Assignment Two - The Influence of English Pop Culture on American society

This painting by renown Highland artist David Wilson. For more information on Wilson and his fascinating work involving light and the Scottish countryside, go here. Additional information on Wilson including bookings and highland climbing or walking tours can be obtained here.


The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is long and historic. Clearly England had a profound cultural, governmental, architectural and economic influence on the developing United States. Does it still? In this assignment student's are asked to examine how the 'pop culture' of Swinging London (~1963 to ~1968) influenced life in America. Specifically, using your own research and our Walk Across London, try to identify trends, social mores, norms and other activities which were shared with American Baby Boomers during this time.

The influences can be television, film, comedy, or it can be fashion,

Or the influence can be musical...including aspects such as the incorporation of English folk music, (such as bands like Renaissance, Steeleye Span or Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple), or psychedelic music (based upon the use of artificial stimulants or drugs) including the music of The Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, 'Sgt. Pepper' (Beatles) or 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' (Rolling Stones), or, perhaps, how the British kids of the 1960's transmogified African-American blues into popular music including bands such as Led Zeppelin, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac Blues Band, Cyril Davis, Alexis Korner, John Mayall, Long John Baldry and later acts including Humble Pie, The Faces, Bad Company, Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore, Russ Tippins, Bad Bob Bates, Dr. Feelgood and Aynsley Lister.

Our goal is to recognize and examine the unique relationship between these two great nations and how they have influenced each other...and the world.

Student's should compose an essay (specifics below) which identifies cultural aspects that originated in British society during the 'Swinging London' period.


Your essay should be four, double spaced pages long and include a bibliography of sources used. Be certain that this work is based upon your learning experience and that your essay is in your words. You can quote websites, tour guides, your instructor or other credible academic and historical sources. Use APA citations in your paper including in-line cites.

Finally, if you would like to include photographs from your excursion, as an addendum to your submission, you are encouraged to do so. Also, if you have any comments which you would like to share with future participants in this Study Abroad program, please email them to the Bellevue University, Study Abroad coordinator (studyabroad@bellevue.edu) and myself (rick.galusha@bellevue.edu). Please know that your quotes are provided for use in marketing efforts and that in regard to these quotes, provided outside of the assignment process, waive FERPA protection (in other words, we can use them without violating your rights to privacy as a student. Your assignments WILL have FERPA protections but the quotes your choose to share will not.)