The Female Eunuch, Germaine Greer (1970)Germaine Greer was born in 1939 in Melbourne, but spent most of her life inEngland. She is a writer, broadcaster and professor of English andcomparative studies.The main themes of her literary activity are art and literature, abortion andinfertility and she was one of the most important supporters of the women'smovement and was an engaged representative of feminism.With "The Female Eunuch" "she broke taboos and changed the lives of awhole generation of women..."1.Her book is a statement against establishment and she fights the stereotypicalideal of the "Feminine". Besides this she writes about men's hatred of womenand how man "waylays women for the sake of finding sexual release" p. 268.Germaine Greer shocked the public by describing her experiences of lesbiansex, rape, abortion, infertility, failed marriage and menopause.She writes about marriage "Experience is too costly a teacher: we cannot allmarry in order to investigate the situation. The older sisters must teach uswhat they found out"2And about single women she writes "They dawdle and dream in their dead-end jobs, overtly miserable, because they are publicly considered to be."
Table of Contents
1) The Female Eunuch, Germaine Greer (1970)
2) Virago
3) Spare Rib on adverts by the Austrian National Tourist Office in London
4) Cosmopolitan (also called Cosmo)
5) Steptoe and Son (BBC) was written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson
6) Till Death Us Do Part (BBC) created by Johnny Speight and first broadcast in the mid 1960s on BBC 1.
7) Upstairs, Downstairs (Das Haus am Eaton Place)
8) 1970s Architecture
9) Punks
10) A Clockwork Orange (Kubrick’s film, 1971) based on the novel by Anthony Burgess.
11) The Romans in Britain (Howard Brenton’s play, 1980)
12) The Years of Thatcher (ITV)
13) V (poem by Tony Harrison)
14) Chariots of Fire (1981 film. Oscar) directed by Hugh Hudson
15) Streets of London by Ralph Mc Tell
15) Brideshead Revisited (TV film based on Evelyn Waugh’s novel)
16) My Beautiful Laundrette (Screenplay by Hanif Kureishi, directed by Stephen Frears)
17) Letter to Brezhnev (film, set in Liverpool)
18) The Ploughman’s Lunch (film)
19) Educating Rita (film based on the script written by Willy Russell)
20) A Room with a View (Merchant-Ivory film, based on Forster’s novel)
21) A Passage to India (film based on Forster’s novel and directed by Lean)
22) Canary Wharf (Docklands development)
23) Damien Hirst (enfant terrible)
24) Candle in the Wind (Elton John)
25) The Full Monty (1997)
26) Millennium Dome
27) “Makeovers”, “Reworkings”, “Re-inventions”
28) The English Patient (dir. Anthony Minghella, Ondaatje’s novel)
29) Oasis (pop group)
30) Notting Hill (film)
31) The British Art Show no 5 in 2000
Objectives and Topics
This portfolio examines key cultural, artistic, and social developments in Great Britain from 1945 to 2000. The primary objective is to analyze how literature, film, architecture, and popular media reflect the changing values, political climate, and social tensions of British society during this period.
- Evolution of feminist discourse and literature (Greer, Virago Press, Spare Rib).
- Social shifts as reflected in British situation comedies and cinema (Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, A Clockwork Orange).
- Architectural modernism and postmodernism (Sir Ove Arup, Norman Foster, Richard Rogers).
- Expressions of identity and class struggle in literature and the arts (Tony Harrison’s poetry, My Beautiful Laundrette, The Full Monty).
- The role of media and art in reflecting political and social disillusionment.
Excerpt from the Book
13) V (poem by Tony Harrison)
The poem V was written by Tony Harrison (born 1938) – a poet, playwright and translator. He was born into a working-class family in Leeds he studied Classics at Leeds University. He began to publish poetry in the mid-sixties. He wrote about contemporary themes but in a rather conventional way. Britain’s leading film and theatre poet was born in Leeds Between the 1970s and1980s he was in America. When he came back he published his most famous poem V (in 1985). It is a very long poem in rhyming quatrains which writes about life after the collapse of the mining industry.
The poet meets a skinhead in the cemetery. The poem talks about vandalism - the skin spraying, stones in the graveyard which are graffitied, about unemployment, houses which are for sale, “The prospects for the present aren’t too grand when a swastika with NF (National Front)’s sprayed on a grave….” V was a “laureate of the hard left”. The poem was made into an award-winning TV film in 1987.
Summary of Chapters
1) The Female Eunuch, Germaine Greer (1970): Examines Germaine Greer’s influential feminist work, which critiques societal establishment and the stereotypical ideal of femininity.
2) Virago: Details the history and impact of Virago Press, a publishing house dedicated to bringing women's literature to the forefront.
3) Spare Rib on adverts by the Austrian National Tourist Office in London: Analyzes the feminist magazine Spare Rib and its role in challenging sexist advertising practices.
4) Cosmopolitan (also called Cosmo): Discusses the evolution of the magazine Cosmopolitan and its transition into a women’s publication in the 1960s.
5) Steptoe and Son (BBC) was written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson: Focuses on the popular 1960s sitcom that addressed low-class social status and intergenerational conflict.
