The 1960's - source related study

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Paul Cook 11L1                                                                                    27th August 2004

Assignment 2 and 3: Analysing the Sixties

What Can you learn from Source A about the impact of the Beatles in the 1960’s?

Source A states that in 1964, The Beatles were infamous, they were everything of the time. The country stood still if anything to do with The Beatles was happening. The source states that “instead of the evening rush hour an extraordinary silence and emptiness had descended upon London, on England, on Britain.” This statement is a bold one, basically saying that the Beatles were every British person’s favourite band. Most certainly an overstatement but definitely a widespread feeling felt by many in the 60’s.  Joanna Lumley’s source A is an animated, descriptive piece that paints the picture almost of 1964. She describes in detail, the feelings and emotions of Beatles fans: “John, Paul, George and Ringo being cool, hip, smart, lippy, charming and funny. It was very heaven to be alive.” I think that this explains well that the Beatles’ impact on the 60’s was huge. I think that the source also describes how the 60’s was moving with the times very quickly, maybe even in some cases ahead of it’s time. The music, of the Beatles and other bands, was very influential, still influencing people nowadays. If the 60’s really was how Joanna Lumley describes it then it was an era dominated by “Beatles-mania.” In source A it says “the nation held its breath because that evening the fab’ four were appearing live on Juke Box Jury.” Also it says that “No-one was to be seen by the flower-stall, the newspaper stand.” I think that overall this statement not only describes how the Beatles were everyone’s everything and they were the utmost importance in society, but that it really was “Heaven to be alive” because music for the first time was society’s favourite subject. The impact of the Beatles was obviously phenomenal, changing cultural feelings and becoming one of the most important things in the public’s lives. The reasons for their amazing impact and influence is not described in detail except for that the members of the band were “cool, hip, smart, lippy, charming and funny.” A catch to anyone!

Does the evidence of Source C support the evidence of Sources A and B about the effects of pop music in the 1960’s? Explain your answer.

Sources A and B in general describe the Beatles era and the 60’s as being obsessive and fanatical. Concerts such as the Mad Mod Ball at Wembley were incredibly scary according to source B, describing that the crowd were so mad and maniacal that the bands performing were “Terrified.” Source B also states that “I doubt if the stones ever played so close to their audience again. I can remember their terrified faces, when they were trying to get off the stage, surrounded by the heaving, maniacal, screaming mob.” In comparison to Source C, A and B state that the obsession of the fans was over the top and that sometimes scarily crazy where as Source C states that “it was never as crazy as they used to say it was.” Source C however is an opposed opinion as it is from Paul McCartney, a performer where A and B was from the fan’s viewpoint. I think that this is still able to be compared effectively but not directly, because it is still analyzing the time of life and subject. Source C. although being a performers opinion, still has a sense of a fan’s mind, and as Paul McCartney admits he used to be a big fan of music in his youth, I think this is important in showing how McCartney’s views are possibly more truthful than that of Joanna Lumley or other fans. In analysis it can be noticed that Source C instantly opposes the views of fans as it says that “it was never as crazy as they used to say it was.” Also Paul McCartney says that “They’d only want your autograph.” Sources A and B suggest that the fans wanted to scare their favourite bands. I do not think that Sources A and B support Source C in the way that the fans were maniacal and intentionally scared the bands but in a part of Source C, Paul McCartney does support A and B as he states “So Johnny Ray and people like that would run and get their jacket ripped off.” A main reason that C does not support A and B is because Paul McCartney felt like he was on the same wavelength as the fans and therefore understood them, he felt this way because he says that “I used to do the same thing myself.” If Source C was from another performer that did not feel the same way as Paul (probably a majority of other performers) it would probably support Sources A and B. The main point to be taken from this source is the opposing views of people. For example, one person’s terror maybe another person’s fun. What’s interesting about it is that Paul McCartney believes that you have to understand and comply with fans than to oppose them, as he mentioned that “They’d only want your autograph.” Whereas Johnny Ray, who didn’t try to see it from a fan’s viewpoint, would have his “jacket ripped off!”

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How helpful are Sources D and E in helping you to understand why many young people believed that the 1960’s gave them opportunities that had never had before?

Sources D and E describe the radio and television of the 60’s. Source D explains a television schedule, that is very different from what we know of now. It does not describe the various programmes because there was only one. It simply says that “Cathy McGowan invites you to meet a galaxy of stars.” I think that this is a lot more direct and that it targets the ...

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