Offensiveness, Sensitivity and Free Expression in Britain, c. 1960-2001.

This project explores the themes of freedom of expression, offensiveness, obscenity and sensitivity in Britain from 1960 to 2001. By analysing popular debates, representations and narratives of censorship and offensiveness, this thesis will illuminate how and why societal attitudes towards these issues shifted and changed over time. This will be done by approaching the topic in a fresh way, intersecting different 'types' of offensive material and different mediums. In doing so it will provide important and relevant context as well as a new way of framing the renewed debate around these issues that has occurred in Britain over the past few years.