IDEA OF PROGRESS : to what extent the Sixties were revolutionary?

IDEA OF PROGRESS

I am asked to speak about the notion idea of progress. This notion deals with development, advances that make a forward movement for human beings. There are many types of progress: social, scientific, economic, technological... It concerns everyone in every society and every period of history.

In order to illustrate this notion, I have chosen to talk about the sixties, a decade characterized by changes and evolution. We can ask ourselves to what extent the Sixties were revolutionary?

First, we'll see that the sixties were revolutionary with the testimony of three people in the document « Memories of the Sixties ». Then, we'll talk about the music revolution with the document "Sounds of the Sixties". And finally, through the document « 1968 : Women’s lib becomes a powerful force », we will see that this decade has made progress for women's rights.

First, the audio entitled « Memories of the Sixties » is an interview about what the speakers remember of that decade. They are indeed very nostalgic of this period, a golden age.

Indeed, radical changes took place especially in London in many fields. For example, in technology, there was colour TV, and then, new battery-driven transistor radios and means of transport like the Austin Mini, Hovercraft and concord were invented.

After that, London became the cultural hub of the world, the first economic power, the world leader in technology, politics, science and in fashion, with Twiggy and her mini skirt designed by Mary Quant

Then, there were radical changes in the way of thinking, with the sexual freedom.

In London, the Sixties were vibrant, exciting, fabulous thanks to the good feeling that life was improving.

So, we have just seen that with all of these changes the sixties were revolutionary.

London was the place to be.

Secondly, the Sixties were marked by a revolution in music, it was truly a magical age, an Utopian state. With the document « Sounds of the Sixties » we can see how important music was.

This is an interview between a journalist and a man, Paul, about his memories of the music in the sixties.

Indeed, he talks about many good songs, Sugar Sugar by The Archies, Strawberry Field by The Beatles.

And he speaks about one of his favourites albums, the most commercially successful of the sixties; Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles.

After that, he shows how magical an age it was for young people. Indeed, every teenager had a transistor radio and they listened to the new pop music. Most of the time, it was broadcast from offshore pirate radio stations.

For Paul, it was an amazing time that we can not forget because the sixties revolutionized the world of music.

So, we have just seen that the music made the sixties revolutionary.

Then, we will see that this decade has made progress for women's rights.

In class, we studied an article extracted from Chronicle

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