Being Antisocial

A Beginner's Guide

Antisocial Behaviour from the 1960s to the Present Day

Background to the Project

This project was led by a group of young people from South Norfolk. Its aims were to explore some of the problems we associate with antisocial behaviour. What is it? Who are the culprits and the victims? How can we best tackle the issues and misconceptions that arise? Do the problems change from one generation to the next?

The process began with a one-day conference. Representatives from Victim Support, Norfolk Constabulary and the South Norfolk Council debated contemporary issues with the young people. In this way people of all ages were able to look at problems and solutions from many different perspectives.

This was followed up with a residential weekend, in which the young people devised animations and video drama sketches looking at the consequences of different types of antisocial behaviour. The sketches offer a humorous way to spark off discussion. They are intercut with material recorded at the conference.

With the help of the East Anglian Film Archive, the team then explored the historical perspective. Film clips from the 1950s and 1960s look at how that generation ‘broke the rules’, and rebelled against the status quo.

Using The Video

Part One: A Brief History can be used to support discussion around the history of antisocial behaviour. What was it like to be a rebellious youth in those days? Was the life of a teddy boy or a student activist antisocial?

Part Two: The Present Day focuses on contemporary issues. The short sketches and conference debates can be used to launch further discussion. The drama sketches could inspire further role play work, exploring the impacts of antisocial behaviour on various individuals.

Part One: A Brief History

6 mins 47 secs

Coffee Bar: A Film Story Outlining the Failure of our Present System of Education to Promote Social Responsibility.
This silent film, shot in the early 1960s by Anglia TV, looks at a group of Mods and their scooters in Great Yarmouth, hanging out in coffee shops and on the sea front. Only the subtitle gives any clue as to the intentions and attitude of the filmmaker.

Teddy Boys (c.1966, Anglia TV television clip)
A BBC presenter interviews teddy boys and their girlfriends at a dance. Are youth subcultures necessarily antisocial? Why do older people find them threatening?

Rocket Site Story, Swaffham 1958 Concord Films
A documentary by Eric Walker, about a rally and march to protest the stationing of intermediate range nuclear missiles in Norfolk. The protestors explain their political motives for trespassing and civil disobedience. Would their actions be considered antisocial today?

Student Unrest c.1968
Students protest the irrelevance of a visit by the Queen to the University of East Anglia. Were they being antisocial or expressing a legitimate political view?

Rock and Roll early 1960s
A rock concert shot in a coffee bar in Newmarket. The clip could be linked to discussion of noise pollution!

Student Protest 1967
Protesters being manhandled by the police during a visit to the University of Essex by Harold Wilson. How do their actions compare with contemporary social rebellions? Is violence a legitimate way to get your voice heard?

Archive material provided by East Anglian Film Archive (UEA)

Part Two

The Present Day

16 mins 33 secs

The team members each selected an example of antisocial behaviour to illustrate through animation. Several pose dilemmas for discussion. When is it ok to mow the lawn with a noisy mower? What is the best way to deal with noisy neighbours? If someone accidently breaks a swing, is he a vandal?

Helen Frayer from Victim Support discusses how older people can feel intimidated by groups of youths and the importance of thinking before acting.

In the Park is a short drama illustrating a real life experience recounted by a member of the team. A mother and young child become frightened when two gangs have a confrontation in the park. The sequence used role play to look at the situation from several different sides.

Inspector Adrian Went describes the Children and Young People Strategy for Norfolk. It is designed to help young people play an active and positive role in their local communities. He argues that getting involved is the best way to avoid criminal behaviour.

Kate Blackburn, Environmental Protection Officer for South Norfolk District Council discusses noise pollution and some of the associated moral dilemmas. Is a two hour band practice on a Saturday morning unreasonable? Is it fair to complain about noisy children? What types of noise pollution are acceptable, and what one’s aren’t? How might compromises be arrived at?

Rubbish is a cautionary tale about the dangers of littering. Tent War looks at how jealously we can guard our personal space, even in communal areas like camp sites! What alternatives might there be to direct confrontation?