Something I'm working at the moment has some scenes in which are based in the 70s. Aside from technology, certain ways of speaking etc, is there anything I need to be aware of when writing something set in the 1970s?
Edited by Aaron.
Writing scenes set in the 1970s
Tank top jumpers.
Big collars.
Paedophiles were known as kiddy fiddlers, and it wasn't frowned upon quite as much.
Kipper ties.
Space hoppers.
They only sold carpets in orange or brown.
There was a big difference, culturally, between 1970 and 1979.
Quote: zooo @ October 23 2008, 2:23 PM BSTThey only sold carpets in orange or brown.
And wallpaper.
People grew different sorts of hair.
Even white people had afros.
White dog poo.
Big moustaches.
Quote: zooo @ October 23 2008, 2:36 PM BSTEven white people had afros.
Perms.
Try this website:
http://www.writersdreamtools.com
Very useful as it lists events, news stories, technology, fashions and all kinds of shit from different decades.
Mike, apart from the obvious fashions of the time here are a few things I can think of that you could consider so as to get a feel of your scenes (note that these are from my own experience of growing up in Birmingham):
There was no political correctness to speak of, so speech patterns were less self censored than you'd find today. Some of the things people said, which were quite ordinary back then, would be considered unbelievable in todays climate.
Women really did potter about with rollers in their hair.
There was a big racial divide - The black or Asian family at the end of the street was a great distraction for the idle gossips.
A one parent family was looked down upon. They were treated as somewhat less than a regular family. The word 'Divorce' was a very derrogatory term.
People smoked everywhere; in bed, on buses, in cinema's etc
Many shops closed half day on wednesdays and there was no sunday shopping.
There were 3 television channels and they all came to an end around midnight. The BBC would play the national anthem and the announcer would remind you to pull the tv plug out and have a safe night.
I recall sport clothing being very basic. Just the colours and a badge as opposed to todays technical fibes, designer branding and sponsorship.
It was a thrill to have a telephone in your house.
It was impressive to have a colour tv set.
The insurance man came to your house to take the weekly subs and write it down in your insurance cover book.
A lot of the houses I knew of and visited ( older parents and grandparents) were still decked out in much older decor ie 1950s
There were lots of people who stored up food in the larder. My nan, her sister and many of their friends all did this. Because the war was reletively fresh in their minds they wanted to ensure they always had plenty of tinned food on standby.
Contrary to popular belief you could not just 'leave your back door open'. There was as much things to fear then as there are today. Youths carried knives in this decade too (although recent media reports would suggest knife crime was only invented in 2007!).
I'm not sure if the above is the sort of thing you wanted?
Def.
Quote: Deferenz @ October 23 2008, 3:25 PM BSTThe insurance man came to your house to take the weekly subs and write it down in your insurance cover book.
What's all that about?
Is this just poor people? 