Social, Historical and Cultural Context in The Avengers

Social, Historical and Cultural Context -Avengers & 1960s

• 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
• Spy Thriller - Sub genre

Brief Summary of Series 4, Episode 1
Steed and Emma, are on the trail of several murdered agents. They visit Little Bazeley by the Sea, a town that strangers rarely leave alive-and discover it is being secretly infiltrated (invaded) by enemy agents

• 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
• Parents of the Sixties of the teenage generation had spent their own teenage years fighting for their lives in the Second World War and wanted their own children to enjoy their youth

• When writing about the 1950s - Historical culture
• When writing about the 1960s - Social and Cultural context

What contexts are explored in The Advengers?

• Music - The Beatles: They experimented with new sounds and developed innovative pieces of music. Their later albums included lyrics encouraging rebellion against the authorities, as seen in 'Revolution'. Their music was mostly made for younger people and young people began to stand up for their beliefs and their individuality and started to live in the moment. 
• Drug Culture - 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. It was very difficult for anyone in the 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 and take hallucinogenic drugs. LSD made people feel happy and optimistic and helped bring about the 'hippie' movement.
• Feminism - Protests, women's liberations groups. Birth control was invented  - this changed the relationships attitudes of man young women to sex and sexuality. Lawsuits about equal pay - women were payed 60% less than men. Fighting for abortion rights. Women had lower salaries and worked in 'pink collar' jobs. Society was still patriarchal even though there was progression towards more equal society. Emma Peel is seen as Steeds professional equal, she is inspired by James Bond. She is dressed like a male (not a typical women - short dress). She fights in a 'bitchy' was - pulling hair. Very different from typical 'pretty lady' in the 60s - not pretty and cute, she is tough and strong and sexy - rebelling. When talking - always seductive.
• Sexuality - in the 60s, any form of gay relationships were illegal. 93% of people thought any form of homosexuality was a form of mental illness. Publicly gay men were either sent to prison or a mental hospital. In 1967 - law changed to allow gay  exual content (no penetration) if they were over the age of 21, it was consensual and it had to take place in private. There was no regulation of female homosexuality

How The Avengers shows 1960 Context

Emma Peel's bum was touched. This shows the 1960s context as women were seen as being sexual objects for men. Her outfit also shows this as it is a full leather bodysuit which portrays her being sexual and lures male attraction.

• Cold war - an ongoing standoff between Russia and the US to compete to be the best and have the biggest country. There was a lot of spying going on and everyone was paranoid.  This paranoia was shown in Avengers
• Ethnic - There are very limited numbers of ethnic minorities in The Avengers. Society in 1960 had very large groups of asian and afro-carrabian communities across the UK. Media was 'white-watched' even though it doesn't represent society. People viewed black people as being annoying and a waste of space. e.g: Love thy Neighbour was a family, sitcom that was very racist and often used the 'N-word'
• Gender - 'Steve' acted as the very typical, charming male. He was the 'archetype gentleman'. 'Peel' represented a modern women who has power and influence yet very sexual and flirtatious - context of the time, women were allowed to be sexual and freer - invention of birth control. First time since WW2 that women were working and not staying at home, even though there was still a difference in pay. Feminists wanted equal pay, to end sexual and domestic harassment and shared responsibility in child raising. There was the raise in rights for women to drive. The mini was designed for women to be free and liberating. bn