Be UK Hip!: A Pre-Departure Orientation Program
on Contemporary British Culture British Pop Culture in the 21st Century Be UK Hip!
Popular Culture in the U.K.: Popular Culture in the U.K.
Introduction
Popular Culture in the U.K.: Popular Culture in the U.K. Pop Music
Media
British Society & Royal Family
Rugby & Football
Immigrant Communities
Raffle Prizes
Manic Pop Thrill:: Manic Pop Thrill: A Popular Music Miscellany from the U.K.
Music Continuum: Music Continuum International Pop (they wish) British Mainstream British Alternative Kylie, Robbie, etc. Libertines, Stereolab, etc. Folk and Underground (punk, etc.)
Robbie Williams: Robbie Williams
Kylie: Kylie
Music Continuum: Music Continuum International Pop (they wish) British Mainstream British Alternative Kylie, Robbie, etc. Libertines, Stereolab, etc. Folk and Underground (punk, etc.)
The Libertines: The Libertines
Stereolab: Stereolab
Angelic Upstarts: Angelic Upstarts
New Musical Express: New Musical Express
Music Continuum: Music Continuum International Pop (they wish) British Mainstream British Alternative Kylie, Robbie, etc. Libertines, Stereolab, etc. Folk and Underground (punk, etc.)
Roy Bailey: Roy Bailey
Oysterband: Oysterband
Chumbawamba: Chumbawamba
Media: The Pulse of Pop Culture: Media: The Pulse of Pop Culture Television
Newspapers
Magazines
Radio
BBC and PBS: BBC and PBS BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation
TV and radio
Funded by annual TV tax of ~$229 USD
10 year government charter
Next charter review in 2006
No advertisements
Known worldwide
PBS = Public Broadcasting System
Funded by US federal appropriations
Politically charged and politically dependant
Television: Television “Telly” or “the box”
Explicit
Bable: SKY, NTL, ITV
Following celebrities & shows
Popular Programs: Popular Programs East Enders – evening drama, working class story
Coronation Street – longest running evening drama
Reality TV – Pop Idol, Big Brother
Game Shows – Weakest Link
West Wing, Friends, Sex in the City
Newspapers: Newspapers
Guardian v. Telegraph: Guardian v. Telegraph
Media & Social Class: Media & Social Class
“Class is to the UK, what race is to the US.”
US v. UK characterization
“Posh”
Media choices can tell a story
Tabloids: Tabloids
Radio & Magazines: Radio & Magazines The New Statesman
Economist
Spectator
Private Eye
TimeOut
Hello, OK!
UK News – Know before you go!: UK News – Know before you go! NU Library
Newsstand on Main & Chicago
Borders / Barnes & Noble
Your homepage
Read multiple sources
Know US news too!
British Society & the Royal Family: British Society & the Royal Family
Are we subjects
or citizens?
British Society & the Royal Family: British Society & the Royal Family Headline on the BBC website: “Are we subjects or citizens?” (21 January 2005)
OED Dictionary: “A subject is someone ‘under dominion of a monarch...A citizen however is someone who does have rights.”
“While we are legally subjects because there isn’t a piece of paper that says otherwise, the sweep of history generally finds that we are citizens.”
Questions: Questions Who are the members of the Royal Family?
What sort of place do they hold in British society?
What can we learn about British society today from the Royal Family?
The House of Windsor: The House of Windsor
Who are the British Royals?: Who are the British Royals? Queen Elizabeth II (born 1926; ascended 1952)
The Queen is the Head of State and the Head of the Church of England
“The Queens Speech” at Christmas
Queen’s Jubilee - 2002: Queen’s Jubilee - 2002 Queen celebrated 50 years of rule in 2002
Lots of bridges and monuments throughout the country named in recognition of the Jubilee
Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh: Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh The Queen’s husband
Duke of Edinburgh
Dour
Charles, Prince of Wales: Charles, Prince of Wales Prince of Wales
Future king
Husband of Diana and now Camilla Parker-Bowles
Father of William and Harry
Gardens, hunts, paints
Andrew, Duke of York: Andrew, Duke of York Charles’ brother; Father of Beatrice and Eugenie
Edward and Sophie, Duke & Duchess of Wessex: Edward and Sophie, Duke & Duchess of Wessex Charles’ brother and sister-in-law
Order of the British Empire: Order of the British Empire Highest civilian honor awarded in Britain
Sir Elton John
David Beckham, OBE
What do British people think of the Monarchy?: What do British people think of the Monarchy? Many, but not all, British people have frustrations with the monarchy.
A BBC Poll:
Is the monarchy out of date?
Yes: 41%
No: 57%
Does the Royal Family cost too much money?
Yes: 44%
No: 54%
British Opinion Continued…: British Opinion Continued… Monarchy seen as a source of international good will and a traditional symbol
Also a lasting tradition
As recently as January 2005, the government faced down a proposal to change the 18th century Act of Settlement
Value of traditions in Britain most likely higher than in the United States
But... Tradition or Trash?: But... Tradition or Trash? Royal blunders in the tabloid press
E.g. Prince Harry caught wearing a Nazi costume
Blurring the Line with Celebrity Culture: Blurring the Line with Celebrity Culture “American” royalty are usually thought of as our celebrities, our richest people
But this is starting to happen in modern Britain, too.
