Download - Mid 20th century_culture
Aiste Bukauskaite Andreas Rooney
Irene Lozano-Villaseñor Andrea Morante
Roberta Mackeciviute
Culture in the United Kingdom in the 2nd half
of 20th Century
Unsatisfied soldiers = mistrust in the current government (the Conservative Party) = new government with the Labour Party
Changes made by the Labour Party: Improve the standards of living
Move to mixed economy
Maintain the Army
Introduce National Health Service
The Bloody Sunday
1972, 30th January
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
(NICRA) led a non-violent campaign
The marchers were attacked by the Royal Ulster
Constabulary (RUC)
13 protesters were shot dead, the 14th victim died
later after being injured during the march
Post-War Literature
Move from Modernism to
Postmodernism
▪ James Joyce and Virginia Woolf
▪ The Rational versus The Emotional
▪ Extreme self-reflexion
Transition Authors
William Golding ▪ Metaphorical Social Commentary
▪ “Lord of the Flies”
▪ Cruelty of Human Beings
George Orwell ▪ Dystopian Political Commentary
▪ Arbitrary Social Constructs
▪ Subjectivity
The Royal Shakespeare
Company
• Scenic arts’ competition with the rise
of television and cinema.
• In 1960, Peter Hall forms modern
Royal Shakespeare Company; the most
famous drama company up until today.
• Importance in educational and
community projects.
• While specializing in plays written by
William Shakespeare, the company
also produces other works by
Renaissance play writers as well as
contemporary ones.
Young British Artists
• British art in the 1970s and in the 1980s survived serious cutbacks in public funding.
• The contemporary art was not so much appreciated in Britain, making many artists
to emigrate.
• The economic recession for the art market in the 1989 made matters even worse.
• Uncertain economic situation, indifference to contemporary art united a group of art
students called Young British Artists (YBAs).
• YBAs’ challenging art concepts and unusual materials made them famous. Their first
exhibition: Freeze
Damien
Hirst
• The leading figure of
Young British Artists
• A controversial figure,
named “the bad boy” of
modern British art.
• The richest living artist.
Historical Context
Old and New Trends
Pop-Art
Historical Context
Old and New Trends
Pop-Art
Post WW2 Period:
Stirrings of Freedom
New inventions, such as the radio
More liberal Britain
The Beatles: Positive, peaceful
music
Voiced the thoughts of the nation
Very influential
The Rolling Stones:
Opposite of The Beatles
Symbol of rebellion
Below is an excerpt from the song “Revolution” by the Beatles.
“You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it's evolution Well, you know We all want to change the world But when you talk about destruction Don't you know that you can count me out Don't you know it's gonna be all right all right, all right You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your
head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind
instead
But if you go carrying pictures
of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with
anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all
right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right”
Below is an excerpt from the song “Street Fightin’ Man” by
The Rolling Stones
“Ev'rywhere I hear the sound of marching, charging feet, boy
'Cause summer's here and the time is right for fighting in the
street, boy….
“Hey! Said my name is called disturbance
I'll shout and scream, I'll kill the king, I'll rail at all his
servants
Well, what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band
'Cause in sleepy London town…”
Disillusionment
From All Social Classes
Inability to Fit in to Contemporary British Life
Anger at Britain's Post-War Apathy
Relinquished Colonies
Church and Aristocracy
New National Identity
Archetypical for its Genre
Shocking Dialogue
Alienation From Society
Class Conflict
Similar Themes
Rock
Punk
• Fashion of the United Kingdom in the 20th century was influenced
by developing cross-culturalism.
• Various designs, styles and materials were more accessible from all
over the world.
• From 1960s designers put more attention to young people’s tastes and needs instead
of pleasing only mature and rich elite as before.
• During that time secondhand, modified or homemade clothes were an expression of
personality.
• The greatest innovation of the decade was the miniskirt, designed for an “ideal” and
skinny girl.
1950s 1960s
• Hippies were an important movement in the 60s, which
introduced a different lifestyle and a point of view to
politics while trying to create a utopian society.
• Going against commercialism they wore secondhand
clothes, usually very colorful to express happiness,
freedom, and peace.
1980s
• Leggings, oversized sweaters and shirts , sneakers were the favorite casual look.
• Singers, movie stars had a huge influence on fashion.
• Power dressing: suits and
shoulder pads made woman’s
silhouette look more like
man’s: shoulders broader and
hips narrower.
• Women wanted to show that
they are equal to men and can
compete with them in business
world.
1990s
• Most of the people lost
their interest in
fashion because of
world wars.
• It became usual to
work at home so there
was no need for
dressing up.
• Many teenage girls
copied celebrities,
especially Spice
Girls who were
called icons of the
90s.