theme 4 - cultural challenge Flashcards
(14 cards)
why was music criticised in the 1980s?
social conservatives grew particularly anxious about the content of rap and metal music
much of the music popular within youth culture challenged conservatism on issues such as sexual and social freedom, drug-taking, and race
e.g some metal dealt with issues of justice - Metallica in the 1988 album ‘And Justice for All’
what was the PMRC?
Parents Music Resource Center
a pressure group that, alongside the RR, opposed music culture
1985: successfully pressured MTV to cease its promotion of metal due to its explicit lyrics and sexually explicit and violent music videos
another main target was Madonna and her sexuality - e.g ‘Like a Virgin’
how did some youth conform in the 1980s?
many participated in non-oppositional pop culture (e.g mainstream movies)
‘yuppies’ liked making money, BMWs, jogging, high-fibre diets, etc
what changes were there to technology in the 1980s?
rapid technological advances transformed everyday life, global connectivity, and the economy
e.g rise of personal computers, early mobile phones, improved communication systems, Walkmans, developments in military and space technology
what impact did changing technology have on Americans?
cable television, remote control devices, VCRs, and portable CD technology
helped revolutionise entertainment
provided a great deal of choice for the individual consumer
revolutionised the wars Americans produced, received, and exchanged information
why was MTV criticised?
black artists were rarely shown
- 1 employee admitted this was because MTV didn’t want to alienate the small-town Midwest
charged with sexism as women were often objectified in music videos to encourage a male audience
white conservatives criticised MTV for being a bad influence on the American youth
what is AIDS?
a sexually transmitted disease
also transmitters through contaminated needles and blood transfusion
many of those who had AIDS were typically young, gay, men
what impact did AIDS have on homosexuality?
predominantly affected young gay men, and so Middle America associated it with immorality
it fuelled anti homosexual sentiment
encouraged many gay men to remain in the closet
what was the Ryan White Care Act?
he was a haemophiliac who contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion
helped to change public perception of AIDS
the Act was passed after his death in 1990, granting $220m to help victims of AIDS
what impact did TV and film have on homosexuality?
audiences wary of films and TV series on homosexuality
1981: NBC considered sitcom ‘Love, Sidney’ but rejected the idea
pressure from RR caused Hollywood to be reluctant to deal with homosexuality
1989: ‘Longtime Companion’ was the first widely released movie to deal with AIDS
- great critical acclaim
- small audiences
what impact did TV and film have on sex?
sexually explicit content increased during this period
‘Basic Instinct’ (1992)
TV shows for teens such as ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ had a common theme that being a virgin was embarrassing
‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ (1988) depicted Jesus sexually and received conservative backlash from RR and Concerned Women for America
what impact did TV and film have on violence?
Hollywood and TV criticised for gratuitous violence
‘Die Hard’ (1988) and ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)
- both raised the question of whether violence is acceptable
what impact did TV and film have on war?
anti-war films such as ‘Platoon’ (1986) and ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ (1989), which was based on memoirs of a Vietnam veteran
what impact did TV and film have on the role of women?
many 1980s films promoted the ‘good mother’ - e.g ‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987)
Hollywood often conformed to conservative values in order to maximise revenue
movies such as ‘Another Woman (1988) and ‘Criminal Law’ (1989) depicted abortion negatively
‘Roseanne’ (1988-97) depicted the struggled of a working-class woman who had to work multiple jobs and then come home to to housework
- most watched tv show in US (1989-90)
