12 Social, Cultural And Historical Contexts In The 1960s                         -And The Avengers

• The avengers is a spy thriller subgenre
• the avengers as a distinctive generic identity that is rooted in british popular culture
• Television drew upon this tradition while at the same time responding to the social and cultural changes of the 1960s

Series 4 Episode 1 (The Town Of No Return

Brief summary

• Steed and Emma are on the trail of several murdered agents. They visit little Basely by the sea, a town that strangers rarely leave alive- and discover is is being secretly infiltrated (invaded) by enemy agents.

The Swinging 60's

• London had transformed from the bleak, conservative city, only just beginning to forget the troubles of the second world war, into the capital of the world, full of freedom, hope and promise
• Young people were given a choice
• People had fought for and what we take for granted nowadays 
• ....

Music In The 60's

• The beatles revolutionised music forever
• It wasn't until the early sixties and the appearance of 'British Invasion' groups like The Beatles, that music truly began its ground-breaking changes
• The Beatles are an excellent example of how music influenced the lives of young Britons ... "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'

Drug Culture in the 60's

• Recreational drugs (drugs taken for entertainment /enjoyment rather than medically) were at their height in the sixties and became more commonly used in the later part of the decade.
• Images of the Woodstock Festival show people high on marijuana and LSD, dancing in fields with paint on their face and their hair flowing free.
• The effects of these drugs were also reflected in psychedelic art, music and films.
• It was very difficult for anyone in show business to avoid becoming involved in drugs in some way and as easily influenced young people looking for fun, many were encouraged to follow their idols talking hallucinogenic drugs ....

Feminism: the influence of patriarchy and feminism representations in The Avengers

• 1960's- The feminine movement
• Protests, women's liberations groups
• 1965- Use of contraceptives/safe birth control. This changed the relationships attitudes of many young women to sex and sexuality.
• Lawsuits for equal pay- women were paid significantly less (60% less) than men.
• Fighting for reproductive freedom- women's abortion rights.
• Women's rights in the workplace- women had lower salaries and worked in 'pink collar' jobs such as secretaries, not professional 'white collar' jobs such as lawyers/doctors.

How is feminism represented in the avengers?

(Emma Peel- played by Diana Rigg)

• Seen as steed's professional equal- inspired by James Bond. INTERTEXTUALITY) Bond and M (played on the name Emma Peel0 relationship.
• Will they/HAVE they sexual tension- Peel & Steed
• Clothes of Peel and fighting ability- this demonstrates modern liberated femininity. She embodies the new international fashion in women who like to dress and fight like men, Slightly ahead of fashion at the time.
• .....

Sexuality: The illegality of male gay sex in the early 60's

• In 1963, The Minorities Research Group (MRG) became the UK's first lesbian social and political organisation. They went on to public their own lesbian magazine called 'Arena Three'
• A UK opinion poll finds out that 93% of respondents see homosexuality as a form of illness requiring medical treatment.
• In 1966, a homosexual mp fought for the rights of homosexuals by legalising gay sex, but he unfortunately lost his seat in parliaments.
• If men were sent to mental institutions, they endured experimentation, torture, pain-causing drugs and electroshock therapy as a 'cure for homosexuality'.
• Mid 60's, gay activists became increasingly aware of the threat of prison (aware of the disgusting consequences)

.................winter hol question...

The fear of Russian spies in the cold war 1960's Britain

• After WW2, the United states and the Soviet Union were the world's strongest nations.
• The Cold War (45-91) was a long period of tension between the democracies of the western world and the communist countries of Eastern Europe.
• There was great distrust between the Soviet Union and the rest of the allies.
• The west was led by the United States and Eastern Europe was lead by the Soviet Union.   These two countries became known as superpowers.
• Arms Race- who has the best weapons?
• Space Race- Who could accomplish space race first?
• The cold war came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

• Paranoia was common during the Cold War- due to propaganda, ignorance, fear and secrecy. 
• The threat of replacement 'insiders' in The Avengers reflects the paranoia generated by the cold war, compared to the more everyday threat crime of Cuffs.

How is this context represented in The Avengers

• It takes for granted the existence of a Russian spy ring in Britain...
• Steed knows where their headquarters are. And this episode aired at the time when the reality of Soviet Unions were penetrating the British intelligence.
• English system is seen as an obstacle, preventing the Russians from carrying out their plans.

Ethnicities: the assumption of a common 'white' culture in 1960's Britain, despite presence of minorities

• The Avengers is predominantly 'white' while Cuffs includes characters of many different ethnic backgrounds.

Winter hol question........

Gender

• Steed- personified the traditional gentleman hero.
• Peel- Combined femininity and moderninity.

Post sexual revolution 

• The consequences of the pill being legalised 
• Women felt 'free'
• Highly sexual

Changes In The 1960's- Women VS Men

• More females than ever were entering the paid workforce, and this increased the dissatisfaction among women regarding huge gender differences in pay and advancement and sexual harassment at the workplace.
• By the end of the sixties, more than 80% of wife of childbearing age were using contraception after the federal government in 1960 approved a birth controll pill- This provided women with a lot more freedom.
• Basic goals of sixties feminists: equal pay for equal work, an end to domestic violence, restricting severe limits on women in managerial jobs, an end to sexual harassment, and sharing of responsibility for housework and child upbringing.

• The mini skirt was designed to b free and liberating for women, allowing them to 'run and jump'
• In 1968 at a ford factory in Dagenham, 850 women went on strike, arguing for equal pay
• ...
• ...