ACFM 62: The Beach
Summary
Hosts Jeremy Gilbert, Nadia Idle, and Kim Ilburn explore the beach as a geological, cultural, and political site. They discuss sand extraction, climate threats, and the "aquatic ape" hypothesis, alongside the cultural significance of seaside resorts and the Beach Boys. The episode also examines the privatization of coastlines and the symbolic meaning of beaches in movements like May 1968.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The beach as material and cultural site
The imaginary of the beach: Freedom vs. work
Deep time: The geological formation of sand and beaches
Evolutionary theories: Humans, the sea, and the aquatic ape hypothesis
Human migration routes and British seaside culture
Music and memory: Morchiba's 'The Sea' and Egyptian nostalgia
Climate change threats: Disappearing beaches and rising seas
The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds and the mythology of white music
May 1968 and the beach as a symbol of anti-Fordist freedom
Personal narratives: Beach experiences in Egypt, UK, and beyond
The sensory appeal: Light, sound, and the horizon at the coast
Working-class leisure: Arcades, donkeys, and seaside nostalgia
Ibiza and the birth of British rave culture
Hüsker Dü: Emotional hardcore and the liminal space of the beach
Fashion history: From Victorian modesty to the bikini and tan
Seaside entertainment: Helter skelters, arcades, and postcards
The B-52s: Surf rock aesthetics and new wave avant-garde
Surf culture: From Hawaii to LSD and the Brotherhood of Eternal Love
Political economy: Decline of seaside towns and migrant crossings
Access and protest: Crown ownership, sewage, and reclaiming the beach
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