Dissertation Help: Children's television influenced by social/political factors

[Hitch]

Yet another dissertation help topic I'm afraid!

I am doing a dissertation on how and if children's television is influenced by social/political factors, and will be looking at the 1960s British shows.

I am having difficulty in finding much written on how television shows can be influenced by social and political factors, there is plenty on the opposite however, how television influences politics etc.

So this is really just a plea for those who may have read, or come across a book or journal with something related to what I am looking for.

Thank you in advance, and any other comments are welcome!

[GRAEME]

A [pity you are doing only 60s. Robin Hood was a very famous example.

[Hitch]

I chose the 1960s, as I thought it would be interesting to look at: The Clangers (Space exploration), Thunderbirds (The Cold War) and The Magic Roundabout (Drug Culture). It seemed like a good idea at the time! :)

[Gerald Lovell]

DOCTOR WHO, but in the 70s, had stuff about pollution ("The Green Death"), the miners' strike ("The Monster of Peladon") and the Inland Revenue ("The Sun Makers"), etc.

[Steve Crook]

If you had chosen 1989-1993 then you could have just written about Press Gang.
It includes all of that and more - the effects of drug taking, child abuse, bereavement, introduction of new technology like computers and mobile phones, the media, dodgy businessmen (like Colin) and much, much more - and some of the best writing and performing ever seen on TV in a children's (or in an adult) drama.

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

If you are looking at Doctor Who, then the About Time books are pretty good at tying in the shows with popular culture of the time though they'd be unreadably anorakky if Who isn't your bag.

About Time: The Unauthorized Guide to Doctor Who: 1966-1969: Seasons 4 to 6: Amazon.co.uk: Tat Wood, Lawrence Miles: Books

About Time: 1963-1966 Seasons 1 to 3 About Time; The Unauthorized Guide to Dr. Who Mad Norwegian Press: Amazon.co.uk: Tat Wood, Lawrence Miles: Books

Isn't the whole Magic Roundabout/drug culture thing an urban myth?

Blue Peter and Play School both showed an awareness that telly wasn't just for middle-class families with mummy being a housewife

Of course the really noticeable thing about 1960s children's telly is that it was almost entirely free of actual children and the rare occasions they did appear they tended to wear knickerbockers or flannel petticoats...

[Steve Crook]

Isn't the whole Magic Roundabout/drug culture thing an urban myth?

The original French series wasn't at all like that, but the way that Emma's dad did the voice-over for the British version made it easy to apply a drug based sub-text to it, even if it wasn't intended.

Boing - "Time for bed"

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

The original French series wasn't at all like that, but the way that Emma's dad did the voice-over for the British version made it easy to apply a drug based sub-text to it, even if it wasn't intended.

Boing - "Time for bed"

Steve

Yes, but you can do that sort of thing for more or less any kids' puppet series - have you watched The Herbs recently? . But an unintended subtext invented by students is hardly the stuff of a sociopolitical academic study.

There's probably a whole chapter to be written on who kidnapped the children of Trumpton

[Steve Crook]

Yes, but you can do that sort of thing for more or less any kids' puppet series - have you watched The Herbs recently? . But an unintended subtext invented by students is hardly the stuff of a sociopolitical academic study.

There's probably a whole chapter to be written on who kidnapped the children of Trumpton

I always found Play School to be most useful, especially after a heavy night. They told you what day it was

Steve

[Hitch]

Okay, perhaps it would be easier if anyone could point me in the direction of some literature on how social and political events can influence what we see on television. Obviously the news doesn't count! :)