E.g. “Posh and Becks”
The Hooligan’s Game Played by Gentlemen: The Hooligan’s Game Played by Gentlemen Rugby Union
Rugby Rules!: Rugby Rules! 2nd sport of England and Scotland – “middle class” – 1st in Wales and played by all.
England current world champions (Wilkinson and Woodward in press).
6 Nations championship involves Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. Perfect Day
No forward passes!
Rugby Union’s rules at http://www.334notout.com/rugby/rules.htm
Slide44:
Britain’s Pastime
Cultural Quiz: Cultural Quiz You and your mates decide to have a game of football in the park. What do you need to take?
(a) A ball
(b) A ball and 2 coats
(c) A leather egg, 50 crash helmets, 4 tons of body armour, 20 cheerleaders, a marching band with a grand piano on a trolley, and a team of orthopaedic surgeons.
Enormous Popularity: Enormous Popularity The “pick-up game” (adults and children).
Popularity of amateur game (excuse to booze?).
The pub subject.
Importance of local teams and derbies (Tottenham Vs Arsenal, Rangers Vs Celtic, Cardiff Vs Swansea).
The League, The Cup and Europe: The League, The Cup and Europe Premiership and three other “divisions”. 3 up, 3 down tradition, points system.
All-encompassing English FA Cup.
European Champions’ League (4 from England).
Differing “national leagues”.
Other Considerations: Other Considerations Importance of local teams and the “gear” (compare to high-school games in USA).
Ubiquitous cultural icons (Beckham, Ferguson, Wenger, Keegan, Thierry Henry!)
Importance of England’s national side.
Minor possibility of hooligans and racism.
Familiar Faces of Football: Familiar Faces of Football
SOME OTHER LONDONERS: SOME OTHER LONDONERS Immigrants & Multiculturalism Art work developed by UK multicultural group of young adults for a project dealing with issues of culture and identity, commonality and difference in an inner city area fraught with racial tension.
The First Black Londoner?: The First Black Londoner? John Blanke, African Trumpeter, at Westminster Tournament (1511)
Ignatius Sancho (1729-1780): Ignatius Sancho (1729-1780) Writer and musician
from portrait by Thomas Gainsborough
Mary Seacole (1805-1881): Mary Seacole (1805-1881) Nurse during Crimean war, wrote memoir
Hindu Tract Seller: Hindu Tract Seller
Joe Clough London Bus Driver (1908): Joe Clough London Bus Driver (1908)
Indian Suffragettes: Indian Suffragettes
African Pygmies in Westminster (1905): African Pygmies in Westminster (1905)
West Indian arrivants in Clapham Air Raid Shelter: West Indian arrivants in Clapham Air Raid Shelter
Louise Bennett: Louise Bennett
“To Let” Sign (Notting Hill): “To Let” Sign (Notting Hill)
S.S. Empire Windrush, with passengers: S.S. Empire Windrush, with passengers
West Indians arriving at Waterloo Station: West Indians arriving at Waterloo Station
Lord Kitchener (2nd from left) and Band in London Session; singing “London is the Place for Me” (1951): Lord Kitchener (2nd from left) and Band in London Session; singing “London is the Place for Me” (1951)
Jamaican immigrants perusing the tube map : Jamaican immigrants perusing the tube map
Linton Kwesi Johnson performing “Inglan Is a Bitch” (1980): Linton Kwesi Johnson performing “Inglan Is a Bitch” (1980)
Sikhs sheltered in crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields during the Blitz : Sikhs sheltered in crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields during the Blitz
Christ Church, Spitalfields: Christ Church, Spitalfields
East End: East End
Stencil Graffito (Spitalfields): Stencil Graffito (Spitalfields)
Brick Lane: Brick Lane
Spitalfields Market : Spitalfields Market
Pub, Brick Lane (Spitalfields): Pub, Brick Lane (Spitalfields)
Still from Hanif Kureishi’s London Kills Me: Still from Hanif Kureishi’s London Kills Me
Popular Culture in the U.K.: Popular Culture in the U.K.
Are you UK HIP? Quiz & Raffle
Are you UK HIP?:
The Guardian and The Times share the same political viewpoint. True or False. Are you UK HIP? FALSE
The Times is conservative and the Guardian is left wing and less traditionalist.
Are you UK HIP?:
What type of tax do British citizens pay to fund the BBC?
Are you UK HIP? TV Tax
TV owner pay an annual tax of $150US which supports the BBC.
Are you UK HIP?:
Who are Posh and Becks?
Are you UK HIP? Victoria and David Beckham
(Formerly) Posh Spice and England’s football star, a.k.a. celebrity royalty
Are you UK HIP?: According to the 2001 census, approximately what percentage of the population in London is made up of ethnic minorities (non-white)? How about in the UK overall? Are you UK HIP? 28.9% and 7.9%
Are you UK HIP?:
The Welsh love a good game of __________?
Are you UK HIP? Rugby (rules)!
What’s Next?: Please join us for the next ‘Mind the Gap’ session:
Hogwarts & Oxbridge?
British Education from A to Z
Wednesday, May 4 What’s Next? Same time & place