
Students today are so drenched in pop culture, nourished by mass media, that they don't realize that it wasn't always so.
On Tuesday, 27 May, we learned about one of the most important progenitors of modern pop culture: The Beatles.
We split into four groups, each led by a tour guide who walked us through some key Beatles sites, and in the process, helped us understand how the Fab Four influenced culture.
Our group's guide, Richard Porter (the author of a book on the subject), showed us locales ranging from Abbey Road to the art studio where John met Yoko.
But he also put the Beatles in larger contest. He showed us how the Beatles and contemporaries turned Carnaby Street into a haven of "mod" fashion that changes how people dressed the world over. He showed us a 1991 mural inspired by the 1978 (correction: 1967) Sgt. Pepper album cover and how it reflects the enduring influence of the band. And we saw how London was, at the time, the most important locale for any rock 'n' roll musician -- and its critical role in the creation of the pop culture we take for granted today.
(Click on each image below to enlarge.)
On Tuesday, 27 May, we learned about one of the most important progenitors of modern pop culture: The Beatles.
We split into four groups, each led by a tour guide who walked us through some key Beatles sites, and in the process, helped us understand how the Fab Four influenced culture.
Our group's guide, Richard Porter (the author of a book on the subject), showed us locales ranging from Abbey Road to the art studio where John met Yoko.
But he also put the Beatles in larger contest. He showed us how the Beatles and contemporaries turned Carnaby Street into a haven of "mod" fashion that changes how people dressed the world over. He showed us a 1991 mural inspired by the 1978 (correction: 1967) Sgt. Pepper album cover and how it reflects the enduring influence of the band. And we saw how London was, at the time, the most important locale for any rock 'n' roll musician -- and its critical role in the creation of the pop culture we take for granted today.
(Click on each image below to enlarge.)