In this day-school we will examine the cultural phenomenon that was Journey into Space. The last radio programme to gain a larger audience share than television – in the mid-1950s the exploits of Jet Morgan and his crew captivated the nation. We shall look at the show itself, and the light that shines on the changing nature of British society from 1945 to 1960. The course will begin by examining British popular culture in the immediate post-war context of austerity and rationing, before going on to consider how radio and later television reflected the profound societal changes (class, gender relations, migration, and the decline of empire) taking place in the 1950s. Other pop culture outputs, from Dick Barton to Dan Dare to early Hammer Horror, will be looked at, but the course will be centred on the Journey into Space's adventures on the Moon, on Mars, and on earth itself...
Course aim
This course will examine British society in the post-war period (1945-1960) through the lens of the phenomenally successful BBC science fiction programme Journey into Space.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Identify Journey into Space as a seminal cultural 'moment' in modern British history
- Discuss more broadly the evolution of British popular culture in the 1940s and 1950s
- Be aware of the changing nature of British society after the Second World War
- Examine how Britain's international role changed between 1945 and 1960, in terms of decolonisation and the Cold War
What else do I need to know?
No prior knowledge is needed before commencing the course, although it might be helpful to acquaint yourself with the broad outlines of post-war British history. You might want to bring writing materials.
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Day School: Journey into Space: Classic Science Fiction Radio 1945-1960
