Male Icons and Identity in 1960s Britain

Male Icons and Identity in 1960s Britain: Revolt into Style explores the profound social and cultural transformations of the 1960s through the lens of masculinity.

This collection of essays delves into how male identity, often resistant to change, serves as a barometer for the broader societal shifts of the era. Contributors from diverse academic backgrounds examine iconic figures from popular music (Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger), cinema (Michael Caine) and television (Patrick Macnee, Peter Wyngarde, and Patrick McGoohan), as well as artistic polymaths like Anthony Newley and Peter Whitehead. The essays also venture into the realms of politics, football, fashion and fine art, providing a comprehensive view of how evolving masculine ideals influenced British culture. The collection highlights the tension between traditional values and emerging pluralistic ideals, offering a nuanced understanding of the period's cultural dynamics.

This collection is ideal for students and academics in gender studies, cultural history, and sociology, as well as general readers interested in understanding a transformative decade when established norms of male identity faced unprecedented challenges.

Caroline Langhorst is a film and cultural historian/independent scholar and creative practitioner. She has a PhD from De Montfort University on rebellious actors, performance styles and nonconformist stardom in 1960s British cinema, and has published on performed masculinities, the long, transatlantic 1960s and the counterculture as well as actor/director collaborations.

Robert Shail is Professor of Film and Director of Research in Leeds School of Arts at Leeds Beckett University. He is widely published on postwar British cinema including its directors and stars, and on the representation of masculinity. His most recent work has focused on children’s culture including films, television and games.