Time Warp Wives

Blairweech

Just watched this on 4od and it was very interesting. LOVED the houses and the make up - I am going for a 1950s kitchen in my house, but so far I only really have the cabinet!

I thought it was great how the husband of the first wife made lots of things for the house - did notice it was all a bit too perfect though. Really looked like a scene from a movie. Not sure about completely eschewing modern comforts - would you really want to bust your back polishing the floor when you could use a mop instead?

Another thing that struck me was when it was mentioned about not reading newspapers - tbh I though that was quite ignorant. I believe that staying up to date with current affairs and remaining informed is how we better ourselves as a person and as a society as a whole. Not to say she does not listen to radio, and don't get me wrong I do not read a newspaper every day, but I do try and at least catch the news headlines so I know who the PM is

As much as I admire and aspire to the premise behind it, sadly, I don't think there is really any way you could truly life a lifestyle like that in the modern world - as exampled by having to go shopping and keeping a microwave in the cupboard! I would imagine it was quite lonely - back in those days, housewives were always talking to the neighbours over the fence etc, but that does not happen now. Certainly, any sense of community spirit has been lost. Plus you would not know any different back then - that was how life was, whereas now you have to go out of your way to live like that (probably why none of them want kids, because they would clutter up their lives)

It is an admirable thing to be doing though, I imagine it takes a huge amount of time and effort. The result seems worth it though, they all came across as particularly happy I suppose really it is just another (slightly extreme) version of 'voluntary simplicity', and for that they should be applauded :T

ubamother

what I find fascinating is in the 50's, the people of that decade would have seen themselves not as living in simplicity, but living a very sophisticated, gadgety life! That's probably true of every generation - life only looks 'simple' when looked at from a historical point of view. I think it was a much more 'ordered' time, when everyone knew the rules and followed them, which is comforting, while now everyone has different rules. Think of the way you bring up your children - in the 50s everyone in the same street (and therefore class) would have pretty much the same rules for their children. Now I have, for example, radically different rules for my son than his friend who lives nextdoor. I wonder if people hankering for a 'simpler' age are looking for the comfort that socially imposed rules and order can bring, so are imposing them on themselves?

carolinosourus

Blairweech wrote: »

Another thing that struck me was when it was mentioned about not reading newspapers - tbh I though that was quite ignorant. I believe that staying up to date with current affairs and remaining informed is how we better ourselves as a person and as a society as a whole. Not to say she does not listen to radio, and don't get me wrong I do not read a newspaper every day, but I do try and at least catch the news headlines so I know who the PM is

I agree with this, I'm sure in the 1950s people would have known who the PM was! It's important to keep up with current events, I'm not sure shutting yourself off from the world is the best idea, if any of them had to go into hospital, for example, I think they'd get a bit of a shock...

rosieben

Thanks for the link twnkle_star, interesting site. I felt the snide comments didnt improve the programme. I'd like to have learnt more about how they organise their daily routine, what do they make at home - as in the 50's - rather than buy but half an hour wasnt long enough for that.

I felt a bit sad for the single girl too debtmuncher, and wonder what are her chances of finding a partner who shares the same ideals (although looking at the website in twinkle star's list, there's lots of them around).

I wonder what happened to the singer too, that must have put a huge strain on a 50's type marriage.

They all seemed very happy, and I applaud their determination to live their own lifestyle; at the same time I found it a little sad that they are so disenchanted or so afraid of modern living that they go to such extremes to opt out as much as possible. I think we've lost a lot with the passing of older values but nevertheless we're all striving to do the best we can with the situation we're in

I love those 50's kitchen colours!