History of Social Realism

Social realism has made a huge importance to the role in British cinema and TV. Social realism was known more as a British documentary which was mainly developed by John Grierson. He was the leader towards what became 'Social Realism'

John Grierson was know as the Father of British Documentary film and won many awards such as


Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue
Best Documentary on the Arts
Best Historical Documentary
Best Documentary on Science or the Natural World
The Frontier Post Award for Most Entertaining Documentary
Best Drama Documentary
Best International Cinema Documentary
Best Newcomer
Trustees' Award

1930-40s

Humphrey Jennings, a British director brought surreality to his work and his wartime Docu-dramas and documentaries amazing pieces and were known to be one of the greatest works of art ever made by a British director.

1950s

'Kitchen-sink dramas, a genre of British drama that depicts the real and often trashy side of life, are usually political and socially motivated, often illustrating the writer’s view of society’s moral breakdown. Often these dramas use the working class as characters in their stories' Wikipedia'

Kitchen Sink Realism was an English cultural Movement in Theatre, Art, Novel, Films and Television. This used social realism which was often the based on the working class living in council flats. Usually set in the North of England to emphasis the rough accents and expressions used in the area.

1960s

Jennings's work was an inspiration to many other British directors and the documentary work led them into the 'British New Wave' at the beginning of the 1960s. This led people to Social realist films. Ken Loach and Producer Tony Garnett making classic films such as 'Kes' and 'Poor Cow' They also made a Tv Drama called 'Cathy Come Home' which helped set up a housing charity shelter. Ken's style of film making was to make genuine interplay between the actors. He even had scenes that were unscripted to make it more realistic. He also used general people rather than actors. He felt that this way his actors had more life experience to the type of film he wanted to make and this way again made his film more 'Real'

This is what the British New Wave was all about 'Capturing life as it happened'

1980

Singer/Songwriter Morrisey included several references to the working class issue of kitchen sink drama such as 'Coronation Street'