Mass media and social change in Britain, 1882–2004 - 3 Media in the…

The idea

This topic examines how satire in the 1960s, through television programmes such as That Was The Week That Was and Private Eye magazine, challenged established attitudes towards government, the monarchy and the church. Satire mocked politicians' incompetence, royal detachment and religious authority, helping to normalise criticism and reduce deference. Its significance lies in whether it changed public attitudes or merely reflected existing shifts. The key skill is evaluating the extent of satire's influence on attitudes, using evidence of audience response, political reaction and cultural impact, rather than simply describing satirical content.

What earns the marks

• Explains how satire targeted government, monarchy and the church, giving examples from programmes or publications.
• Assesses the extent to which satire changed attitudes, distinguishing between reflecting and causing shifts in public opinion.
• Evaluates the significance of satire in the context of other social and political changes in the 1960s.
• Uses evidence of audience reaction, political response or cultural debate to support judgements about satire's impact.
• Considers limitations, such as satire's appeal to a mainly educated audience or its reinforcement of existing views.
• Compares satire's impact on different institutions, recognising variations in deference and criticism.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming satire directly caused attitude change without considering other factors.

  Put it right: Evaluate satire's role alongside broader social trends and evidence.

• Treating all three institutions as equally affected.

  Put it right: Compare the extent and nature of satire's challenge to government, monarchy and church separately.

• Describing satirical content without assessing its significance.

  Put it right: Focus on impact and use evidence to judge how far attitudes shifted.

• Overstating satire's audience reach.

  Put it right: Recognise that satire often appealed to a minority and may have reinforced rather than converted opinions.

Exam tips

• Structure your answer around the three institutions, ensuring each is addressed with specific examples and an evaluative judgement.
• Use contemporary evidence, such as audience figures, political reactions or quotes, to support claims about satire's significance.
• Consider counterarguments, such as satire reflecting rather than causing change, to strengthen your evaluation.
• Link satire to the wider context of the 1960s to show how it interacted with other forces for social change.