J200/01 - Television and Promoting Media (Question 5)

 5. Explain how historical contexts influenced the portrayal of heroes and villains in television programmes. Refer to The Avengers from 1965 to support your answer.[10]

During the 1965s the historical context influenced the view of heroes and villains, as of the situation and political view of the time. This view was that spies were living within the British public as for the occurrence of the Cold War. This would have taken influence of the portrayal of heroes and villains as for portraying heroes and villains in a particular way which could reflect the Cold War could give the viewers  a sense of realism, this therefore,  would attract viewers as they get a feel of the spy thriller genre. We see this in Observer as for the mysterious feel of the coastal town (town of no return) which Emma Peel and Steed visit. This is for the suspicious behave the supposable "locals" portray, as if they were villains with Emma and Steed as spies. 
Another historical context of which influenced the portrayal of heroes and villains at the time was the uprising equality and treatment of women. This could arguably be because of the suffragette movement in the 1919s, which strived to give women a more equal chance compare to males and not to be represented as second class citizens. This has clearly influenced Avengers as we see Emma peel to be a modern women of the time, depicting against many peoples typical view of women, this is shown as for being able to defend for herself and take on multiple villains at the time, as well as being clearly well educated.