6) Till Death Us Do Part (BBC) created by Johnny Speight and first broadcast in the mid 1960s on BBC 1.: Explores this controversial comedy as a biting parody of British society, race relations, and politics.
7) Upstairs, Downstairs (Das Haus am Eaton Place): Looks at the award-winning series depicting the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants in Edwardian England.
8) 1970s Architecture: Profiles the work and philosophy of architects like Sir Ove Arup, emphasizing functional and socially-conscious design.
9) Punks: Provides an overview of the punk movement in 1970s Britain as a counter-cultural rejection of capitalist values.
10) A Clockwork Orange (Kubrick’s film, 1971) based on the novel by Anthony Burgess.: Analyzes the film’s exploration of individual will versus state control and the debate surrounding violent behavior.
11) The Romans in Britain (Howard Brenton’s play, 1980): Examines the parallels drawn between the Roman invasion and British presence in Northern Ireland.
12) The Years of Thatcher (ITV): Briefly touches upon the political climate following the 1979 election victory of Margaret Thatcher.
13) V (poem by Tony Harrison): Analyzes Harrison's long poem that reflects on the decline of the mining industry and social vandalism.
14) Chariots of Fire (1981 film. Oscar) directed by Hugh Hudson: Discusses the film's depiction of athletic triumph, faith, and the underlying issues of anti-Semitism.
15) Streets of London by Ralph Mc Tell: Looks at the singer's empathy for the marginalized people living on the fringes of society.
15) Brideshead Revisited (TV film based on Evelyn Waugh’s novel): Examines the themes of class-system, sex, and religion in Evelyn Waugh’s narrative of decline.
16) My Beautiful Laundrette (Screenplay by Hanif Kureishi, directed by Stephen Frears): Explores the narrative of a young Pakistani immigrant and themes of interculturality in 1980s Britain.
17) Letter to Brezhnev (film, set in Liverpool): Tells the story of two Liverpool women and their brief, transformative encounter with Russian sailors.
18) The Ploughman’s Lunch (film): Analyzes the film's metaphor for political dishonesty and spin during the post-Falklands War era.
19) Educating Rita (film based on the script written by Willy Russell): Follows the journey of a hairdresser seeking education and self-improvement through an open university.
20) A Room with a View (Merchant-Ivory film, based on Forster’s novel): Discusses the social comedy’s portrayal of Edwardian manners and restrictive social codes.
21) A Passage to India (film based on Forster’s novel and directed by Lean): Focuses on the limits of tolerance and the cultural gap between Britain and colonial India.
22) Canary Wharf (Docklands development): Provides an overview of the business district development in London's Docklands.
23) Damien Hirst (enfant terrible): Discusses the controversial works of the "Young British Artist" and his impact on contemporary art.
24) Candle in the Wind (Elton John): Chronicles the 1997 tribute song performed for Princess Diana’s funeral.
25) The Full Monty (1997): Explores how joblessness and community restoration are treated in this comedy about Sheffield steel workers.
26) Millennium Dome: Details the construction and purpose of the dome built to celebrate the beginning of the new millennium.
27) “Makeovers”, “Reworkings”, “Re-inventions”: Analyzes the cultural trend of adapting traditional designs and forms in modern British life.
28) The English Patient (dir. Anthony Minghella, Ondaatje’s novel): Examines identity, memory, and the impact of the Second World War on the characters' lives.
29) Oasis (pop group): Outlines the formation and tumultuous history of the Manchester-based rock band.
30) Notting Hill (film): Looks at the romantic comedy's depiction of the Notting Hill neighborhood and the clash of different social realities.
31) The British Art Show no 5 in 2000: Reviews the exhibition of contemporary British art presented in the year 2000.
Keywords
British Culture, 1945–2000, Feminism, Sitcom, Modernism, Postmodernism, Punk, Thatcherism, Literature, Cinema, Architecture, Interculturality, Class System, Identity, Art
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work provides a survey of key cultural, media, and artistic developments in Great Britain from 1945 to 2000, illustrating how these fields reflect societal changes.
Which central themes are explored?
Themes include the evolution of feminism, social class dynamics, the impact of political regimes like Thatcherism, architecture, and intercultural relations within British society.
What is the primary objective of this portfolio?
The objective is to document and analyze specific examples of literature, film, and art to show how they capture the British cultural landscape over several decades.
What scientific method is utilized?
The work employs a descriptive and analytical approach, combining historical context with detailed summaries of representative cultural works to examine their societal relevance.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body consists of specific case studies covering feminist writers, television comedies, postmodern architecture, British cinema, and significant artworks that define specific periods between 1970 and 2000.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Primary keywords include British Culture, Feminism, Architecture, Class System, Identity, Thatcherism, and Modernism.
How does the work explain the concept of 'Makeovers' in culture?
The text defines 'reworking' and 'makeover' as the practice of adapting traditional forms, such as literature or music, into new expressions to suit contemporary audiences.
How is the impact of Thatcherism reflected in the films discussed?
Films like The Ploughman’s Lunch and My Beautiful Laundrette are highlighted for their cynical critiques of political morality and the social consequences of Thatcherite policies during the 1980s.
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- MMag. Dr. Sabine Picout (Autor:in), 2004, British culture since 1945 Part IV , München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/190037
