Mods and Rockers and Moral Panics

Dr Jack Fawbert


Regions:
Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Essex
Notice Period:
Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
Type:
Academic Social Sciences
Fee:
Expensed
Category:
Humanities
Updated:
18th August 2025

This talk describes as series of events that took place at seaside towns in 1964 and 1965 that involved clashes between groups of youngsters who identified themselves as 'mods' and 'rickers' respectively. The clashes were the subject of a research study by sociologist Stan Cohen. His research not only popularised the term 'moral panic' but also fundamentally changed the theoretical basis of the disciplines of sociology and criminology. In this talk I go on to discuss the implications for sociology and criminology and the lessons that can be learnt from Cohen's research for subsequent events in the social world.

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About Dr Jack Fawbert

I am a retired Senior University Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology. During my career I worked at several UK universities, including Leeds Metropolitan University, De Montfort University, the University of Bedfordshire and Anglia Ruskin University. I was Course leader for Sociology at two of those universities and I was also the external examiner for Sociology at the University of Northampton and the University of Ulster.

During my career, I gave lectures and talks at academic conferences for organisations such as the British Sociological Association, the Association of Teachers of Social Science and the Leisure Studies Association at the Universities of Manchester, Greenwich, East Anglia, York, Leeds Metropolitan, Brighton, Chester, Bedfordshire, Roehampton, Luton and Central Lancashire. I have also given talks at 'A' Level Sociology Revision conferences in London and Manchester as well as organising 'A' Level Sociology Revision Conferences at three of the universities I worked at.

After I retired I worked as a tutor at the Workers Educational Association for three years and the Open University for a further three years. I am now involved with the University of the Third Age (U3A) where I am group leader for the online sociology group as well as a being a member of the Bury-St-Edmunds U3A.

Since joining the U3A I have given talks both online and in person with the titles, 'Blacklisted: Corporate Crime and State Conspiracies', 'Hoodies: Folk Devils and a Moral Panic for the New Millenium', 'Making Sense of Popular Culture', 'Mods and Rockers and Moral Panics', 'Poverty: A Sociological Perspective', 'Sociology of Suicide', 'Sociology, Gender Inequality and Feminism', 'What is Science?', 'What is Social Class?' and 'What is Sociology?' These should give you an idea of the range of topics that I could offer talks on that can be pitched at a variety of audiences from 'A' Level at schools and colleges to U3A talks to leisure classes.


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