To what extent did Britain experience a 'cultural revolution' in the Essay

To what extent did Britain experience a 'cultural revolution' in the 1960s - Essay Example The Acts of parliament led to divorce, homosexuality and abortion thus declining the social standards. For instance, National Health Service Act of 1967 allowed for the local authorities to provide free contraceptive pills to women thus leading to secular Britain. The sixties is considered a period when the old framework of morality, authority and discipline in the society disintegrated and led to disrespect of law and order, decline in family values and tuneful music (Moore-Gilbert 1992). The Cultural Revolution was characterized by youthful culture, idealism. Protests, triumph of Afro-American models, changes in sexual behaviours such as gay liberation, and the emergence of new music. It is evident that Swinging Sixties changed British moral standards from Christian based virtues to more secular virtues due to legalisation of homosexuality and abortion (Sandbrook 2007). The technological development in music production technologies led to new music genres such as hard rock and new dressing styles that included unkempt long hair, afro hairstyle and sideburns. Premarital sex and commercialisation of pornography and nudity in television advertisements later led to emergency of sexually transmitted diseases, abortions and high divorce rates (Ferris 1993). The Cultural Revolution was evident in new dressing styles. Some fashion trends include new hairstyles like the beatle boots and mop-top haircut. The hippie movement also introduced bell-bottom jeans, paisley prints and batik fabrics that were common with the youth. In addition, mini-skirts were introduced and bikini family featured in the beach party film in 1963 (Marr 2008). Men also introduced new hairstyles that included crew cut, flattop hairstyle and longer parted hairstyles with sideburns. African women preferred the afro while other mainstream hairstyles included chignon hairstyle, twiggy and beehive hairdos (Marwick 1998). In my opinion, it is evident that the Cultural Revolution led to new fashion desi gns and fashion consciousness among British youth. The youthful population wanted casual wear that displayed their identity of being cool and trendy thus replicating with anti-social behaviours like drug abuse (Marr 2008). The Cultural Revolution is evident in the music industry. In the 1950s, Britain relied entirely on American music but Beatles ventured in American market in 1960s thus making Britain a centre of fashion and music. Many youths admired Beatlemania as pop music erupted with energy thus leading to cultural shifts. The Rolling stones band utilized sexy drawl and feminine pout that drew huge crowds to music concerts. Another striking aspect of the music was unkempt style and wild wear clothing. New music stars such as Cilla Black, Adam Faith and Cliff Richard emerged during the Cultural Revolution. The Zombies, the Animals and Dusty Springfield mainly used protest music that combined new fashion trends and youthful culture thus appealing to the US audience (Moore-Gilber t 1992). In addition, psychedelic music was common in order to enhance the experiences of hallucinogenic drugs while the traditional progressive folk bands shifted to rock and pop music (Sandbrook 2007). Heavy metal music started to gain audience in later 1960s and become popular in the next decade. Carnaby Street in London was