There’s something about the 1960s that feels monumental. It’s a decade unlike any other in American history in terms of cultural upheaval, revolution, and reset. Every major event that we experience now as a society seems to have a parallel from that decade’s scientific advancements, civil rights movements, and pop culture milestones. And that's why, as we look for entertainment, escapism, comfort and context for our current world, we return to the 1960s again and again.
WGBH offers plenty of programs, both dramas and documentaries, to explore this defining decade. During the most recent season of Drama After Dark, we covered the ninth season of Call The Midwife and I had the honor of being the show's 1960s correspondent. From the rise of The Beatles to innovative medical advancements, there was a lot of fascinating 1960s culture in Call The Midwife to analyze. If you're in the mood for more dramas set in this time period, you can also check out Endeavour, the detective drama set in late 1960s Oxford, or Mrs. Wilson, the fascinating mystery series starring Ruth Wilson as her own grandmother.
Last year marked the 50th anniversary of two pivotal events in American culture. The moon landing may have been the last time our entire world paused and was united by a monumental scientific challenge, as we are today during the current coronavirus pandemic. The extraordinary accomplishment is profiled in American Experience’s Chasing The Moon. That same summer, opposition to raids at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City, launched the modern gay rights movement. American Experience’s Stonewall Uprising contextualizes the event, tracing how widespread homophobia was gradually upended by the protests.
As we gear up for a historic presidential election, you can watch American Experience’s RFK to look back at one of the most fascinating and pivotal presidential campaigns in American history, which was cut short by tragedy. Many modern-day political campaigns draw inspiration from Bobby Kennedy’s charisma, progressive agenda, and grassroots campaign style — including the 2020 presidential campaign season in which we find ourselves now.
Thankfully, the 1960s also offer escapism. Immerse yourself in the peak of counterculture with American Experience’s Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation and remember that some of the most iconic music ever produced came out of the 1960s. If you’re someone like me who misses live music, this film will no doubt leave you nostalgic.
