Watching 1968

"The Year That Rocked America" was one of many labels applied to 1968. It was a tempest of unrest highlighting race and civil rights, feminism and women's liberation, youth angst and counterculture, Vietnam and the anti-war movement, political assassination, and space exploration. Television was the window into what was happening in that turbulent year. More than just reporting, the medium was also reflecting a changing society. This book examines major social issues of 1968 through the scripted and unscripted turmoil that beamed nightly into living rooms on television screens. Considering television as a piece of cultural history itself, it examines a variety of network programs and news broadcasts that were amplified or affected by the presence of television, ranging from shows like The Mod Squad to events such as Chicago's Democratic Convention. Moreover, it highlights how TV played a crucial role in shaping reactions to social upheaval not merely by showing audiences the story, but by actively becoming part of it.