Popular culture deals with people's lifestyle, attitudes and activities that are prevailing in a given society. Post World War II in Australia for some it was a time of certainty, prosperity, rising income, improved lifestyle. For others, it was a decade of oppression, censorship, prejudice, discrimination, hatred. The 1950s and 1960s were the decades in which the horrors of war were forgotten, and Australia launched itself into a whole new era. This response will describe the changes in Australian popular culture post World War II in regarding of music, film, fashion, and sport.
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It also indicates something of the values of individuals and groups. The 1960s witnessed a revolution in fashion. In the early 1960s, the international centre of fashion shifted from Paris to London. Many designers moved into the 'off-the-rack' market, and older fashion traditions were radically altered. Unisex clothes were introduced in the 1960s; the wearing of pants by women became more general, and some men's fashions became more feminised. Older-style fashion, however, persisted. During the 1960s, many women wore their 'Sunday best'-including hats and gloves- if they travelled into the city to shop. Conflict over the clothes people wore also indicated social and cultural tensions in Australian society. The 1960s saw the appearance of the mini-skirt. Up until that time, skirts and dresses in Australia finished at the knee. Shorter hemlines created huge controversy when they first appeared, exposing centimetres of thigh never before seen in public. By the end of the decade, shift dresses and mini-skirts had become widely accepted. During the 1960s, American and British cultural influences rapidly filtered into Australia primarily via music, cinema and television. This had a dramatic impact on fashion till these days. For example, the miniskirt is quite widely worn and is accepted by Australian society. This cut of frock has had the most influence on Australian fashion as it was worn by English model Jean Shrimpton …show more content…
Australians, the image has it, are supposed to be 'sporty' and fit. And it has been claimed that Australian sport and sportsmanship demonstrates the egalitarian nature of society. Realities on the sports field, however, do not fit this image. This was particularly so in the 1960s. The sport was one of the few areas that Australia could compete in on the world stage. Most European nations still recovering from World War II, did not give sport a high priority. The areas in which Australia excelled in the 1950s were tennis, swimming, and athletics. These last two would feature strongly at the 1956 Olympics Games. The 1950s and 1960s have been called the golden age of Australian sport. At Melbourne, 22 November 1956, Australia held the first Summer Olympics Games outside of Europe and United States. Also it was at the same year in which the television was ever introduced; it was the first game where live television broadcasts captured the public's imagination. It was a time when Australians athletes, male and female, dominated the world in many areas. Also, Australia dominated world tennis, from the 1950-67 Australian teams won the Davis Cup 15
It also indicates something of the values of individuals and groups. The 1960s witnessed a revolution in fashion. In the early 1960s, the international centre of fashion shifted from Paris to London. Many designers moved into the 'off-the-rack' market, and older fashion traditions were radically altered. Unisex clothes were introduced in the 1960s; the wearing of pants by women became more general, and some men's fashions became more feminised. Older-style fashion, however, persisted. During the 1960s, many women wore their 'Sunday best'-including hats and gloves- if they travelled into the city to shop. Conflict over the clothes people wore also indicated social and cultural tensions in Australian society. The 1960s saw the appearance of the mini-skirt. Up until that time, skirts and dresses in Australia finished at the knee. Shorter hemlines created huge controversy when they first appeared, exposing centimetres of thigh never before seen in public. By the end of the decade, shift dresses and mini-skirts had become widely accepted. During the 1960s, American and British cultural influences rapidly filtered into Australia primarily via music, cinema and television. This had a dramatic impact on fashion till these days. For example, the miniskirt is quite widely worn and is accepted by Australian society. This cut of frock has had the most influence on Australian fashion as it was worn by English model Jean Shrimpton …show more content…
Australians, the image has it, are supposed to be 'sporty' and fit. And it has been claimed that Australian sport and sportsmanship demonstrates the egalitarian nature of society. Realities on the sports field, however, do not fit this image. This was particularly so in the 1960s. The sport was one of the few areas that Australia could compete in on the world stage. Most European nations still recovering from World War II, did not give sport a high priority. The areas in which Australia excelled in the 1950s were tennis, swimming, and athletics. These last two would feature strongly at the 1956 Olympics Games. The 1950s and 1960s have been called the golden age of Australian sport. At Melbourne, 22 November 1956, Australia held the first Summer Olympics Games outside of Europe and United States. Also it was at the same year in which the television was ever introduced; it was the first game where live television broadcasts captured the public's imagination. It was a time when Australians athletes, male and female, dominated the world in many areas. Also, Australia dominated world tennis, from the 1950-67 Australian teams won the Davis Cup 15