Cultural changes in soaps

Coronation Street 1960

Back in the 1960's life's culture used to be very different than it is now. The people used to be very law abiding citizens which did everything by the law and order of the government and the police force. In those days everyone was so respectful of the police force as they were seen as the force of good within the people of Britain. They had more of a good reputation of looking after of the innocent from law breakers and keeping everything in line.

For example, in this video clip there is a line within the script which states that a shop owner needed to have her own name as the owner of the shop otherwise she would get into trouble with the law. People thought that as the police are there to protect them against threats of danger or other forms of violence etc, that they need to be treated respectively, 

There were three social classes in the 1960s. Upper, middle and lower classes. The upper class were the aristocracy who everyone in the classes below looked up to and aspired to be like. This is why back in these times the cultural interest in the Royal Family was massive, everyone supported the Royal Family and all over Britain it was the most important thing you could think of. The middle class were people who could afford nice houses and support a family with a good income and education. However the lower class were working class people, where almost every member of the family worked for very little money to keep their family together with a roof over their heads. Back then the culture was more about family values and respect, more along the lines of treat people how you want to be treated. 

Coronation Street 2012

In modern times, everything to do with 1960's culture has changed dramatically. 

In 2012 the law and police force has a whole new outlook by the people of Britain. The force are seen to be corrupted and not in control of the very high percentage of crime on the streets. People do not worry about the police coming to see them and talking to them as most of the population now see them as a pest. This culture change has changed for the worst because as of now the crime rate within lower classes of the social hierarchy has increased due to the disrespectful behaviour towards the police and the laws set in place.

For example, there is nothing in this episode of the modern Coronation Street about the police. This would explain the lack of respect towards the force as they are not even televised or put into the script of most coronation street episodes. There is also more about the social and relationship aspects between people, focusing on the lives and emotions of people, more than what they get up to. 

As of now, there are an uncountable amount of social and economic classes within the people of Britain. The very upper class members are the aristocrocy and are members of the government, which has in turn become corrupted and forgetful to what is actually important for the country. 

The Royal Family, a once great family has now become less important as less and less people are becoming interested in the most important family in the world. This has been aided by the press who always publish about wars and the economy, more than the Royal Family which is an enormous change in the culture of the UK. 

Working class people can now claim benefits which has changed the family based culture which was so important in the 1960s. It is not about the family that they have, it is about the amount of money that they can get from the government with the use of children as leverage to gain more funds. This is also due to the massive unemployment in the Uk causing people to gain monthly allowances for unemployment. 

Overall, the culture of Britain has changed from a very law respecting, family orientated and friendly culture, to a corrupted police force, a money over family and depressing culture which has clearly changed for the worse.