A Look at Life in the Sixties; A Look at Life in the Seventies
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Cover Story
The anarchic hero of many daring adventures, William, as depicted on our cover by Thomas Henry in one of his effective, humorous pen and ink illustrations, is now a period piece. A William de nos jours illustrated by Tony Ross and aimed at a younger audience stands alongside him. This new William will be featured in adaptations of the stories by Martin Jarvis. Richmal Crompton, author of the William books, is the subject of this issue's Authorgraph. Thanks to Macmillan Children’s Books for their help with this November cover.
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Here are two of the books in a series which covers the closing years of the twentieth century. They have been published previously in hardback and cover the decades from 1960-80. They are not quite histories, although Grant does impose some shape on the material. This is 'Look at Life' for young people over 14 years old that is refracted through the preoccupations of the media. Fashion and pop music have more coverage than domestic and international events; Abba gets as much space as Richard Nixon; and Che Guevera merits a profile more as youth icon than significant historical figure.
The books rely on a plethora of visual sources: photographs, publicity shots, TV and film stills, and advertisements. While these give a feel for the spirit of the time, they also distort what life was like for most people by relying on what was newsworthy. As you might expect, the sixties volume emphasises youth culture, flower power and long hair. As typical of young people's life in the 1960s, but much less glamorous, might be the bedsit and the launderette.
A photograph of the dingy interior of a typical British city centre pub in 1967 might dispel the notion of Carnaby Street Britain.
This is the 1960s and 1970s as a transatlantic youth and liberation fest. The developing world barely intrudes. It is interesting that most of the films and books recommended by Grant as revealing the spirit of the time are American. It is curious that 'ordinary people' (in comparison to the young and newsworthy?) only enter on the narrative occasionally, crucially to bring the two decades to a close with votes for Thatcher and Reagan and a return to 'order and authority.'
I can see that fashion, pop music, leisure and sport all have their place in social history. I can see, too, their appeal to a young audience. The obvious danger, however, is that history presented in this way, as a media event, will itself be seen merely as a parade of style statements, with the struggles of past lives seen as no more significant than hot pants or flared trousers.
