[Commlist] contributors call for book - Detective dramas 1960s-80s

*BOOK - contributors call*

*..............................................................*

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*Book title:***** *Detective dramas 1960s-80s - surreal, supernatural, 
and gentleman and
*

*                                    gentlewomen righter of wrongs.*

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*Publisher:****To be confirmed.*

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*Date of publication:****2022.*

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*Editor:****Chris Hart, University of Chester, UK.*

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*Rationale:*

**

Three mainstream publishers have shown an interest in receiving a full 
proposal on *Detective dramas 1960s-80s. * To see if there is sufficient 
interest in this project I would like to invite short proposals to 
contribute to a potential book on this subject.  What follows is a short 
overview of the main themes for consideration, but they are not 
exclusive. I am sure there are many more you would like to suggest.

British (and some American) action crime dramas of the 1960s, 70s and 
80s featured some of the most interesting, eccentric and utterly 
unbelievable characters. If there was ever an era of classic television 
detective drama then the period between the mid-1960s to the early 1980s 
was it - or was it? The stories were bizarre, unbelievable, sets cheap, 
acting tongue in cheek and misogyny generally widespread.

While probably meaning nothing to contemporary media consumers, media 
students or even current media industry practitioners, programmes such 
as The Avengers, The Persuaders, Jason King, and Randall and Hopkirk 
were globally successful (international distribution - North America, 
Europe, South Africa, Australasia, and world-wide) and, therefore, 
deserve our attention - not only as instances of nostalgia but as 
examples of what creative, skillful and imaginative individuals can produce.

Some of the features of these programmes to think about include the 
following,

  * Many leading characters had no obvious employment other than
    righting wrongs - such as Paul Temple, Danny Wilde and Lord Brett
    Sinclair, Mrs Peel and Steed, and none was married or had partners.
  * Most belong to or work for special, sometimes secret governments
    departments, secret organisations and private agencies - all
    dedicated to maintaining world peace by regularly defeating the
    wicked, evil plans of social misfits who have a grudge against society.

  * Assertive, confident and independent women with martial arts were
    common, Mrs Peel often practised Kung Fu on burly villains, other
    female characters drove powerful motorcycles, sports cars, and a
    Mini Moke. As in a Jane Austen novel, the women were very accomplished.

  * Supernatural powers, though not common, did feature as the anchor on
    two programmes, one with the ability to see the ghost of a PI
    partner, the other was Dr Sharron Macready with her extrasensory 
powers.

  * Incredible fashions abounded, some actors doing their own wardrobe –
    men with kipper-ties, penny round collars, bright colours, velvet,
    cravats, long hair, stiff with hair spray, bowler hats and gloves in
    summer — women agents in leather jumpsuits, high leather boots,
    mini-skirts and input from international clothes designers.

  * Comic, tongue-in-cheek and bizarre stories, of stolen identities,
    mistaken identities, dead persons coming alive, characters
    impersonating themselves, people instantly turning to ash, dentists
    as villains, and computer-controlled murders.

  * Vintage and supercars always featured - Ferrari's, Aston Martin's,
    vintage Bentley's, Ford Capri's, and Austin Mini's - with British
    characters driving British marques and villains driving 'foreign' cars.

  * Most had surreal storylines, often about thwarting threats
    transcending national interests, from cybertronic beings, invisible
    villains, the vainglorious and fantastic technology.

  * Sexism and racism were rife - with skinny bikini-clad young women,
    damsels in distress, and women needing a man to rescue them. Baddies
    having terrible foreign accents, often Russian, sporting bushy
    moustaches, cigarette smoking and wearing faded cream jackets.
  * Throughout social class, privilege and wealth featured, with cool
    funky London mews-flats, expensive vintage cars, exotic locations
    and exciting activities. A liberal distribution of titles such as
    Lords, Judges and Sirs, though few Ladies, and plenty of daughters
    of rich fathers in need of rescue.
The dramas to be included are as follows:

The Baron 1966-67

Virgin of the Secret Service 1968

Danger Man 1960-68

Man in a Suitcase 1967-68

The Champions 1968-69

Paul Temple 1969-1971

Department S 1969-70

Special Branch 1969-1974

Jason King 1971-72

Sexton Blake 1967-71

Paul Temple 1969-1971

The Persuaders 1971-1972

The Main Chance 1969-75

Public Eye 1965-1975

The Zoo Gang 1974

The Avengers / New Avengers 1961-1977

Randall and Hopkirk 1969-70

The Protectors 1972-74

Quiller 1975

Return of the Saint 1978-79

The Professionals 1977-83

The book also aims to have a section on the producers, directors, 
writers and musicians and other creative and technical trades, such as,


Dennis Spooner

Monty Berman

Terry Nation

Philip Broadley

Robert S. Baker

John Creasey

Gerry Anderson

Brian Clemens

Albert Fennell

Sidney Hayers

Laurie Johnson

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*DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF expressions of interest*: Friday 31^st July 2020.

Feel free to email with questions.

Please send your abstract/proposal not exceeding 300 words with a brief 
biography to: (c.hart /at/ chester.ac.uk)

Format your proposal as follows:

 1. Please include your name
 2. Email address
 3. Institutional affiliation (if relevant)
 4. Postal address
 5. Abstract

About the editor

Chris studied sociology, economics and linguistics and has been active 
in mainstream publishing and book authoring for over three decades. 
Currently teaching advertising and branding alongside media studies, 
Chris is best known for his work on literature reviewing, Talcott 
Parsons, heroines and heroes and, national identity.


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