Riots in 1958.

Question 9

Types of subcultures - when were teddy boys popular?

Answer 9

Mid 50s

Question 10

Types of subcultures - who were mods?

3

Answer 10

Italian suits

Vespa or Lambretta scooters

Listened to black rhythm & blues & British acts like the Beatles.

Question 11

Types of subcultures - when were mods popular?

Answer 11

60s-70s

Question 12

Types of subcultures - when were rockers popular?

Answer 12

60s-70s

Question 13

Types of subcultures - who were rockers? (4)

Answer 13

Leather jackets

Motorbikes

Listened to hard American rock.

Morphed into skinheads & some punks.

Question 14

Types of subcultures - what was the Battle of Brighton Beach, May 1964?

Answer 14

Mods & rockers fought at many seaside resorts in Brighton and Margate.
Over 100 arrests were made.

Question 15

Types of subcultures - what was notable about the kind of violence displayed at the Battle of Brighton Beach, May 1964?

Answer 15

Also present at football matches that created football hooliganism which became part of British culture & remained so in the 80s.

Question 16

When and how did football hooliganism end?

Answer 16

Early 90s after rebranding gave birth to the Premier League.

Question 17

Types of subcultures - how did people feel about the new generation and what was it an example of?

Answer 17

They felt threatened - it was an example of the emerging permissive society.

Question 18

Skinheads and football hooliganism - what formed skinhead culture?

Answer 18

Mod culture

Question 19

Skinheads and football hooliganism - when was skinhead culture formed?

Answer 19

1970s

Question 20

Skinheads and football hooliganism - what did skinheads embrace?

Answer 20

A working-class arrogance and hatred that became aggressive artistic impressions and sometimes violence.

Question 21

Skinheads and football hooliganism - when was a high point for football hooliganism?

Answer 21

The 70s

Question 22

Skinheads and football hooliganism - what emerged that lead to violence at matches?

Answer 22

Gangs and a territorial factor.

Question 23

Skinheads and football hooliganism - what occured in the wake of the Hillsborough Disaster?

Answer 23

Nearly all large-scale football violence occured outside of stadiums.

Question 24

Skinheads and football hooliganism - what was The Heysel Disaster in 1985?
What happened as a result?

(3)

Answer 24

A ‘charge’ of Liverpool fans at rival supporters caused a wall to collapse, killing 39 people.

English teams were banned from European club competitions until the problem was controlled.

Considerable efforts were made by football clubs themselves to eliminate racism amongst fans.