Pop Music: Youth Culture in the 1950s and 1960s

Abstract

At the beginning of September 1956 the UK suddenly became aware of ‘Rock and Roll’. The reason was that ‘disturbances’ were taking place in movie theaters, and outside them in the street, leading to a considerable number of youths finding themselves in front of the magistrates. Their offence was to be ‘jiving’ in the cinemas and then being ejected. When they continued their dancing and singing in the street the police attempted to move them on. When this failed a number were arrested.¹ These problems continued for the next 2 or 3 weeks.

The young always have the same problem—how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another.

Quentin Crisp