The Role Of Youth In The 1960s

Sibyl Li

Television: History/Form

Professor Isabelle Freda

11 March 2023

Analysis on Teenager’s place in 1960s Television History

1960s was an important time point in American television history. It is not only a time of various social changes, but also an era when teenagers are becoming the target of television programming. During this time, a new category of television programs centered on the experiences of adolescence. These programs frequently portrayed the struggles, pleasures, and conflicts of teenagers, and gained popularity among both adolescents and adults. There are many symbolic youth-centered shows like The Donna Reed Show, Leave It to Beaver, and The Patty Duke Show appeared in this era. These programs have had an enduring impact

Those shows mentioned previously not only depicted the lives of teenagers in ways that were relatable and engaging for young people, but also provided a window into the changing social dynamics of the time. For example, The Donna Reed Show, which featured teenage costars Paul Peterson and Shelley Fabares as a means of reaching out to ABC’s core constituency, portrayed a middle-class suburban family in which the teenage daughter showing growing sense of empowerment among young women.”(Edgerton, 192). At the same time, The Patty Duke Show took a different approach from The Donna Reed Show, which gives teen girls an opportunity to “find themselves facing a new future and at the center of public attention” (Luckett, 96). These programs provided a platform for adolescents to see their experiences reflected on screen, and also contributed to the development of the American cultural perception of adolescence. Teenagers were not only as the center of the target audience, but also as characters in the shows. Not limited to that period, these programs still remain an integral part of television history and serve as a reminder of the profound influence television can have on our understanding of ourselves and our

Although young people remain a large population in American culture, media depictions of this group play a vital role in molding views and attitudes about this group. The appearance of teens on television during that time offers historical background for these concerns, showing how media representation can both reflect and contribute to greater social and cultural transformations. We may obtain a better grasp of the intricate and dynamic interaction between media, culture, and society, as well as how these forces combine to generate our perspective of the world around us, by investigating this historical backdrop. It also allows us to learn about and delve into the changes in American culture and a dynamic society at the