Cultural Power

Abstract

In one programme of the second television series of The Young Ones (BBC, 1984) RIK boasts of a particular ‘successful’ sexual encounter:

NEIL: What, you mean, you like — scored — with a chick?

RIK: Well of course I wouldn’t put it in such sexist terms, NEIL — but, er (modestly) yes …

MIKE: Now wait a minute, RIK, I’m the one who gets the girls around here, there could be a copyright problem.

VIVIAN: But I don’t understand. How? Was she unconscious?

RIK: What, VIVIAN — do I detect a little spark of jealousy?

VIVIAN: I’m not jealous. I find the idea of spending the night with you completely revolting.

RIK: You know perfectly well what I mean. Just because I was the most raunchy and attractive guy at the party last night.

NEIL: What do you mean, RIK, you passed out after half a glass of cider.

RIK: Did I? Blimey, that was a bit anarchic! Well, it just goes to show you, NEIL — even when I’m unconscious I can pick up the birds … I mean forge meaningful relationships with birds … er, chicks, tarts … women, women …

(Wilmut and Rosengard, 1989)